Americas | Brazil farmers await gov't cases vs U.S. at WTOSAO PAULO, Brazil, ...

Americas

Brazil farmers await gov't cases vs U.S. at WTO
SAO PAULO, Brazil, May 23 (Reuters) - Brazilian farmers said they support government efforts that began in 2001 contesting U.S. farm subsidies at the World Trade Organization, but some were impatient with the slow progress.

Beef and Pork Found in Chicken Fillets
Food Safety Authority finds some imported chicken fillets in breach of food labeling laws.

Europe

Meat New Zealand defends imported beef standards
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Earlier this month, Meat New Zealand's regional manager Andrew Burtt drafted an open letter to the media defending imported beef standards. He had some words to set the record straight.

EU Sees No U.S. Trade War but Ready to Fight
GHENT, Belgium (Reuters) - European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said Friday a rift with the United States over steel tariffs was well short of a trade war but the EU was ready to hit back with sanctions if it had to.

French Continue Beef Ban
New French agriculture minister refuses to lift ban on British beef.

South Africa Bans French Pork
Import ban raised on French pork to South Africa because of fears over Classical Swine Fever.

USA

Health fear over beef antibiotic
A proposal to allow residues of an antibiotic in beef has triggered health fears by medical specialists.

Senate OKs Trade Authority for Bush
The Senate voted overwhelmingly last night to give President Bush broader authority to negotiate trade agreements, coupling it with a multibillion-dollar expansion of aid to workers who lose jobs because of foreign competition.

Veneman Praises Senate Passage of Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Legislation
"We are extremely pleased that Trade Promotion Authority passed out of the Senate today with such strong bipartisan support. This is extremely good news for American agriculture. And, it is an important step in restoring the President's authority to negotiate and enter into trade agreements that will boost U.S. food and agricultural exports."

Cattlemen Question PETA's Role in NCAA's Decision to Use Synthetic Basketballs
The cattle industry wants to know whether a recent decision to shun leather basketballs in tournaments means that collegiate sports leaders are getting cozy with its archenemy, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

New Round in the Safe Meat Debate
The American Meat Institute responds to unfounded allegations about the safety of ground beef.

Leaders sign major nuclear arms deal
The Russian and US leaders sign the first major nuclear disarmament treaty for 10 years, hailed as marking the end of the Cold War era.

'Mad Deer' Plague Baffles Scientists
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Scientists are conducting research in state-owned pens and laboratories across eight U.S. states and parts of Canada, trying to find out why deer are coming down with a chronic brain-wasting disease, and how to stop it.