Reading Time: 3 minutes Urayasu, Japan | Reuters — The 11 remaining nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States edged toward sealing a comprehensive free trade pact after New Zealand agreed to amend laws that are not subject to TPP, to enable its ban on foreign home purchases. The pact aims to eliminate tariffs on industrial […] Read more
TPP talks without U.S. near final stretch
U.S. EPA abandons changes to biofuel program
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has backed off a series of proposed changes to the nation’s biofuels policy after a massive backlash from corn-state lawmakers worried the moves would undercut ethanol demand, according to a letter from the agency to lawmakers seen by Reuters. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, wheat, corn firm on export demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures firmed on Thursday on supportive export demand and light bargain buying following a three-day slide, along with renewed optimism about demand for soy-based biodiesel fuel, analysts said. Wheat and corn rose on light technical buying and bullish weekly export sales data. Chicago Board of Trade November soybean futures […] Read more
NAFTA negotiators trade barbs, agree on extension
Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters — Trade negotiators from the U.S. and Canada accused each other of sabotaging attempts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement on Tuesday, even as they and Mexico agreed to extend talks into 2018. A round of talks in Washington that lasted seven days failed to find the most basic common […] Read more
Tough U.S. NAFTA demands send ball back into lobbyists’ court
Reading Time: 3 minutes Arlington, Va. | Reuters — Lobbying efforts on the North American Free Trade Agreement faced a major test this week after the Trump administration ignored advice from U.S. business groups and pitched proposals to radically reshape NAFTA, leaving its future in doubt. The U.S. demands to force renegotiation of NAFTA every five years and reserve […] Read more
U.S. now seeking end to supply management in NAFTA talks
Reading Time: < 1 minute Arlington, Va. | Reuters — U.S. negotiators at talks to update the North American Free Trade Agreement want Canada to dismantle its system of protections for the dairy and poultry sectors — a move Ottawa will reject, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday. The proposal is the latest in a string of […] Read more
U.S. makes NAFTA dairy proposal, no market access request
Reading Time: < 1 minute Arlington, Va. | Reuters — U.S. negotiators at talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement on Friday formally asked Canada to address a bilateral dispute over dairy pricing, a request the Canadians are set to resist, sources familiar with the talks said. U.S. dairy producers are unhappy that Canadian farmers this year started […] Read more
Japan to propose changes to beef import safeguards in talks with U.S.
Reading Time: 2 minutes Tokyo | Reuters — Japan will propose changes to its safeguard mechanism on frozen U.S. beef imports that will shorten review periods and allow importers to voluntarily lower import volumes to prevent tariffs from automatically kicking in, two government sources said on Thursday. The proposal will be made at the second round of the U.S.-Japan […] Read more
U.S. hikes NAFTA tension with call for ‘sunset clause’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Arlington, Va. | Reuters — Washington has dramatically increased tensions in talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement by proposing that the lifespan of any new deal be limited to five years, people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday. The proposal for a so-called sunset clause — just one of a series […] Read more
Trump says U.S.-Canada trade deal possible, excluding Mexico
Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters –– U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would be open to a bilateral trade pact with Canada if a deal cannot be reached with Mexico to substantially revise the North American Free Trade Agreement. Asked by a reporter if he could envision maintaining free trade with Canada if NAFTA talks […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
