Asia PacificChina, Japan top trade partnerChina became Japan's biggest tradin...

Asia Pacific

China, Japan top trade partner
China became Japan's biggest trading partner in 2004, replacing the United States for the first time and underlining the country's growing clout in the global economy.

Russia to break meat prices
On Wednesday Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev to work out and implement steps to reduce domestic meat prices, the Kremlin press service said.

Europe

U.S., EU escalate battle over hormone-treated beef
The United States and European Union have launched cross-complaints with the World Trade Organization over some EU import regulations and a U.S. set of sanctions against the EU for its ban on imports of beef treated with hormones.

Americas

Ban Canadian beef until mCOOL
Four U.S. senators are seeking a total ban on imports of Canadian beef and cattle until the United States sets in place mandatory country-of-origin labels on beef.

USA

USDA Chief Presses Japan on Beef Trade
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns pressed the Japanese ambassador to the United States Thursday to set a date for Japan to resume buying U.S. beef.

Colleges buying more food from farmers
Mealy apples, boxed mashed potatoes, frozen veggie mixes and suspicious meats drive many a college student to the cereal and bagel bins. But dining halls from Bates College in Maine to the University of California at Santa Cruz are improving their food and helping their local agricultural economies by going straight to the farm.

New national animal ID site has info for producers
USDA'S Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has launched a new web site that aims to be a one stop resource for information about the national animal identification program.

U.S. expects beef herd growth
Although live Canadian cattle could not cross into the U.S. during 2004, analysts predict the U.S. cattle herd finally "turned the corner" and increased for the first time in nine years because domestic beef packers reduced slaughter rates.

Asia Pacific

China, Japan top trade partner
China became Japan's biggest trading partner in 2004, replacing the United States for the first time and underlining the country's growing clout in the global economy.

Russia to break meat prices
On Wednesday Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev to work out and implement steps to reduce domestic meat prices, the Kremlin press service said.

Europe

U.S., EU escalate battle over hormone-treated beef
The United States and European Union have launched cross-complaints with the World Trade Organization over some EU import regulations and a U.S. set of sanctions against the EU for its ban on imports of beef treated with hormones.

Americas

Ban Canadian beef until mCOOL
Four U.S. senators are seeking a total ban on imports of Canadian beef and cattle until the United States sets in place mandatory country-of-origin labels on beef.

USA

USDA Chief Presses Japan on Beef Trade
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns pressed the Japanese ambassador to the United States Thursday to set a date for Japan to resume buying U.S. beef.

Colleges buying more food from farmers
Mealy apples, boxed mashed potatoes, frozen veggie mixes and suspicious meats drive many a college student to the cereal and bagel bins. But dining halls from Bates College in Maine to the University of California at Santa Cruz are improving their food and helping their local agricultural economies by going straight to the farm.

New national animal ID site has info for producers
USDA'S Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has launched a new web site that aims to be a one stop resource for information about the national animal identification program.

U.S. expects beef herd growth
Although live Canadian cattle could not cross into the U.S. during 2004, analysts predict the U.S. cattle herd finally "turned the corner" and increased for the first time in nine years because domestic beef packers reduced slaughter rates.