Tokyo | Reuters — Japan is considering scrapping import restrictions on U.S. beef purchases that were put in place after the first case of BSE in the U.S. in 2003, local media reported on Thursday. Both the Nikkei business daily and Mainichi newspaper said officials are discussing removing the curbs that currently only allow beef […] Read more

Japan considers scrapping age limit on U.S. beef imports

Japan resumes Canadian wheat purchases
Quick response by government and industry credited for quick resumption in sales to major wheat buyer
Reading Time: 2 minutes Japan has resumed purchases of Canadian wheat after testing found no genetically modified wheat in imports following the discovery of a few GM wheat plants in Alberta last summer. The decision “proves that Canada’s science-based regulatory system works,” said the general manager of the Alberta Wheat Commission. “Not only does Canada’s grain-handling system employ some […] Read more

Japan resumes Canadian wheat purchases
Tokyo | Reuters — Japan’s agriculture ministry said Friday it had resumed purchases of Canadian wheat after testing showed no imports that reached the country included grain containing a genetically modified trait discovered in Alberta last summer. Japan’s agriculture ministry said it was seeking to buy 62,957 tonnes of food-quality Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, […] Read more

Chinese demand boosting Canadian wheat, barley exports
CNS Canada — China is making major moves to import more Canadian wheat and barley this year. Data released by the Canadian Grain Commission show China more than tripled its wheat imports, taking in 979,100 tonnes as of May, up from 295,300 tonnes in the same period of 2016-17 and an increase of 231.6 per […] Read more

Japan still trusts Canadian wheat system, say officials
Country is a top wheat customer and will continue to be despite GM wheat incident, they say
Reading Time: 5 minutes Relationships still matter when it comes to trade, and Alberta officials say those will be key in re-establishing wheat sales with one of the country’s biggest buyers. No sooner had news broken that a small number of genetically modified wheat plants had been found in Alberta than industry reps were arranging to meet with officials […] Read more

Wheat shipment halt seen as temporary
Wheat sales are expected to soon resume to Japan and South Korea. Both nations suspended Canadian wheat imports following the June 15 announcement that Canada had discovered several genetically modified (GM) wheat plants in southern Alberta. But both are expected to come back to the market shortly, while exports to others won’t be affected, according […] Read more

Feed weekly outlook: Markets watch Japan wheat ban, trade fights
CNS Canada — A Japanese ban on Canadian wheat might eventually push more wheat into feed markets, but traders say that’s not happening so far. Japan, Canada’s No. 2 wheat buyer after the U.S., instituted the ban last Friday after genetically modified wheat was discovered growing in Alberta. GM wheat is not approved for commercial […] Read more

Japan suspends sale of Canadian wheat
Tokyo/Winnipeg | Reuters — Japan’s farm ministry said Friday it has suspended its tender and sale of wheat from Canada after grain containing a genetically modified trait was discovered last summer in Alberta. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said Thursday the wheat containing a genetically modified trait, developed by Monsanto to tolerate Roundup herbicide, […] Read more

OIE declares Brazil free of foot-and-mouth, with vaccination
Paris | Reuters — The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) declared Brazil free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) with vaccination on Thursday, opening new export prospects for the world’s largest beef exporter. The OIE already considered most of Brazil to be free of FMD with vaccination. The declaration, which the government had been expecting since […] Read more

U.S. to take another look at Pacific trade pact
Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump has asked his trade advisers to look at rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multinational trade pact he withdrew the U.S. from last year, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said. Republican senators met with Trump on Thursday and he told them that he has asked U.S. Trade Representative […] Read more