Asia Pacific | UPDATE 1-Little benefit seen from Australia-U.S. trade pactCA...

Asia Pacific

UPDATE 1-Little benefit seen from Australia-U.S. trade pact
CANBERRA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A free trade agreement with the United States will bring little benefit to Australia, analysts and economists said on Monday after the deal failed to meet hopes on agriculture, although business groups welcomed it.

Korean meat consumption down for first time in 5 years
For the first time in five years meat consumption in Korea decreased, thanks to a down economy and concerns over the safety of meat and poultry.

Japan's Yoshinoya chain to stop serving beef
TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A fast-food chain that operates nearly 1,000 restaurants throughout Japan said on Monday it would stop serving its trademark beef dishes later in the week after a ban on U.S. beef imports left it without supplies of the meat.

Australia-U.S. free trade deal draws mixed response
CANBERRA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Australia's free trade agreement with the United States drew a mixed response on Monday with the nation's sugar industry angry at being sacrificed for a deal that business groups praised as a boost to the country's economy.

JAPAN: Yoshinoya halts gyudon sales on US beef ban
Leading Japanese fastfood chain, Yoshinoya, will stop serving the popular gyudon rice bowls, which are topped with beef, as the government’s ban on US beef hits home.

PM hitches our trade to the US
THE Howard Government has moved to further tie Australia's future interests to the US, under a historic trade pact offering lucrative opportunities for manufacturing and the services sector.

Europe

Commonwealth states call for trade talks to resume
GENEVA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Four Commonwealth nations urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Monday to break an impasse over free trade talks, saying trade held the key to fighting global poverty.

USA

USDA to announce end of mad cow probe-industry source
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department is likely to announce the end of its investigation of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease at a briefing on Monday, a U.S. meat industry official said.

RPT-USDA to hold 12 noon EST briefing on mad cow probe
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it will hold a briefing for reporters at 12:00 p.m. EST (1700 GMT) on Monday to discuss the its investigation into the nation's first reported case of mad cow disease.

Daschle pushes to exempt beef from Australian FTA
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle urged President Bush to exclude beef from a free trade agreement withAustralia, which could complicate any negotiations, Reuters reported.

U.S. Government Officials To Provide Technical Briefing On The BSE Investigation
U.S. Government officials will provide a technical briefing on the wrap up of the BSE investigation on Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
WEBCAST will begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.Click to listen (requires Windows Media Player)

Asia Pacific

UPDATE 1-Little benefit seen from Australia-U.S. trade pact
CANBERRA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A free trade agreement with the United States will bring little benefit to Australia, analysts and economists said on Monday after the deal failed to meet hopes on agriculture, although business groups welcomed it.

Korean meat consumption down for first time in 5 years
For the first time in five years meat consumption in Korea decreased, thanks to a down economy and concerns over the safety of meat and poultry.

Japan's Yoshinoya chain to stop serving beef
TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A fast-food chain that operates nearly 1,000 restaurants throughout Japan said on Monday it would stop serving its trademark beef dishes later in the week after a ban on U.S. beef imports left it without supplies of the meat.

Australia-U.S. free trade deal draws mixed response
CANBERRA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Australia's free trade agreement with the United States drew a mixed response on Monday with the nation's sugar industry angry at being sacrificed for a deal that business groups praised as a boost to the country's economy.

JAPAN: Yoshinoya halts gyudon sales on US beef ban
Leading Japanese fastfood chain, Yoshinoya, will stop serving the popular gyudon rice bowls, which are topped with beef, as the government’s ban on US beef hits home.

PM hitches our trade to the US
THE Howard Government has moved to further tie Australia's future interests to the US, under a historic trade pact offering lucrative opportunities for manufacturing and the services sector.

Europe

Commonwealth states call for trade talks to resume
GENEVA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Four Commonwealth nations urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Monday to break an impasse over free trade talks, saying trade held the key to fighting global poverty.

USA

USDA to announce end of mad cow probe-industry source
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department is likely to announce the end of its investigation of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease at a briefing on Monday, a U.S. meat industry official said.

RPT-USDA to hold 12 noon EST briefing on mad cow probe
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it will hold a briefing for reporters at 12:00 p.m. EST (1700 GMT) on Monday to discuss the its investigation into the nation's first reported case of mad cow disease.

Daschle pushes to exempt beef from Australian FTA
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle urged President Bush to exclude beef from a free trade agreement withAustralia, which could complicate any negotiations, Reuters reported.

U.S. Government Officials To Provide Technical Briefing On The BSE Investigation
U.S. Government officials will provide a technical briefing on the wrap up of the BSE investigation on Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
WEBCAST will begin at 12:00 p.m. EST.Click to listen (requires Windows Media Player)