Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — China approved two new varieties of genetically modified (GMO) crops for import from Monday, after the world’s top buyer of GMO soybeans pledged to speed up a review of biotech products as part of a recent trade deal with the U.S. The approvals of new GMO imports follow an agreement on […] Read more
China approves two new GMO varieties for import, renews 14
U.S. finalizes talks to resume beef exports to China
Reading Time: 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Final details are in place to allow U.S. exporters to resume beef shipments to China, U.S. officials said on Monday, allowing companies to prepare for their first shipments in 14 years. After concluding talks with Beijing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said U.S. producers must track the birthplace of cattle born […] Read more
Canada beats U.S. in pork sales to China – feet, elbows and all
Reading Time: 4 minutes Winnipeg/Chicago/Beijing | Reuters — Canada has overtaken the United States as the top North American supplier of pork to China as farmers and meat packers in both nations battle for lucrative shares of the biggest global market. Canada’s pork sales to China, after a sharp rise last year, exceeded those of the U.S. in the […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: More losses likely for bearish canola
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts posted large losses during the week ended Wednesday, and could be headed even lower, as bearish technicals and weakness in global economic markets outweigh supportive fundamentals. “We’re going into a seasonally slower demand period,” said Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications. A downgrade of China’s credit by Moody’s […] Read more
Canadian pork shipment flagged in China for ractopamine
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — A Canadian shipment of pig feet to China, produced by meat packer Olymel, has tested positive for residues of banned growth drug ractopamine and may curb future trade, Canadian government and industry officials say. China views the tainted shipment as a “systemic failure” of Canada’s program that certifies pork sent to China […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on oil drop
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a 1-1/2-month low on Thursday, pressured by a sharp drop in crude oil prices, traders said. Corn futures also weakened, with investors beating down early rally attempts due to ample global supplies and signs of poor export demand. Wheat futures were mixed, with K.C. hard red […] Read more
U.S., China accelerate beef talks
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Talks on restarting U.S. beef exports to China are moving fast and final details should be in place by early June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, allowing U.S. farmers to vie for business that has been lost by rival Brazil. As part of a trade deal, U.S. ranchers […] Read more
U.S., China agree to first trade steps under 100-day plan
Reading Time: 4 minutes Washington | Reuters –– The U.S. and China have agreed to take action by mid-July to increase access for U.S. financial firms and expand trade in beef and chicken among other steps as part of Washington’s drive to cut its trade deficit with Beijing. The deals are the first results of 100 days of trade […] Read more
Proposed Dow, DuPont merger gets conditional nod from China
Reading Time: < 1 minute Beijing | Reuters — China has conditionally approved the proposed merger between Dow Chemical and DuPont, the country’s commerce ministry said on Tuesday, a step forward for the deal whose closing has been repeatedly delayed by regulatory hurdles. The merger was approved by EU antitrust regulators in March on the condition the companies divest assets […] Read more
China seen set to become world’s second-biggest wine market
Reading Time: < 1 minute Paris | Reuters — China is set to overtake Britain and France to become the world’s second-largest wine consumer by value behind the U.S. by 2020 as consumers turn to more middle-range wines, the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR) organization said Thursday. In a study for wine fair Vinexpo it forecast Chinese wine consumption […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
