Reuters — Dow Chemical and DuPont won the blessing of the European Union for their US$130 billion merger on Monday by agreeing to sell substantial assets including key research and development activities. The European Commission had been concerned that the merger of two of the biggest and oldest U.S. chemical producers would leave few incentives […] Read more
Asset sale plan secures EU backing for Dow, DuPont merger
EU chemical agency says glyphosate not carcinogenic
Helsinki | Reuters — Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, should not be classified as a substance causing cancer, the European Chemical Agency concluded on Wednesday, potentially paving the way for its licence renewal in the EU. A transatlantic row over possible risks to human health has prompted investigations by congressional committees in […] Read more
EU regulators reported set to clear Dow, DuPont deal
Brussels | Reuters — Dow Chemical and DuPont are set to win EU antitrust approval for their US$130 billion merger, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The deal, which still needs approval from U.S. and other regulators, has faced intense scrutiny from the European Commission. Of particular concern is combining the two […] Read more
U.K. farming minister seeks big changes to farm policy post-Brexit
Birmingham | Reuters –– Britain’s farm policy is set for a major shake-up when the country leaves the European Union because the current system is poor value for money, has too much red tape and provides few incentives to use the latest technologies, farming and environment minister Andrea Leadsom said Tuesday. Leadsom said she was […] Read more
Italy’s pasta labeling plan raises Canadian concerns
Winnipeg/Rome | Reuters — Canada has raised concerns with Rome about Italy’s plan to require country-of-origin labels on pasta sold there, Canada’s agriculture minister said on Wednesday about a move that is alarming Canadian wheat exporters just as a free trade deal gained European approval. Rome sent a draft decree to the European Commission in […] Read more
EU, Canada secure clearance to kick-start free trade deal
Strasbourg | Reuters — The European Union and Canada secured clearance on Wednesday for their contentious free trade deal and the removal of import duties that supporters say will boost growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. The two parties can claim a success for their open markets policy after months of protest […] Read more
EU said set to approve ChemChina bid for Syngenta
Brussels | Reuters — ChemChina is set to secure conditional EU antitrust approval for its US$43 billion bid for Swiss pesticides and seeds group Syngenta, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The deal — the largest foreign acquisition by a Chinese company — is important for China, the world’s largest agricultural market, […] Read more
Harmony Beef announces opening date
Refurbished plant will feature state-of-the-art processing technology, not seen before in Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes The opening date has been pushed back multiple times, but Harmony Beef is slated to open Feb. 22 and has cattle booked for the first couple of months. “When we start out, we’ll start very slowly,” said owner Rich Vesta. The American meat-packing industry veteran bought the shuttered Rancher’s Beef plant just north of Calgary […] Read more
Key European body backs EU-Canada trade deal
Brussels | Reuters — A planned EU-Canada free-trade deal moved closer to reality on Tuesday after a key committee advised the European Parliament to give its backing after months of protests and heated debate. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is seen as a test of Europe’s ability to forge future trade accords […] Read more
Syngenta sees no sale of ChemChina’s Adama to smooth merger
Davos, Switzerland | Reuters –– Syngenta, the Swiss pesticides and seeds group being taken over by ChemChina, does not expect antitrust regulators to force the Chinese state-owned company to put its subsidiary Adama up for sale, Syngenta’s CEO said on Tuesday. “Adama will not need to be sold. There will be some remedies in both […] Read more
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