A preserved portion of the Berlin Wall in Berlin, Germany. (CIA.gov)

German minister expects to win vote on CETA

Montreal | Reuters –– Germany’s economy minister said Thursday he expected the country’s Social Democrats, a junior partner in the ruling coalition, to vote in favour of a free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union at a party meeting on Sept. 19. “We will get a majority vote,” German Vice-Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister

(JBSS.infoinvest.com.br)

JBS chiefs return to posts

The CEO and board chairman of the world’s biggest beef exporting firm say they’ve received clearance from a Brazilian federal court to return to their positions, after being ordered off the job last week. Brothers Wesley Batista and Joesley Batista, the CEO and board chairman respectively at Brazilian meat packing giant JBS, were among several


(Keith Weller photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

TPP study sees net ‘neutral’ effect on dairy sector

An economic impact study on Canada’s participation in a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal finds losses in Canada’s dairy sector would be “offset” by gains for dairy processors from cheaper dairy imports. The study, prepared for the federal government by its Office of the Chief Economist and released Friday, notes Canada has offered expanded access

Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, shown here at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in March. Global Affairs Canada via YouTube)

Canada working toward EU trade agreement in October

Toronto | Reuters –– Canada is working toward signing a new trade agreement with the European Union in October, federal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday. “We’re working hard for it to be the year when CETA, the Canada-EU trade agreement, is signed. We’re working towards signing in October and ratification early next year,” she





(JBSS.infoinvest.com.br)

JBS CEO ordered to step aside in Brazil pension fund probe

Brasilia | Reuters — Brazilian police launched an investigation of fraud at state-run companies’ pension funds on Monday, as a judge ordered dozens of senior financiers and executives away from their firms, including the CEO of the world’s biggest beef exporter. Police carried out five arrests, more than two dozen interrogations and over 100 search

Manitoba’s chief public health inspector says community suppers have a good food safety track record and new guidelines will help make the standards clear to organizers.

New guidelines for community suppers published

Manitoba’s chief public health inspector hopes to silence the critics 
who say food safety rules are too prohibitive

A new provincial guideline for safe food preparation at community dinners should help their hosts know what the public health inspector expects, says the province’s chief public health inspector. He also hopes the Community Dinner Guidelines now posted on Manitoba Health’s website, helps allay concerns that public health inspectors’ food safety requirements are making it



One Euro coin

Canada/EU trade deal remains mired in uncertainty

Ratification of the historic Canada-EU trade and investment pact is anything but a sure thing

With just two months to go before the scheduled signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union, things are up in the air. There’s uncertainty over what the deal will entail, and nobody’s sure if ratification is going to happen. The U.K. is on the way out of