Chicago | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill reported a three per cent increase in adjusted quarterly profit on Thursday, citing strong consumer demand for meat and eggs in North America and growth in its animal nutrition businesses. Cargill, the largest privately held U.S. company, said its adjusted operating earnings rose to $908 million in […] Read more
Cargill’s quarterly profit up on beef, egg demand
Japan deal levels field for U.S. beef, but sales surge unlikely
Tokyo/Chicago | Reuters — U.S. beef exporters, unhappy after President Donald Trump pulled out of a multilateral trade pact in 2017, stand to sell more meat in Japan after the U.S. leader and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cut a deal to slice into tariffs. But agriculture experts say that for now, that boost may […] Read more
U.S. agriculture official calls trade tensions with China ‘new normal’
Buenos Aires | Reuters — The United States and China are still in the early stages of their trade war and tensions that arise from it should be considered the “new normal,” a U.S. Department of Agriculture official said on Wednesday. Washington has tried to hold China accountable for its trade practices and not sought […] Read more
U.S., Japan sign limited trade deal
New York | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a limited trade deal on Wednesday that cuts tariffs on U.S. farm goods, Japanese machine tools and other products while further staving off the threat of higher U.S. car duties. Trump said the deal would open up Japanese markets […] Read more
Hopes for trade breakthrough fade as China cancels U.S. farm visits
Chicago | Reuters — A U.S.-China trade deal appeared elusive on Friday after Chinese officials unexpectedly canceled a visit to farms in Montana and Nebraska amid two days of ongoing talks in Washington. Chinese officials were expected to visit U.S. farmers next week as a goodwill gesture, but canceled to return to China sooner than […] Read more
China to exempt U.S. pork, soybeans from additional tariffs
Shanghai | Reuters — China will exempt some agricultural products from additional tariffs on U.S. goods, including pork and soybeans, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Friday, in the latest sign of easing Sino-U.S. tensions before a new round of talks aimed at curbing a bruising trade war. The United States and China have both […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans extend gains on big Chinese purchase
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures hit a six-week high on Friday as China’s first large purchase of U.S. beans in months and easing of some duties on U.S. exports fuelled hopes of a detente in the tariff war between Washington and Beijing. Corn also firmed as signs of a U.S.-China trade thaw sparked […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn ease on crop-boosting weather
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures retreated on Wednesday ahead of an eagerly awaited U.S. government crop report, pressured by forecasts for favourable Midwest crop weather and disappointment that China did not include the oilseed on a list of U.S. imports exempted from tariffs. Corn also weakened as late-planted U.S. crops were seen benefiting […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy slumps on improved crop rating
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures retreated on Tuesday on improving crop prospects and a lack of progress in trade talks with China, the world’s top importer of the oilseed, traders said. Prices took a hit after soybeans climbed on Monday on short covering and hopes for easing tensions in the trade war between […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybean futures rise as trade tensions ease
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose on Monday as President Donald Trump predicted a trade deal with China, cooling fears about escalating tensions with the top importer of the oilseed. Traders grew hopeful that the world’s two largest economies could move toward an agreement to end their trade war as Trump said he […] Read more