Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada and Japan have agreed on import conditions by which British Columbia’s produce growers will be able to ship greenhouse peppers to Japan. The agreement, effective immediately, means the province’s growers “could be looking at up to $20 million worth of pepper exports a year to Japan once the agreement is fully implemented,” B.C. Agriculture […] Read more
B.C. greenhouse peppers cleared for Japan
TPP study sees net ‘neutral’ effect on dairy sector
Reading Time: 4 minutes An economic impact study on Canada’s participation in a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal finds losses in Canada’s dairy sector would be “offset” by gains for dairy processors from cheaper dairy imports. The study, prepared for the federal government by its Office of the Chief Economist and released Friday, notes Canada has offered expanded access […] Read more
Korea reports no GMO in U.S. wheat imports
Reading Time: < 1 minute Seoul | Reuters — South Korea has not detected any genetically modified wheat in tests on imports of wheat and flour from Washington state, after the discovery of unapproved GM wheat in the U.S. state prompted Japan and South Korea to suspend certain U.S. imports. South Korea, the fifth largest market for U.S. wheat, had […] Read more
Japan, Korea block certain U.S. wheat varieties
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Japan and South Korea have both taken steps to block certain imports of U.S. wheat after unapproved genetically-modified (GMO) plants from Monsanto seeds were found growing in Washington state, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Monday. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said it will […] Read more
Japan, White House rule out re-opening TPP pact
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Japan and the Obama administration on Tuesday rejected calls from some U.S. lawmakers to consider re-opening a Pacific trade deal and said any renegotiation attempt could scupper the whole pact. “Renegotiation is not an option,” Caroline Atkinson, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for international economics, said on a call hosted by the Atlantic […] Read more
Global markets: Japan, Germany cut economic forecasts
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada –– The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally. JAPAN CUTS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, ECONOMIC OUTLOOK – The Japanese government downgraded its assessment of industrial production and identified some areas of weakness in a monthly government report released on Wednesday. The reduced forecast for industrial production is due to weaker demand […] Read more
The China (economic) factor and Canadian agriculture
Does China’s economic slowdown have to be bad news for Canada’s farmers? We ask Errol Anderson, does he see hope in the year ahead?
Reading Time: 6 minutes For the first instalment in our five-part series this fall and winter, we sat down with Calgary-based grain market adviser and regular Country Guide contributor Errol Anderson for his insights into what to look for in markets this year. The billion-dollar question, Anderson says, is what will happen in China. Other issues are important too, […] Read more
Canada risks being sidelined in TPP trade deal, Vilsack says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Istanbul | Reuters — Canada risks getting left behind in a 12-nation Pacific trade deal because it has been reluctant to negotiate opening its markets, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday. Vilsack also told Reuters that longstanding disagreements with Japan over rice exports would not threaten the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and that the U.S. […] Read more
Taiwan, Japan ban Ont. poultry over avian flu
Reading Time: < 1 minute Winnipeg | Reuters — Japan and Taiwan have imposed trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday, a day after avian flu was confirmed in the province. The government agency said a turkey farm near Woodstock, Ont. was under quarantine after the presence of H5 avian influenza […] Read more
Japan seen set to cut beef, pork tariffs in TPP talks
Reading Time: 2 minutes Tokyo | Reuters — Japan is prepared to cut its high import tariffs on beef and pork and slightly ease tight restrictions on rice imports for U.S. producers, in a rush to seal an ambitious Pacific trade deal, Japanese media said Friday. Tokyo’s reported concessions come as talks accelerate with Washington to strike a bilateral […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
