Asia Pacific | Bush backs free tradeUnited States president George W Bush h...

Asia Pacific

Bush backs free trade
United States president George W Bush has reinforced his commitment to a free trade agreement with Australia

Singapore, S Korea agree to have FTA
Singapore and South Korea will begin talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) early next year with the aim of inking the deal within 12 months, their leaders have announced. (WN)

Americas

Brazil calls U.S. bluff on FTAA threat
A day after theUnited States said it would build an Americas-wide free trade area with or without Brazil, a minister for the South American nation said the project could not exist without it.

Europe

300 Cattle to Be Killed After TB Is Found in Scots Herd
A herd of cattle in Lanarkshire will be slaughtered this week after tests confirmed that 20% of the animals had tuberculosis. It will be the first such action inScotland since 1996.

EU pushes for a permanent hormone-beef ban
The U.S. beef industry's assessment of last week's announcement by the European Union to permanently ban U.S. hormone-treated beef is that the ban is a complete violation of international trade rules. The EU contends that recent scientific studies bear out the EU contention that hormone-treated beef poses a potential health risk. In addition, the EU is asking that the United States lift $115 million in punitive tariffs imposed on EU goods. The WTO allows countries to ban products on health grounds so long as the ban is backed by an adequate risk assessment. But the WTO already backed the United States and ruled that the EU must drop the ban or prove it is scientifically valid. You can expect more WTO hearings on this issue in the future. For more information on the U.S. beef industry's reaction, go to the NCBA's Web site.

USA

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman In Reference to Today’s Ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Regarding the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act
“I am disappointed that the U.S. Court of Appeals did not overturn the lower court’s ruling. USDA regards such programs, when properly administered, as effective tools for market enhancement. We are consulting with the U.S. Department of Justice to determine the next steps regarding this matter.”

BSE Code Reassessed
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has updated its international standards published in the OIE Code, in a bid to protect public and animal health while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers.

UPDATE 2-US Appeals court-pork ad program unconstitutional
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a lower court decision that a $50 million pork marketing program was unconstitutional because it forcedU.S. farmers to contribute money for an advertising campaign.

Court Upholds Decision the Pork Checkoff is Unconstitutional
The decision by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan which declared the pork checkoff program unconstitutional has been upheld in the 6th Circuit Court.

Checkoff Decisions Continue to Be Upheld
Circuit Courts continue to uphold the unconstitutionality of the beef and pork checkoff programs.

U.S. beef exports continue to run ahead of imports
In spite of record-high domestic-beef prices, the United States continued to be a net exporter of beef during August. On a month-to-month basis, August's figures were down from July but were up from last August, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center. U.S. exports are, in part, helping make up for the loss of Canadian beef in international trade. Not surprisingly, our exports to Canada are down sharply. Exports to Japan are on par with last year, while those to Mexico and Korea are up significantly. For more information, click here.

Where's the Farmer's Interest in WTO Trade Talks? 
NFU is siding with developing countries stating that the focus of international global trade talks must address those of the farmers.

FDA to decide on safety of cloned meat
Because of safety concerns, the FDA has held off on allowing meat from cloned animals to be put on the market, but since early this year companies that have cloned animals have been submitting independently generated research to the FDA.

Court upholds ruling against checkoff
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a judge's decision that hog farmers cannot be forced to pay for the national pork promotion program.

Asia Pacific

Bush backs free trade
United States president George W Bush has reinforced his commitment to a free trade agreement with Australia

Singapore, S Korea agree to have FTA
Singapore and South Korea will begin talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) early next year with the aim of inking the deal within 12 months, their leaders have announced. (WN)

Americas

Brazil calls U.S. bluff on FTAA threat
A day after theUnited States said it would build an Americas-wide free trade area with or without Brazil, a minister for the South American nation said the project could not exist without it.

Europe

300 Cattle to Be Killed After TB Is Found in Scots Herd
A herd of cattle in Lanarkshire will be slaughtered this week after tests confirmed that 20% of the animals had tuberculosis. It will be the first such action inScotland since 1996.

EU pushes for a permanent hormone-beef ban
The U.S. beef industry's assessment of last week's announcement by the European Union to permanently ban U.S. hormone-treated beef is that the ban is a complete violation of international trade rules. The EU contends that recent scientific studies bear out the EU contention that hormone-treated beef poses a potential health risk. In addition, the EU is asking that the United States lift $115 million in punitive tariffs imposed on EU goods. The WTO allows countries to ban products on health grounds so long as the ban is backed by an adequate risk assessment. But the WTO already backed the United States and ruled that the EU must drop the ban or prove it is scientifically valid. You can expect more WTO hearings on this issue in the future. For more information on the U.S. beef industry's reaction, go to the NCBA's Web site.

USA

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman In Reference to Today’s Ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Regarding the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act
“I am disappointed that the U.S. Court of Appeals did not overturn the lower court’s ruling. USDA regards such programs, when properly administered, as effective tools for market enhancement. We are consulting with the U.S. Department of Justice to determine the next steps regarding this matter.”

BSE Code Reassessed
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has updated its international standards published in the OIE Code, in a bid to protect public and animal health while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers.

UPDATE 2-US Appeals court-pork ad program unconstitutional
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a lower court decision that a $50 million pork marketing program was unconstitutional because it forcedU.S. farmers to contribute money for an advertising campaign.

Court Upholds Decision the Pork Checkoff is Unconstitutional
The decision by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan which declared the pork checkoff program unconstitutional has been upheld in the 6th Circuit Court.

Checkoff Decisions Continue to Be Upheld
Circuit Courts continue to uphold the unconstitutionality of the beef and pork checkoff programs.

U.S. beef exports continue to run ahead of imports
In spite of record-high domestic-beef prices, the United States continued to be a net exporter of beef during August. On a month-to-month basis, August's figures were down from July but were up from last August, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center. U.S. exports are, in part, helping make up for the loss of Canadian beef in international trade. Not surprisingly, our exports to Canada are down sharply. Exports to Japan are on par with last year, while those to Mexico and Korea are up significantly. For more information, click here.

Where's the Farmer's Interest in WTO Trade Talks? 
NFU is siding with developing countries stating that the focus of international global trade talks must address those of the farmers.

FDA to decide on safety of cloned meat
Because of safety concerns, the FDA has held off on allowing meat from cloned animals to be put on the market, but since early this year companies that have cloned animals have been submitting independently generated research to the FDA.

Court upholds ruling against checkoff
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a judge's decision that hog farmers cannot be forced to pay for the national pork promotion program.