ASIA-PACIFIC | NCBA Pushes for Waiver of Trade Safeguard - 8/15/2002  Two go...

ASIA-PACIFIC

NCBA Pushes for Waiver of Trade Safeguard - 8/15/2002  Two government offices receive a letter, asking that they take the lead in making sure Japan's BSE problems don't slow U.S. exports to that country.

Cattlemen ask government to help boost beef export efforts to Japan (Registration required) Following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalapathy, or mad cow disease in Japan on Sept. 10, 2001, that country's beef market has suffered. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has asked two U.S. government offices to take the lead in making sure this extraordinary event doesn't further slow U.S. exports to that country, which is the largest export market for U.S. beef..

Execs to resign over beef scandal The pair take the fall for Nippon Meat Packers' attempt to defraud a BSE-related aid program.

Farm ministry confirms false labeling of beef by NittoBest TOKYO, Aug. 16 Kyodo - NittoBest Corp. falsely labeled various kinds of beef used in its canned products as exclusively prestigious types of domestic beef, the farm ministry said Friday. (20 :53)

Increasingly, Japanese Look Back in Anger: On Anniversary of Defeat In WWII, an Unrepentant View Is Gaining Favor (Post, Aug. 16, 2002) TOKYO, Aug. 15 -- On the anniversary of their country's defeat, Japanese packed into a controversial museum at a shrine for the war dead today to see World War II depicted as a fight foisted on them by conniving Americans, a war of "defense" in which kamikazes are praised, a war in which there is no mention of massacres or comfort women or war crimes.

GM throws Isuzu a lifeline  Automaker gives $500M to its struggling Japanese affiliate.

ASEAN-China free trade plan takes shape quickly: Thai official The framework for a planned free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and China is taking shape quickly, said a Thai official

Taiwan's Economy Grew Faster-Than-Expected 4% Last Quarter From Year Ago Taiwan's economy grew in the second quarter at the fastest pace in more than two years as mobile-phone and computer makers shipped more goods to China, countering a slowdown in U.S. demand. More...

AMERICAS

Mexico's Border Factories Cut Production and Jobs as U.S. Economy Falters Gustavo Sanchez said he knew the U.S. economic recovery was faltering when General Motors Corp. told him they would need 40 percent fewer of the parts he makes for vehicles such as the Chevrolet Suburban. More...

White House caught off guard by Fox decision to cancel visit DES MOINES, Iowa - The White House put the brightest face it could on President Vicente Fox's snub of an invitation to President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, emphasizing what it said are strong ties between the two countries.... Full  Story

Mexico and U.S. near sweetener agreement, inside sources say Mexico and the United States are close to breaking a deal that could resolve a four-year trade dispute over sweeteners, lawmakers told The News on Thursday. Under the proposed agreement, the U.S. will increase its quota of Mexican sugar imports to 275,00 tons for the year Oct. 1, 2002 to Sept. 30, 2003, and then by 25,000 tons each year thereafter until the nation's entire 500,000-ton sugar surplus is exported.... Full  Story

Economy posts positive growth led by services The economy grew 2.1 percent during the second quarter compared to the same period last year, emerging onto solid ground after nine months of contraction, the government said Thursday. The results... Full  Story

Support for Cuba Embargo Weakens WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite President Bush's tough line on Cuba, support for trade sanctions is crumbling in Congress, with anti-Castro activists struggling to preserve an embargo that has lasted more than 40 years.

CANADA: Chicken farmers set to implement on-farm food safety programme 16 August 2002Lyle Vanclief, minister of agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, has announced that Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) has successfully completed the technical review of its On-Farm Food Safety programme, Safe, Safer, Safest. 

EUROPE-RUSSIA-ME

Putin Keeps Focus on Nation's Economy The recent dust-up between U.S. and Russian officials over construction of a nuclear plant in Iran demonstrated that the single most defining priority governing President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy is economic.

USA

Half of continental US affected by drought July's hot, dry conditions have led to persistent or worsening drought in many states, say scientists at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina. At the end of July, 49% of the contiguous US was in moderate to extreme drought and 37% of the country was affected by severe to extreme drought. Even so, this year isn't a Dust Bowl competitor. 08/15/2002 07:24 a.m. CDT

Feed industry group helping USDA with $150 mil. aid program The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) helping USDA implement the $150 million in emergency feed assistance for cow/calf producers Ag Secretary Ann Veneman announced Monday. The funds are available for supplemental feed to producers in drought-stricken Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Among several other measures, AFIA is helping with the mechanics of moving funds and necessary paperwork, as well as getting the message out to the feed industry nationwide. 08/15/2002 10:39 a.m. CDT

Hearing Scheduled for Animal Biotechnology - 8/16/2002  The National Academies' National Research Council will release its report on concerns associated with genetically engineered and cloned animals.

House Ag Committee to hold hearings on livestock industry structure Following-up on a pledge at the completion of the Farm Bill, House Agriculture Chairman Rep. Larry Combest (R-Texas) has asked state and national producer groups, agricultural economists, national farm groups, packers and the Secretary of Agriculture to "respond to specific questions that will lay the foundation for hearings on the current state of livestock markets."

Pork Niche Marketing Conference set for Sept. 10 at Iowa State The National Pork Board is sponsoring a Niche Pork Marketing Conference for pork producers and processors interested in developing niche markets for pork on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Iowa State University's Scheman Building in Ames.

Look It Up 08/16/2002 USDA updates its database of nutrient standards for meat, poultry, and other food.

Beefing Up Beef Sales 08/16/2002 Beef group coordinates promotion programs to boost beef consumption