Asia Pacific | Australian Beef Firms Let U.S. Steal Japan Market Share Austra...

Asia Pacific

Australian Beef Firms Let U.S. Steal Japan Market Share
Australian beef companies had let American competitors steal a part of the valuable Japanese market, Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said today. Australian Labor Party Backs Creation of Red Meat Group
Labor last night backed the creation of a new group to represent the nation's red meat industry to overcome problems caused by the government's handling of the American beef quota. Disease Hits Korean Meat Trade
Korean meat exports down due to foot-and-mouth disease.

Europe and Middle East

Russia to Raise Import Tariffs
Russia is expected to set import tariffs and quotas on pork, beef and poultry. France reviews ban on British beef
President Jacques Chirac said last night France's food safety agency would publish a new opinion on the safety of British beef before the end of the month, raising hopes that the continuing French embargo might be lifted soon. Israel spending $3.8 million to fight BSE; Palestinian exports halted
The Israeli ministries of Finance, Health, Agriculture, and Industry and Trade plan to spend $3.8 million in the next 6 months to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans, according to a report in the Jerusalem Post.

Americas

Canada Announces New Ag Policy Framework
Canada’s Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief today announced a plan they said would strengthen Canadian agriculture by making the sector the "world leader in food safety and quality, environmentally responsible production and innovation."

USA

New Beef Plant Planned
Beef processor is to open a new processing plant in the south eastern United States. Many steer clear of cornfed beef
Although Northern California's history with cows fattened on nothing but local pastures goes back more than a century, it was only this spring that a serious retail alternative to classic American grain-fed beef hit town. HoneyBake Ham Co. buys Heavenly Ham
The HoneyBaked Ham Co. has purchased Heavenly Ham. The Heavenly Ham system, made up of 200-plus franchises in 33 states, will merge with HoneyBaked, which operates approximately 300 stores nationwide. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Trade Gap in U.S. Widened to $35.9 Billion in April; Imports, Exports Rose

The U.S. trade deficit grew in April to a record as the price of imported oil rose and the recovering economy lifted demand for consumer goods and computers. Exports increased at a slower pace. 

Who is on Top?
Meat Processing releases its annual ranking of US meatpackers. Bush Kicks Off Fitness Drive on White House Lawn
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rise and shine, Americans --President Bush wants you to get out and exercise. 'People ought to work out every day, one way or another,' Bush said Thursday on the White House south lawn, which was turned into a sports field for an early morning kickoff of a new initiative to promote healthier living. Wyoming Group Utilizes the Radio for its Campaign
Radio PR campaign takes the ag industry's story to consumers.