Asia Pacific | One year on, China's WTO membership reflects its struggle to e...

Asia Pacific

 

One year on, China's WTO membership reflects its struggle to embrace the future
Beijing marks the anniversary of its coveted WTO inauguration Wednesday much as it began membership - eager to reap the benefits of open markets, wrangling its outdated business traditions into published law, promising it will play by the rules and vehemently objecting to anyone who doesn't.

 

China gets mixed scorecard for first year in WTO
BEIJING, Dec 10 (Reuters) - For China, the success of its entry into the World Trade Organization is summed up with a set of numbers.

 

Gov't tells Nippon Meat unit to prevent false labeling
TOKYO, Dec. 10 Kyodo - The agricultural ministry said Tuesday it has told Minami Nippon Ham, a subsidiary of Nippon Meat Packers Inc., to prevent a recurrence of false labeling on food products.

 

Americas

 

Agribusiness exports may reach US$17bil in 2012
A study by Fundacion Producir Conservando shows that Argentinean agribusiness exports may grow by 70% within 10 years from US$10bil to US$17bil.

 

NAFTA authors open summit to celebrate 10 years of free trade
WASHINGTON - The three architects of the North American Free Trade Agreement said that a free trade pact for the Western Hemisphere is the logical next step.

Europe

 

EU govts agree new GM crop import and label rules
BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - European Union environment ministers agreed on Monday the latest set of new controls on genetically modified organisms that could eventually lead the bloc to reopen its markets to GM foods.

 

Serbia to Boost Beef Exports to Europe
Serbia looks to increasing beef production and growing the agricultural sector.

 

USA

 

Packer ban could have unintended consequences
A ban on packer ownership of livestock would unravel the efforts of the pork and beef industry to create a consistent product that consumers demand, said the president of a packer lobbying organization last week.

 

Shoppers stuffed by misleading food labels
Consumers are being misled by poor food labeling as some products' names have almost nothing in common with the actual ingredients, watchdogs say.

 

USDA to step up listeria testing at meat plants
WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Federal food safety inspectors may ask U.S. meat plants to recall hot dogs and deli meats if more aggressive testing detects the potentially deadly bacteria listeria on knives, tabletops or a conveyor belt, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Monday.