Asia Pacific | Australia, U.S. companies win Iraq agriculture dealAn Austral...

Asia Pacific

Australia, U.S. companies win Iraq agriculture deal
An Australian-U.S. consortium has won a $120 million contract to support the rehabilitation of Iraq's agriculture sector, Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile said on Wednesday.

Australia, China move toward free trade deal-paper
Australia would on Friday announce the first formal steps toward reaching a free trade deal with China, The Australian newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Canada, China Aim to Double Trade by 2010
Canada and China plan to double bilateral trade by 2010 and narrow their trade imbalance, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said on Wednesday.   "We have tripled our trade in the last 10 years and we have agreed to have a goal of doubling until 2010," Chrétien told reporters after meeting his Chinese counterpart, Premier WenJiabao, in Beijing (WN)

Americas

UPDATE 1-Brazil says pan-American trade talks may collapse
Brazil's agriculture minister said on Tuesday next month's meeting in Miami on building an Americas-wide free trade area could fail unless Washington includes the issue of farm subsidies in the talks.

Europe

Consumers, makers pay in EU food fight
The World Trade Organization ruled that the 15-nation EU had no scientific basis to ban beef with hormones, which includes most U.S.-raised beef. It allowed theUnited States to impose 100% punitive tariffs on about two dozen EU products, doubling the price importers pay to bring them across the Atlantic.

New EU Label is Biotech Barrier
EU label requirement may end up warning consumers without scientific evidence to back it up.

Cost of BSE
BSE costsEurope Euro 100 billion and much of the cost will be carried by farmers.

USA

U.S. restaurants push chicken as beef prices soar
If you've been following the promotions ofU.S. restaurant chains recently, you may be asking that question.

U.S. awards contract for Iraq agriculture sector
Maryland-based consulting firm Development Alternatives Inc. has been awarded a $36.9 million contract to reformIraq's agriculture sector, the U.S. Agency for International Development said on Tuesday.

USDA reports red meat inventories up 2 percent, poultry down 5 percent
According to the USDA's Cold Storage Report, published on AgWeb.com, total red meat supplies in freezers in September were 2 percent above August levels, but were 16 percent below September 2002. Frozen pork stocks were up 1 percent over August, but 9 percent below the same period last year. Inventories of pork bellies dropped 43 percent but were 8 percent above September 2002 stocks.

Nebraska study: Vaccine shows promise in reducing E. coli
In another positive step for the industry's fight against E. coli, a vaccine was shown to significantly reduce E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot cattle, research from the University of Nebraskashows.

Beef for Breakfast
New beef patty launched for breakfast using underused cuts of meat.

High hopes of 'free trade' on US-Aus agenda
Business groups and farm leaders are hoping the prospects for a free trade deal between Australia and the United States will be top of the agenda when US President George W Bush arrives in Canberra.

Asia Pacific

Australia, U.S. companies win Iraq agriculture deal
An Australian-U.S. consortium has won a $120 million contract to support the rehabilitation of Iraq's agriculture sector, Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile said on Wednesday.

Australia, China move toward free trade deal-paper
Australia would on Friday announce the first formal steps toward reaching a free trade deal with China, The Australian newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Canada, China Aim to Double Trade by 2010
Canada and China plan to double bilateral trade by 2010 and narrow their trade imbalance, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said on Wednesday.   "We have tripled our trade in the last 10 years and we have agreed to have a goal of doubling until 2010," Chrétien told reporters after meeting his Chinese counterpart, Premier WenJiabao, in Beijing (WN)

Americas

UPDATE 1-Brazil says pan-American trade talks may collapse
Brazil's agriculture minister said on Tuesday next month's meeting in Miami on building an Americas-wide free trade area could fail unless Washington includes the issue of farm subsidies in the talks.

Europe

Consumers, makers pay in EU food fight
The World Trade Organization ruled that the 15-nation EU had no scientific basis to ban beef with hormones, which includes most U.S.-raised beef. It allowed theUnited States to impose 100% punitive tariffs on about two dozen EU products, doubling the price importers pay to bring them across the Atlantic.

New EU Label is Biotech Barrier
EU label requirement may end up warning consumers without scientific evidence to back it up.

Cost of BSE
BSE costsEurope Euro 100 billion and much of the cost will be carried by farmers.

USA

U.S. restaurants push chicken as beef prices soar
If you've been following the promotions ofU.S. restaurant chains recently, you may be asking that question.

U.S. awards contract for Iraq agriculture sector
Maryland-based consulting firm Development Alternatives Inc. has been awarded a $36.9 million contract to reformIraq's agriculture sector, the U.S. Agency for International Development said on Tuesday.

USDA reports red meat inventories up 2 percent, poultry down 5 percent
According to the USDA's Cold Storage Report, published on AgWeb.com, total red meat supplies in freezers in September were 2 percent above August levels, but were 16 percent below September 2002. Frozen pork stocks were up 1 percent over August, but 9 percent below the same period last year. Inventories of pork bellies dropped 43 percent but were 8 percent above September 2002 stocks.

Nebraska study: Vaccine shows promise in reducing E. coli
In another positive step for the industry's fight against E. coli, a vaccine was shown to significantly reduce E. coli O157:H7 in feedlot cattle, research from the University of Nebraskashows.

Beef for Breakfast
New beef patty launched for breakfast using underused cuts of meat.

High hopes of 'free trade' on US-Aus agenda
Business groups and farm leaders are hoping the prospects for a free trade deal between Australia and the United States will be top of the agenda when US President George W Bush arrives in Canberra.