Agriculture & Agri-Food Export/Import International News

Aug. 7, 2009 >> Obama urged to ‘make the case’ for free trade
By Edward Luce in Washington ; The US’s largest trade and business groups will on Wednesday call on Barack Obama to “make the case” for international trade agreements following what many believe has been months of dangerous drift in Washington.

“The United States cannot stand still in the international economic sphere,” the groups say in a joint letter to the president obtained by the Financial Times. “We need to revitalise our export and international trade leadership by moving forward on multilateral, regional and bilateral market-opening opportunities.”

US business leaders have expressed growing concern about the Obama administration’s reluctance to breathe life into the stalled Doha Round of world trade talks or to pick up on bilateral trade deals with Panama, Colombia and South Korea that were bequeathed by the Bush administration.

They have raised concerns about declining support for free trade in the US heartland, where growing unemployment has increased hostility to deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Mr Obama pledged during the campaign to re-open for negotiation.
The letter, which is signed by the presidents of the US Chamber of Commerce, the Emergency Committee for American Trade, the Business Roundtable, the National Foreign Trade Council, the National Association of Manufacturers and the United States Council for International Business, calls on Mr Obama to explain the benefits of trade deals to the US electorate.

Mr Obama has said he will make a big speech on trade but the White House has yet to fix a date. Trade groups suspect that the president’s advisers have counseled against such a speech while the administration tries to use its political capital to push healthcare reform. The White House declined to comment on the letter on Tuesday.

“Until now the Obama administration has been entirely reactive on trade,” said Calman Cohen, head of the Emergency Committee for American Trade. “Instead of proposing trade initiatives it has ceded leadership to Congress, which has adopting market closing rather than market opening initiatives, such as the buy American provisions in the fiscal stimulus package.”
However, defenders of the administration point out that Mr Obama has dropped the more protectionist elements of his campaign rhetoric, notably the promise to renegotiate the labor and environmental clauses in NAFTA. They also point out that the politics of free trade would be particularly difficult during a recession.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

July 30, 2009 >> Canada – Traceability a Detriment Unless All Countries Comply: Ted Bilyea, a former senior executive with Maple Leaf Foods says that Canada gets labelled as being riddled with animal health and disease issues because it has an effective surveillance system and is transparent in reporting outbreaks. Many other countries may or may not have surveillance in place or report what they’re finding. Web Site

July 30, 2009 >> Twenty- Eighth Regional Conference for Latin America and the Carribean This is a 2004 report but might contain useful information for anyone interested in this area. Web site.

LIMA, Peru, May 22, 2009 – Colombia and Peru are vital markets for Canadian livestock, grain, and pulse producers and the Government of Canada is working hard to quickly pass and implement free trade agreements with both countries. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz led a Canadian delegation to Colombia and Peru to advance quick implementation of these important free trade agreements.

Meetings between Canada and Colombia resulted in a clear path that will enable Colombia to fully reopen the Colombian market to Canadian beef and livestock.

“Canada’s Conservative Government is working hard to create opportunities for Canadians producers around the world and we are building a strong relationship between Canada and Colombia as we move forward with our free trade agreement,” said Minister Ritz. “I am confident that we can meet and exceed Colombia’s high quality and safety standards to reopen that market to our beef and livestock this summer.

“This breakthrough agreement gives us a clear direction to once again scientifically prove that Canadian beef and livestock are safe. We continue to deliver the same stringent sanitary and health standards whether we are producing food for Canadian grocery stores or markets around the world.”

In addition to the Andean Community’s ongoing study of Canadian beef and livestock sanitary and phytosanitary systems, it was agreed that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will provide Colombia with detailed analysis of the two most recent cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, complete a technical questionnaire requested by Colombia, and provide updated information about Canada’s livestock and food safety systems and sanitary procedures. Colombia will deliver a final decision within 15 days of receiving the requested information from CFIA. If all requirements are satisfactorily met by Canada, Colombia will fully reopen its market to Canadian beef and livestock.

Successful completion of this process will reopen the first South American market to Canadian beef and livestock since 2003. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association estimates the Colombian market to be worth $6 million for Canadian beef exporters. The Canadian Beef Breeds Council estimates the increased exports of breeding stock and genetics will be worth another $1 million.

“Right now our competitors from places such as the United States and Argentina are negotiating or already have tariff-free access to markets in Colombia and Peru,” said Minister Ritz. “Canadian farm families are counting on all parties to pass legislation to implement these vital free trade agreements as quickly as possible. Our Conservative Government is committed to getting these deals in place a quickly as possible.”

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) reports that vital Canadian market share in Colombia and Peru is facing increasing competition from American and Argentine exporters.

• CWB sales of wheat and barley to Colombia and Peru are worth about $230 million.
• anadian wheat and barley exports to Colombia and Peru face applied tariff that historically average 15 per cent.
• Argentine exporters have tariff-free access to Colombia and Peru and free trade agreements with the U.S. will also give American exporters tariff-free access.

Pulse Canada reports that markets in Colombia and Peru are already worth about $100 million and growing, but Canadian exporters face increasing competition from American exporters.

• Canadian exports of pulse and specialty crops to Colombia are worth $80 million.
• Without a Canada-Colombia free trade agreement, Canadian pulse and specialty crops producers will face a 15 per cent tariff disadvantage.
• Canadian exports of pulse and specialty crops to Peru are worth $19 million.
• Without a Canada-Peru free trade agreement, Canadian producers will face a 25 per cent tariff disadvantage for lentils and peas and a 12 per cent tariff disadvantage for canary seed. Canadian bean producer face a tariff disadvantage of 60 per cent.

In Colombia, Minister Ritz met with Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez, Agriculture Minister Andres Fernandez, and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata. In Peru, Minister Ritz met with Minister of Agriculture Carlos Leyton and Minister of Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz.

For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-759-1059

May 20, 2009 >> U.S., EU reach provisional deal in beef dispute

The United States and European Union have agreed in principle to a deal that would gradually expand duty-free access for hormone-free U.S. beef in the European market in exchange for eliminating U.S. tariffs on EU products.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and European Union Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton on Wednesday issued a joint statement announcing "a way forward in the long-running dispute over hormone-treated beef."

Under the current quota, the EU allows 11,500 metric tons of hormone-free U.S. beef per year with a 20 percent duty. The agreement-in-principle would provide for a duty-free quota of 20,000 metric tons in its first three years and expand it to 45,000 metric tons beginning in the fourth year. The United States will maintain existing sanctions on EU products during the initial three-year period and eliminate all sanctions during the fourth year.

Also under the agreement, the two sides will not file additional litigation at the World Trade Organization related to the EU's ban on hormone-treated beef for a period of at least 18 months. The two sides also have agreed that during the four-year period they will try to hash out a longer-term pact.

"We hope that this initial opening will lead to a larger and fuller restoration of beef trade in the future," AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle said in a statement.

Hormone ban

Critics of the deal point out the United States will not gain significant access to the European beef market until the EU lifts its ban on beef treated with growth-promoting hormones.

"This accommodation conceded nothing in terms of the science; it is simply changing the terms of the payment plan," Gregg Doud, chief economist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said in a statement. "This gives the U.S. beef industry an opportunity to gain duty-free access to one of the most valuable markets in the world. But this does not resolve the hormone dispute."

The United States shipped 4,938 metric tons of U.S. beef to the European Union under the current quota in 2008, a 140 percent increase over 2007, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. By comparison, Mexico, the largest market for U.S. beef, imported 396,065 metric tons last year.

"The EU and the U.S. have agreed to extend the deadline for the retaliatory actions by at least two weeks until May 8," an EU source was quoted as saying. "Talks will begin in earnest on Monday in Geneva."

Last month, Washington decided to delay the duties until April 23 after Brussels offered a deal that would double from 11,500 metric tons the quota for non-hormone-treated U.S. beef in Europe in exchange for eliminating the U.S. duties on EU products. (See EU may double U.S. beef quota on Meatingplace, March 18, 2008.)

EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk reportedly are discussing a deal that could expand the quota to 50,000 metric tons in three separate phases in exchange for eliminating the tariffs, according to Reuters.

A big sticking point, however, is that antimicrobial washes used in the United States are prohibited in the European Union.

April 27, 2009 >> Canada challenging U.S. meat-labelling laws, Day says
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON — Canada is filing a formal complaint to the World Trade Organization about a U.S. country-of-origin meat-labelling law that International Trade Minister Stockwell Day says is devastating the Canadian livestock industry. During a meeting Monday in Washington, Day informed Ron Kirk, the top U.S. trade representative, about Canada's WTO challenge to the law, which essentially requires Canadian meat and other products to be labelled as such.
"It says we think this is offside," Day said of the notice to be filed in Geneva in the coming days. "I gave (Kirk) a head's up ... that we're moving ahead with it."

Cattle and livestock associations have been complaining bitterly about the so-called COOL law since it took effect in mid-March. Canada sells most of its meat to the U.S. They estimate the legislation has cost the cattle industry $400 million, while live hog exports to the U.S. have dropped by 40 per cent due to the stringent regulations. The law has also created a glut of meat on store shelves in Canada, meaning lower prices for producers. The industry has been pushing Ottawa to revive the WTO challenge for weeks, complaining that the labelling law amounts to a non-tariff trade barrier.

Initially, the law allowed meatpackers to identify their product as coming from North America. But U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack later asked the U.S. meat industry to go beyond those rules and identify products from Canada or Mexico. The legislation requires country-of-origin labelling on beef, pork, lamb, chicken, goat meat, wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, peanuts, pecans, ginseng and macadamia nuts.
It was formulated, congressional leaders have said, to meet the demands of U.S. consumers who want to know where their food comes from, for reasons that include a desire to reduce their carbon footprint and to "buy American."

The "Buy American" provision in the economic stimulus package, in fact, was another topic of conversation between Day and Kirk on Monday. Day said there is growing evidence that Canadian manufacturers are getting cut out of consideration when bidding for U.S. contracts.
"The 'Buy America' provision has the support of President Obama clearly in terms of the over-riding amendment which says that 'Buy America' has to ... live up to U.S. trade obligations, and international obligations, and we appreciate that," Day said.

"(However), it appears to be that there are those that are finding ways of imposing, putting pressure on the municipalities and the states to only 'Buy America,' and not necessarily to allow for Canadian bids on services and products. This is raising concern." Day said Canadian companies bidding on sewage and water treatment projects in the U.S. have complained about the situation, but didn't provide further details."We have some solutions we believe would assist in mitigating this ... we want to basically roll back any attempt or any provision which would exclude Canada from being able to enter into projects in the United States."
In Canada, Day said, American companies can bid on contracts at the provincial and municipal level."We want to make sure that's maintained for Canadian companies bidding into the United States."

Brazilian Private Sector Divided over Venezuela and Mercosur
(MercoPress)
The congressional controversy in Brazil over the incorporation of Venezuela has moved to the business sector. A group of Brazilian businessmen have begun lobbying strongly for Venezuela’s full membership but the process has been stalled by Brazilian and Paraguayan law makers. The legislative branches of Argentina and Uruguay have already approved the initiative.
The incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur will render Brazil a “strategic market not only because of its potential demand, but also because of its geo-economic and logistic condition”, said on Sunday Francisco Marcondes, president of the Venezuela-Brazil Chamber of Commerce Federation. For the full story, click here.

April 17, 2009 >> U.S. meat packers snub Canadian livestock; New red tape 'protectionism at its worst,' say hog farmers

Paul Vieira, Financial Post ; OTTAWA -- A controversial U.S. meat-labelling law has thrown the domestic livestock sector into crisis as major U.S.-based processors refuse to buy Canadian swine and cattle due to the added red tape the regulation entails. The Canadian cattle industry estimates the labelling law has cost its members $400-million, while data suggest sales of live hogs to the United States has plummeted by more than 40%.

Representatives for the cattle and pork industries are urging the federal government to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization, saying the law "clearly" represents a non-tariff barrier that threatens the livelihood of Canada's rural economy."Ultimately it will kill our producers in Canada," said Jurgen Preugschas, chairman of the Canadian Pork Council and a hog producer from Mayerthorpe, Alta. "It is protectionism at its worst - without understanding what the ramifications are." The crisis enveloping the domestic livestock industry comes as world leaders have pledged to rip down trade barriers in order to get trade flowing again and mitigate further fallout from the financial crisis. The World Trade Organization has predicted global trade volumes are set to shrink this year by 9%, the first such contraction since 1982.
Mr. Preugschas acknowledges that a trade challenge won't do much, as it will take years before a final verdict is reached. "But you have to do it to make a point that you can't willy-nilly come up with laws that violate trade agreements," he said.

The law deals with country-of-origin labelling, and was years in the making and introduced in stages - in the fall and then last month. It requires that labels on meat and other foods sold at U.S. supermarkets have labels that indicate from which countries the food originates. "It is not that country-of-origin labelling per se is problematic, rather it is the current regulatory framework is incompatible with U.S. treaty commitments," said an analysis prepared for the Canadian farm groups by U.S. trade lawyers.

The Conservative government initially looked at filing a WTO complaint but backed off - with the blessing of the Canadian sector - when the Bush administration made concessions that softened certain restrictions, in particular on ground meat. But in February, the day after U.S. President Barack Obama visited Ottawa and talked about "growing trade" with Canada, his Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vlasick, issued a letter to the U.S. meat-packing industry suggesting it undertake additional "voluntary" measures that are not in the bill, including that labels be included on processed meats.

These measures, Canadian livestock producers say, exacerbate an already-trying situation, in which a limited number of U.S. plants will take their product, and only on certain days, because the majority of packers can't be bothered to segregate the Canadian livestock and prepare different labels. Further, it has created a glut of supply on the domestic market and, subsequently, lowered the price producers can fetch on the market.

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association estimates the U.S. law has cost the sector $400-million, or $90 per head of cattle, in price discounts and costs associated to finding packers that will take their cattle. Statistics from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada indicate that for the period to March 21, the number of feeder and slaughter cattle headed to the United States has dropped 30% from the similar year-ago period.

"If having a healthy rural economy is important to Canadians, than this is a pretty huge issue," said John Masswohl, director of government and international relations for the cattle group.
Meanwhile, live hog exports have plummeted 43%, to 1.3 million. Current estimates from the Canadian Pork Council suggest hog exports will drop this year to 5.6 million, from 9.3 million last year. More than a quarter of the nearly $3-billion in pork-related exports, either live hogs or processed meat, head to the United States. Mr. Masswohl said he believes a WTO trade challenge is inevitable, especially given the recent moves by the Obama administration to add new restrictions. "They are taking back the flexibility we gained."

Gerry Ritz, the federal Agriculture Minister, was not available for an interview Wednesday, but in recent weeks has expressed concern about what his U.S. counterpart, Mr. Vilsack, has in store.
"We thought we had a deal with the former administration that the final rule would be implemented in a way that was more friendly to Canadian live cattle imports," Mr. Ritz said March 19, following a meeting with Mr. Vilsack. "Certainly we discussed the nature of what it takes to constitute a [WTO] challenge and Canada will move forward when and at the time of our choosing."

April 16, 2009 > Another food safety scare from imported beef from China ; Joong Ang Daily
Web Site
More food imports have been found to be contaminated. It was recently revealed that condensed beef stock products from China contain clenbuterol, a drug that can cause heart disease even if just a small amount is ingested.

Beef broth concentrate is used in Korean foods such as galbitang and seolleongtang, soup dishes that are commonly found on the menu in restaurants, and cooked with various kinds of seasoning. Most of the contaminated soup was imported from China. This year, 103 processed food items totaling 827 tons have been imported from China, but the government has confiscated only 331 tons for inspection. That means the remaining 496 tons have already been consumed.

The government says that it responded to the incident quickly by disposing of all the items that contained the drug and banning imports of the product. But what about those who have already eaten seolleongtang made with the product without knowing about the risks involved?

George Assif, whose company has farming interests in New Zealand, says he successfully exported more than five million sheep from Napier and Timaru for almost 20 years before the trade was halted in 2004. He says if the National Government gave the go ahead for exports to Saudi Arabia to resume, his company would be geared up very quickly to org anise a shipment.
However, any possibility of the six-year moratorium being ended has angered the Green Party.
The party's animal welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley questions why the Government would even consider resuming the trade. She describes the trade cruel, because the animals are transported in overcrowded conditions, suffering trauma and outbreaks of disease.

Mar. 24, 2009 >> NEW ZEALAND: Hysteria overshadowing reality of live sheep exports
Farmgirl ; Nadine Porter
Web Link
You have to hand it to Sue Kedgley. She knows how to push the Green Party agenda forward by using emotion over fact to benefit the cause. In this case it is the Government's intention to end a six year moratorium on live sheep exports and Kedgley has ramped up the national sentiment to such a hysterical level it is almost impossible to find any real facts among the animal welfare banter.

Kedgley is a smart lady. By talking about 'ritual sacrifice' and reminding us of the Australian disaster when 5000 sheep died in 2004 she has guaranteed an outrage that is disproportionate to the reality - but why let facts get in the way of reality? The truth is (for anyone not blathering on talkback radio today), that there is strict regulations governing the live export trade and it is in the best interests of the producers to deliver healthy sheep. MAF will have to be absolutely certain that these sheep will not be mistreated on the journey.

But let's be honest about this - Kedgley is absolutely right to say that many of these sheep will be used in Muslim rituals when they reach Saudi Arabia - and while that might not be comfortable in our culture, it it their prerogative to do what they will. And while we're being honest let's just say that it's slightly hypocritical to suggest a live sheep export is abhorrent to our sensitivities when we cook live crayfish among other things, without much of a thought to how it got on our plate...and then of course there are the vegetables that scream in the pot...aren't they alive!!!
Business exports are valuable right now and while we can't put at risk our reputation, if this live trade can work, we owe it to our farming community and to our economy to give it a go.

This is not Australia and it's not 2004. In terms of animal welfare standards we have come a long way since then and Sue Kedgley knows this, so bravo Sue, you've put the Green Party in the headlines again, you clever clever gal.

March 24, 2009 >> JBS executive: U.S. should manage Canada, Mexico trade with care
By Tom Johnston

As trade relations with Canada and Mexico have been tested following the recent implementation of mandatory country-of-origin labeling and a cross-border trucking dispute, the United States must carefully manage the situation.

Dan Halstrom, executive vice president of international sales for JBS and past chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, emphasized in a weekly USMEF report that trade with these two countries is critical to the U.S. meat industry.

"If we're not able to go to Mexico, for example, the largest market for (U.S.) beef and pork tonnage wise, it would be a large negative impact on domestic prices on both beef and pork," he said. "So that's the reason we have to manage it closely. We have to communicate with our trade partners and make sure we're all the same page."

Nonetheless, Halstrom said demand for U.S. beef and pork in both Canada and Mexico remains strong.

Worldwide, Halstrom said the credit crunch is still posing challenges but "hopefully the worst is behind us." He said major importing countries still do not have sufficient domestic production, so they will continue to rely on imports.

"When it comes to grain-fed beef and pork, the U.S. still has quite the advantage," he said.

The mainstay markets of Japan, Mexico, Canada and South Korea have been consistent in the past and will continue to be very consistent, Halstrom said.

March 20, 2009 >> U.S., EU close to resolving beef-hormone dispute, official says
Bloomberg; Mark Drajem
Web Site
The U.S. and European Union are nearing resolution of a dispute over an EU ban on imports of beef treated with hormones, an EU official said.
“We are quite close,” David O’Sullivan, the EU director general for trade, told reporters today in Washington. He declined to provide details of the accord. EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton said that “two or three outstanding” issues remain, and those must be resolved by technical and legal negotiators. An agreement could benefit U.S. meatpackers such as Springdale, Arkansas based-Tyson Foods Inc.

The World Trade Organization in 1998 found an EU ban on U.S. hormone-treated beef violated global trade rules. The U.S. began retaliating in 1999 and in January this year said that it would switch the products hit by tariffs.

March. 19, 2009 >> Mexico to raise tariffs on 90 U.S. exports
The new trade restrictions are in retaliation for a canceled U.S. commercial trucking project, according to Mexico's state-run news agency.

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Mexico has announced plans to raise tariffs on almost 90 U.S. exports, Mexican and U.S. officials confirmed Monday. The new trade measures are in retaliation for the cancellation earlier this year of a U.S. commercial trucking project, Mexico's state-run news agency said, and will target U.S. industrial and agricultural products delivered to Mexico.
Mexico's Economic Secretary Gerardo Ruiz Mateos called the cancellation of the program a breach of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the agency said.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the trucking project was killed in the 2009 omnibus appropriations bill, but President Barack Obama has asked his administration to create a new program."Congress has opposed the project in the past because of concerns about the process that led to the program's establishment and its operation," Gibbs explained.
The project allowed a small number of Mexican trucks to enter the United States beyond the normal commercial zones, and allowed some U.S. trucks the same privilege in Mexico.

Sen. John McCain warned that the Mexican action would harm American businesses.
"Unfortunately, this is a predictable reaction by the Mexican government to a policy that now puts the United States in clear violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and was inappropriately inserted into the Omnibus appropriations bill," McCain said in a statement after learning of the Mexican government's plans.

The Arizona Republican said Washington "must take steps to prevent escalation of further protectionist measures -- actions that only serve to harm American business during these tough economic times when these businesses need a worldwide marketplace to prosper.
"This is another reason why the president should have vetoed the omnibus spending bill," McCain added.
First Published: March 16, 2009: 7:15 PM ET

March 17, 2009 >> Obama aims to restore cross-border trucking with Mexico
By Tom Johnston

The White House said it wants to restore a program that allows cross-border trucking with Mexico, according to the Associated Press.

Mexico on Monday placed tariffs on 90 U.S. products after Washington nixed a program that permitted U.S. and Mexico to operate over the border. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs was quoted as saying the administration wants to work with Congress to restore that program.

Safety concerns and other issues prompted lawmakers to cancel the program in last week's spending bill. However, Gibbs told reporters the White House is working with Sen. Byron Dorgan (D., N.D.) to author a bill that would address such concerns.

The Mexican Economy Department argues Congress's decision to do away with the program violates the North American Free Trade Agreement, and will affect some $2.4 billion in trade with 40 U.S. states, according to AP.

March 17, 2009 >> Export value cut in half
By Dairy Herd staff
The value of dairy exports was down nearly 50 percent in January versus a year ago, according to the latest USDA Foreign Agricultural Service data. In January, dairy exports were valued at $175 million, which is down 46 percent versus a year ago and 15 percent less than December.
Click here for more information.
Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and Daily Dairy Report

Kirk Nomination Moves Forward -- US Trade Representative-nominee Ron Kirk indicates the Obama Administration is reviewing the trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. During his confirmation hearing, Kirk said the South Korean deal must be reworked. Regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wanted to know if there would be any tariffs on agricultural products added if NAFTA is reopened. "Senator, like you, I come from a state in which agriculture is very important," said Kirk, "I also come from a state that has a very strong relationship with Mexico; we will proceed as the President has directed in a collaborative way with Mexico and Canada to see where we can strengthen that; I don't see the levying of additional tarrifs as being in the category of strengthening that agreement."

EU Protest -- Thousands of farmers from Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia and Poland protested in the Czech capital of Prague Friday. The farmers are demanding higher milk prices and relief measures. The Czech Republic now holds the EU's rotating presidency. Protesters dumped milk and manure outside a hotel where European Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel was holding a meeting. Boel met with some of the protesters and promised more talks would be held in Brussels next month.

Peterson Issues a Warning -- At a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing Wednesday, Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson issued a warning to those who oppose a mandatory animal ID system. "I had a briefing from Homeland Security that says that it has the potential of costing the cattle industry $30 to $100 billion, which is $300 to $1000 per head that they're putting themselves at risk," said Peterson, "If that's what they want to do, if they want to take on that risk, have at it, but if that's what happens, don't come back to us and expect us to bail them out." The risk of Foot and Mouth Disease is too great, according to Peterson. "It would wipe the industry out; we've got to stop this mentality, whether it is with cattle or with banks, that the government will be there to bail you out."

March 2, 2009 >> Ritz Praises Obama's Ag Comments -- Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said on Wednesday that US President Barack Obama's remarks on ending subsidies for large U.S. farms were a positive step towards reaching a world trade agreement. "It's in line with what we're asking for at the World Trade Organization; they've got a Farm Bill that they know they can't afford."

Feb. 28, 2009 >>
US Export News
Johnson Seeks Changes in Cuban Policy -- North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson is asking the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to renew its support to end the trade embargo against Cuba. Johnson participated in NASDA's mid-winter meetings. With the new administration in place, Johnson says it is time to change US-Cuba policy.

US Foreign Relations Committee Will Consider Cuban Trade Policy -- The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says the time is right for reevaluating US sanctions on Cuba. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar says Cuba should be allowed to buy US goods on credit. The committee report, which is due out today, stops short of recommending an end to the US embargo, in place since 1962.

USDA FAS Cuts -- Due to budget deficits, the USDA's Foreign Ag Service has cut travel and may have to furlough workers. The 2009 budget deficit of $9 million is small by federal standards, but could have a major impact on agricultural trade.

Garth Ehrhardt, AAFC & Greg Nolan, Agro Ex at the AAFC event in Dubai.

Foodservice & retail food purchasers from the Gulf Coast Middle East, in conjunction with Gulfood, attend a CBEF & AAFC evening event - full service of Canadian food & beverage served to all participants. Niagara Falls wine, Maritime seafood, and Canadian Beef wowed the crowd - an excellent, outstanding evening organized by the Canadian Consulate in Dubai in conjunction with IC & AAFC.

Feb. 23, 2009 >> Gulfood Expo in Dubai, UAE. Over 3,000 exhibitors from 64 Countries, opened up the 14th Annual Gulf Food Expo, for a 4 day show. Countries from around the world, and Food Suppliers from each, displayed Products & Services to this quickly expanding region of the middle east.

Canada Beef holds a reception Tuesday, Feb. 24 evening at the world famous Fairmont Dubai; to show off Canada’s grain fed beef. USA, Italy, Brazil and all major countries of the world open booths to provide contact from local buyers for imported food products.

1. Algeria - Breeding cattle less than 30 months
2. Antigua and Barbuda - Beef from animals under 30 months, all liver
3. Bahrain - All beef and offal
4. Barbados - All beef and offal - All cattle born after December 31, 2003
5. Bermuda - All beef and offal
   - All cattle born after feed ban (August 4, 1997)
6. Cayman Islands - Beef from animals under 30 months, offal from animals under 30 months, all liver
7. Cuba - All beef and offal (except tongues and hearts)
   - Breeding cattle (no age limitation)
8. Croatia - Breeding cattle born after the feed ban (August 4, 1997) or after the date of birth of the last BSE indigenous case if born after the date of the feed ban
9. Egypt - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months, offal from animals under 30 months
   - Slaughter cattle less than 24 months; all other cattle (no age limitation)
   - Breeding cattle (no age limitation)
10. El Salvador - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months
11. European Union - All beef and offal (beef from animals not administered growth promoting hormones)
    - Cattle for breeding and/or production (no age limitation)
12. Guatemala - Boneless beef (and offal) from animals under 30 months
13. Honduras - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months
14. Hong Kong - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months
15. Indonesia - All boneless beef and offal (oxtail, tongue, heart and liver)
16. Iran - Breeding cattle
17. Jordan - Breeding cattle & Beef from animals under 30 months,
18. Japan - Beef and offal from animals 20 months and under
19. Kazakhstan - All cattle (no age limitation)
20. Korea (South) - Proven bulls born two years after feed ban (August 4, 1999)
21. Lebanon - Boneless beef from animals under thirty months and offal
    - Slaughter cattle less than 30 months
22. Macau - All beef and offal
23. Macedonia - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months, offal from animals under 30 months
24. Mexico - Beef from animals under 30 months, offal from animals under 30 months, all liver
    - Breeding cattle born after January 1, 1999
25. Morocco - All cattle (no age limitation)
26. New Zealand - All beef and offal
27. Philippines - All beef and offal
28. Russia - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months
    - Breeding cattle (no age limitation) St. Pierre de
29. Miquelon - All beef
    - All cattle (no age limitation)
30. St. Kitts & Nevis - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months
31. Saudi Arabia – beef from animals under 30 months,
32. Serbia - Breeding cattle (no age limitation)
33. Switzerland - All beef and offal
34. Taiwan - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months, excludes offal
35. Thailand - Boneless beef from animals under 30 months, excludes offal
36. Trinidad & Tobago - Beef from animals under 30 months, liver from animals under 30 months
37. Tunisia - Beef from animals under 30 months
    - Heifers and fattening cattle, born after July 1, 2001
38. Ukraine - Breeding cattle (no age restriction)
39. United Arab Emirates - Beef from animals under 30 months
40. United States - All beef, offal, liver
    - All cattle born after March 1, 1999
41. Vietnam - Beef from animals under 30 months and offal (heart, liver and kidney)

European Union includes the following 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Jan. 26, 2009 >> The Canadian Simmental Association ( CSA ) posted the Canadian ONLY 2009 Expected Progeny Data initiative that it undertook in 2008. The system, instead of stepping forward into a multi Breed and/or multi data set Model, is limited to Canadian Simmental information “only” framed in a very narrowly focused set of Indicators which is not based upon any of the USA data or Ontario based BIO Genetic Evaluation data set, which limits the validity to stand up against many tests, yet is boldly different enough from the USA based system of which the Canadians were part of for 12 years, which reports on many of the same Bulls, to call into question the validity of both Canadian & American systems. Unfortunately, the Simmental breed in Canada still does not have a reliable information technology system, despite the large amount of Government support money & private research grants received by the CSA.

Initial Questions;

1. Bases - why would they use Fall 2008 as base which shows a neg for REA?
2. Did they look at genetic trends?; perhaps they should have developed heritabilties from the data set rather then pull numbers from other places.
3. Can we ask what the rank correlation was on Proven established bulls with the new CSA
   EPDs as compared to the old combined NA run ?
4. As compared to the old numbers, have the accuracies dropped ?? They should have on American bulls in particular, and based on less data.

Background >> in 1997, the Canadian & American Simmental Associations joined the data sets and issued EPDs for both Associations, as one data set. In the Fall of 2008, the Canadian Simmental Association pulled out of the North American Simmental EPD System, moved to AGI – Angus Genetics Inc., of the USA, and produced a run in the Fall of 2008, for Spring 2009 as CDN only data, now posted as of Jan. 26, 2009.

So, for the first time in 12 years, EPD information for the same Simmental animal will now be reported in a different context of the two Systems in Canada and the USA.

Present > JANUARY 26, 2009 CDN SIMM ASSOC. HOME PAGE AS POSTED ON JAN. 26, 2009 ........... THEN CLICK TO FOR THE WHOLE EXPLANATION OF THE NEW SYSTEM, AND CLICK HERE FOR SIRE SUMMARIES ..... AND HERE FOR SEARCHES OF THE INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS