Asia Pacific | Japan Beef Consumption StrugglesWarning of a volatile Japanese...
Asia Pacific
Japan Beef Consumption Struggles
Warning of a volatile Japanese beef market as tariffs are set to rise.
USTR Off'l: No Decision on Whether U.S. to Take China to WTO on Ag TRQs
The jury is still out on whether the United States will pursue a case with the WTO over China's actions relative to their implementation of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on ag imports, according to U.S. special ag trade negotiator Allen Johnson. However, Johnson did report in a teleconference this morning with reporters that "progress" had been made on the TRQ front in recent discussions with Chinese trade officials.
Americas
Canadians seek to lift beef ban
While the U.S. Agriculture Department has made no official announcement to partially lift the ban on some imports of Canadian beef, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has stated that the USDA may ease the trade ban and allow imports of Canadian muscle cuts and live cattle younger than 30 months, although the timing of the action is not yet known. Canadian officials were visiting with agriculture representatives earlier this week to argue that there was no scientific justification to maintain the three-week-old ban after nearly 2,000 tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy all turned out negative. Click here to see Drovers' online special section on BSE. Despite calls from some to lift the ban, a Swiss veterinarian who is an international expert on BSE, says there still is justification for the U.S. to keep the border closed. According to a report in the Omaha World-Herald, Ulrich Kihm, DVM, believes there remains a risk of a second, third or more cases of BSE. "I'm estimating there will be other cases in this part of the world," he said. And given the flow of cattle between Canada and the U.S., Kihm also believes it is likely that BSE exists in the U.S. — G.H.
BSE prompts Canadians to call for relief
Alberta, Canada, Premier Ralph Klein warns that Canada's beef industry has fewer than 100 days to survive without financial aid. During a meeting with other western premiers, Klein called for an immediate payout of $280 million from a disaster-relief fund. He said the industry could not survive past Aug. 31, and said "it has reached a disaster stage." Alberta produces 70 percent of all Canadian beef. The Canadian Press reported that a government source believes a compensation package for producers is expected to be announced within two weeks. Even so, the import ban on Canadian beef has created a significant impact on many industries, and political pressure will continue to mount for the U.S. and other countries to lift the ban. — G.H.
Trade agreement with Chile opens market for U.S. beef
A new trade pact with Chile, the first such agreement between the United States and a South American country, will cut tariffs and opens markets for U.S. beef and beef products. The free-trade agreement will eliminate tariffs on about three-quarters of both U.S. and Chilean farm goods within four years, with all tariffs and quotas phased out within 12 years. "With this agreement, we'll have preferential access to one of the world's fastest-growing economies, open trade with no tariffs and streamlined customs procedures," says Michelle Reinke, manager of trade policy at the NCBA. "Chile is not a large cattle-producing nation, and they import a majority of their beef and beef products — a prime candidate for marketing top quality U.S. products."
Europe
EU farm ministers adopt new foot-and-mouth rules
European Union farm ministers approved tougher measures to fight foot-and-mouth disease on Thursday to avoid any repeat of the 2001 crisis in Britain, which spread to three other countries.
Austrian trade makes no EU free market grain bids
Austrian traders on Thursday submitted no bids for the export of any free market grains in the regular European Union export tenders, a spokesman for Austrian agricultural agency AMA said.
EU: Agreement reached on revised FMD legislation
The EU's Council of Agriculture Ministers have achieved political agreement on revised legislation on EU measures to control outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Germany Beating BSE
German consumer minister tells farmers of the successful measures to counter BSE since November 2000.
USA
USA: Farmland to sell its beef business, receives bid
Bankrupt farm cooperative Farmland Industries has said it will auction off its US beef packing business, Farmland National Beef, and has already received an initial bid of US$232m from its joint venture partner, US Premium Beef.
USDA amends quarantine boundaries for END in Texas and New Mexico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended the quarantine boundaries for Exotic Newcastle disease by removing Dona Ana, Luna and Otero counties in New Mexico; Hudspeth County, Texas, and portions of El Paso County, Texas, from the list of quarantined areas. This action removes restrictions on the movement of birds, poultry and certain other articles from those areas.
Asia Pacific
Japan Beef Consumption Struggles
Warning of a volatile Japanese beef market as tariffs are set to rise.
USTR Off'l: No Decision on Whether U.S. to Take China to WTO on Ag TRQs
The jury is still out on whether the United States will pursue a case with the WTO over China's actions relative to their implementation of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on ag imports, according to U.S. special ag trade negotiator Allen Johnson. However, Johnson did report in a teleconference this morning with reporters that "progress" had been made on the TRQ front in recent discussions with Chinese trade officials.
Americas
Canadians seek to lift beef ban
While the U.S. Agriculture Department has made no official announcement to partially lift the ban on some imports of Canadian beef, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has stated that the USDA may ease the trade ban and allow imports of Canadian muscle cuts and live cattle younger than 30 months, although the timing of the action is not yet known. Canadian officials were visiting with agriculture representatives earlier this week to argue that there was no scientific justification to maintain the three-week-old ban after nearly 2,000 tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy all turned out negative. Click here to see Drovers' online special section on BSE. Despite calls from some to lift the ban, a Swiss veterinarian who is an international expert on BSE, says there still is justification for the U.S. to keep the border closed. According to a report in the Omaha World-Herald, Ulrich Kihm, DVM, believes there remains a risk of a second, third or more cases of BSE. "I'm estimating there will be other cases in this part of the world," he said. And given the flow of cattle between Canada and the U.S., Kihm also believes it is likely that BSE exists in the U.S. — G.H.
BSE prompts Canadians to call for relief
Alberta, Canada, Premier Ralph Klein warns that Canada's beef industry has fewer than 100 days to survive without financial aid. During a meeting with other western premiers, Klein called for an immediate payout of $280 million from a disaster-relief fund. He said the industry could not survive past Aug. 31, and said "it has reached a disaster stage." Alberta produces 70 percent of all Canadian beef. The Canadian Press reported that a government source believes a compensation package for producers is expected to be announced within two weeks. Even so, the import ban on Canadian beef has created a significant impact on many industries, and political pressure will continue to mount for the U.S. and other countries to lift the ban. — G.H.
Trade agreement with Chile opens market for U.S. beef
A new trade pact with Chile, the first such agreement between the United States and a South American country, will cut tariffs and opens markets for U.S. beef and beef products. The free-trade agreement will eliminate tariffs on about three-quarters of both U.S. and Chilean farm goods within four years, with all tariffs and quotas phased out within 12 years. "With this agreement, we'll have preferential access to one of the world's fastest-growing economies, open trade with no tariffs and streamlined customs procedures," says Michelle Reinke, manager of trade policy at the NCBA. "Chile is not a large cattle-producing nation, and they import a majority of their beef and beef products — a prime candidate for marketing top quality U.S. products."
Europe
EU farm ministers adopt new foot-and-mouth rules
European Union farm ministers approved tougher measures to fight foot-and-mouth disease on Thursday to avoid any repeat of the 2001 crisis in Britain, which spread to three other countries.
Austrian trade makes no EU free market grain bids
Austrian traders on Thursday submitted no bids for the export of any free market grains in the regular European Union export tenders, a spokesman for Austrian agricultural agency AMA said.
EU: Agreement reached on revised FMD legislation
The EU’s Council of Agriculture Ministers have achieved political agreement on revised legislation on EU measures to control outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Germany Beating BSE
German consumer minister tells farmers of the successful measures to counter BSE since November 2000.
USA
USA: Farmland to sell its beef business, receives bid
Bankrupt farm cooperative Farmland Industries has said it will auction off its US beef packing business, Farmland National Beef, and has already received an initial bid of US$232m from its joint venture partner, US Premium Beef.
USDA amends quarantine boundaries for END in Texas and New Mexico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended the quarantine boundaries for Exotic Newcastle disease by removing Dona Ana, Luna and Otero counties in New Mexico; Hudspeth County, Texas, and portions of El Paso County, Texas, from the list of quarantined areas. This action removes restrictions on the movement of birds, poultry and certain other articles from those areas.