Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday for the first time that a deal to renegotiate NAFTA was likely, amid signs negotiators may be closer to settling one of the regional trade pact’s most contentious issues. “We remain very confident that a win-win-win deal is not only possible, but likely,” Trudeau […] Read more
Trudeau optimistic on NAFTA as deal on autos seen possible
U.S. grains: Soy tumbles on acreage outlook
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures tumbled on Wednesday, pressured by technical selling and outlooks for record-large U.S. plantings this year, traders and analysts said. Chicago Board of Trade May soybean futures dropped 16-1/2 cents, or 1.7 per cent, to $10.32-1/4 per bushel (all figures US$). Prices accelerated declines at late-morning after advisory service […] Read more
U.S. farm group targets Trump with free-trade ads
Washington | Reuters — A farm lobbying group is spending US$500,000 to air television ads on channels near U.S. President Donald Trump’s home in Florida to encourage free trade, with the group worried recent metal tariffs could result in retaliation against U.S. agricultural goods. Farmers for Free Trade, a bipartisan group, on Tuesday said it […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: India not a guaranteed market
CNS Canada — Despite positive developments between Canada and India in regards to pulse crops, the CEO of Pulse Canada is warning producers not to rely on India as market for pulses. “India is not the market that it was eight months ago and it emphasizes the need to find alternate markets,” Gordon Bacon said. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn, soy turn higher on technical buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soy futures notched modest gains on Monday, with prices turning higher on technical buying after earlier lows, traders said. Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures recovered from a three-week low and CBOT wheat from a 1-1/2 week low. CBOT May soybeans settled up 1-3/4 cents at $10.41 per […] Read more
China says U.S. soybeans ‘prime target’ over tariffs
Chicago | Reuters –– Chinese officials have said U.S. soybeans are a prime target for retaliation against tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on steel and aluminum imports, according to the American Soybean Association. Farm groups have long feared that China, which imports more than a third of all U.S. soybeans, could slow their purchases […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Alberta pea area tries to hang on
CNS Canada — Despite a drop in spot prices due to tariffs imposed by India on peas, one industry expert says she isn’t convinced that means acreage will drastically be reduced in Alberta this spring. “I think we’ll see a little bit of a drop, but I don’t think it will be as impactful as […] Read more
Asia-Pacific nations sign sweeping trade deal without U.S.
Santiago | Reuters — Eleven countries including Canada and Japan signed a landmark Asia-Pacific trade agreement without the U.S. on Thursday in what one minister called a powerful signal against protectionism and trade wars. The deal came as U.S. President Donald Trump vowed earlier in the day to press ahead with a plan to impose […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down, but off seven-week lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle slid to a seven-week bottom on Thursday, led by fund liquidation, traders said. Futures’ discount to this week’s slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle prices freed contracts from session lows, they said. April closed 1.2 cents/lb. at 121.775 cents (all figures US$). June finished 1.55 cents lower at […] Read more
Canada sticks to measured tack in U.S. trade row
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is sticking to its keep-calm strategy as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up trade war rhetoric, convinced that no move is the best move for the country with the most to lose, but critics say it risks being a soft target if its strategy fails. While the European Union immediately […] Read more
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