ASIA-PACIFIC | Gov't drafts schedule for accelerated bad loan disposals  TOK...

ASIA-PACIFIC

Gov't drafts schedule for accelerated bad loan disposals  TOKYO, Nov. 27 Kyodo - The government has drafted a timetable for implementing a package of measures to accelerate the disposal of banks' bad loans, forcing troubled banks to produce results in business improvement within a year, not three years as previously allowed, government sources said Wednesday. (23 :03)

China targeted as top export market China is set to become Australia's top export market for many agricultural and resource commodities. [FULL STORY]

Design to Improve Australian Meat Industry 11/26/2002 Meat and Livestock Australia focuses on a sustainable future for red meat industry.

Australia Looks to Diversify 11/26/2002 Untapped potential for Australian beef exports to Korea.

AMERICAS

Little headway made in Mexico-U.S. binational meeting, Bush asks for patience on migration accord - The News - High-level Cabinet talks between Mexico and the United States on Tuesday ended with few concrete advances on an agenda of simmering problems between the two nations, besides renewed pledges to keep dialogue open.... Full  Story

Fox farm package lacks novelty, says opposition- The News- Opposition politicians on Tuesday claimed President Vicente Fox's concern over NAFTA's possible harm to the agricultural sector is little more than rhetoric, and is not backed by fresh initiatives. ... Full  Story

Mexico garners $9 billion-plus in foreign investment in 9 months – EFE - Mexico received 9.028 billion dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first nine months of the year, bolstering the belief the country will reach its 13 billion-dollar goal for 2002 by the end... Full  Story

Fox Says It's Time to Reopen Talks on Immigration Concerns: Senior U.S. Delegation Gives Mexico No Signal of Action Soon (Post, Nov. 27, 2002) MEXICO CITY, Nov. 26 -- President Vicente Fox urged Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and other visiting U.S. Cabinet members today to restart stalled negotiations on improving U.S.-Mexico immigration rules, but Powell offered no hope of early progress on the divisive issue.

South America soy to set oilseed price, says Oil World South American soybean production will be a critical factor in setting oilseed prices in coming months, Hamburg-based newsletter Oil World said. With a lower U.S. soybean crop this year and falling production of several other oilseeds, a good South American soybean crop will be needed to meet demand, the newsletter said.11/26/2002 08:04 a.m.

EUROPE-RUSSIA-ME

Controlling Salmonella 11/26/2002 Dutch pig industry agrees the main features of a new Salmonella control programme.

USA

U.S. Proposes Tariff-Free World to WTO WTO proposal would eliminate tariffs on industrial and consumer goods by 2015 11/26/2002

A Tariff-Free World? The White House proposed that all WTO members eliminate tariffs on industrial and consumer goods by 2015 and exhorted trading partners to respond with similarly bold initiatives.

Ag Central to Free-Trade Talks - 11/27/2002 Canada, Australia, Mexico trade issues all part of this holiday's news.

CDT US food makers say country-of-origin labels too costly Country-of-origin labels on hamburger, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables -- newly mandated by US farm policy law -- will be costly, the Food Marketing Institute tells Reuters. FMI says the paperwork alone will cost American food makers $2 billion for the first year and $1.6 billion annually after that. Use of the labels will become mandatory on October 1, 2004. US farm groups widely support the labels, Reuters reports, but FMI says much of the burden will fall on consumers in higher costs. 11/26/2002 05:33 a.m. CDT

Greater Omaha Packing certified to export non-hormone beef to EU Greater Omaha Packing Co. was certified on Nov. 12 by the Agriculture Department FSIS Export Division to export non-hormone treated fresh and frozen beef to the European Union, according to a company news release.

Farmland Could Sell Pork Plants 11/26/2002 Pork producers are believed to be interested in Farmland pig meat processing sector.

NPB Approves 2003 Checkoff Program Budget - 11/27/2002 Spending reflects 12.5% reduction in expected revenue.