Articles by Dominique Patton | Manitoba Co-operator

Cotton latest casualty in China-Australia spat

Australian barley, cotton and wine producers are now all under the gun

By Colin Packham, Dominique Patton October 22, 2020

In the latest round of a China-Australia spat side-swiping agricultural trade, China has ordered cotton mills to stop buying Australian supplies. That word came Oct. 16 from an Australian government source and two China-based cotton traders briefed on the matter. Relations soured after Canberra accused China of meddling in domestic affairs, and worsened when Prime Minister Scott

Hogs, News

China seeks to essentially raise all its own pork

Rapid rebuild of swine herd could dash hopes of exporters like Canada for lasting inroads into market

By Dominique Patton October 9, 2020

Reuters – China is aiming to produce 95 per cent of its pork at home, according to a cabinet document outlining plans for its livestock sector, underscoring a goal to quickly rebuild its huge pig herd after a major disease epidemic. The document comes amid a heightened focus on food security by Beijing, with coronavirus

Livestock, Markets

China targets pork self-sufficiency rate of 95 per cent

Imported beef increasing in market share

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News September 29, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China is aiming to produce 95 per cent of its pork at home, according to a cabinet document outlining plans for its livestock sector, underscoring a goal to quickly rebuild its huge pig herd after a major disease epidemic. The document, released on Sunday, comes amid a heightened focus on food

Workers and excavators are seen at a construction site of a new pig farm in Beijing’s eastern Pinggu district.

Hogs, News

Cheek by jowl

China pork crisis spurs pig farms’ return to cities

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu July 22, 2020

Reuters – China is building industrial pig farms near its urban areas, reversing years of policies to relocate the livestock over waste concerns, as the government prioritizes food security over the environment after African swine fever decimated its herds. The world’s biggest pork consumer will add about 200 million pigs by constructing new farms around

News

China’s meat importers fret about delays as port runs virus tests

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu July 13, 2020

China’s meat importers fear clearing delays and a hit to demand after one of the country’s major ports began requiring coronavirus tests for all meat and seafood containers to prevent contamination. Tianjin on the northern coast, the primary port for Beijing, started testing batches from every arriving container on June 15, two importers and an

News

Exporters say China soy buyers want guarantee of coronavirus-free cargoes

Observers say that after three weeks at sea, arrival port workers are the likelier source of contamination

By Dominique Patton, Karl Plume July 2, 2020

China’s soybean buyers are asking exporters to sign a letter guaranteeing their cargoes are not contaminated with the novel coronavirus, U.S., Brazilian and Canadian soy industry officials said June 23. China is trying to prevent any risk of new COVID-19 infections from imported goods as it takes aggressive measures to contain a recent spike in

Markets

Food exporters to China asked to declare produce coronavirus-free

Declaration puts onus on exporters for product safety

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News June 19, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China’s customs authority has asked food exporters to the country to sign a declaration their produce is not contaminated by the novel coronavirus, three people who received a letter said on Friday. The declaration, seen by Reuters, may be an effort by China to reduce the additional testing it has carried

Crops, Markets

China hits Australia with barley tariff

Duty to last for five years; China may turn to Canada, other exporters

By Colin Packham, Dominique Patton, GFM Network News May 19, 2020

Beijing/Sydney | Reuters — China added to tensions with Australia on Monday by announcing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley imports from Tuesday (May 19), which is expected to all but halt a billion-dollar trade between them. China’s ministry of commerce said it had confirmed dumping by Australia and significant

Beef cattle, Livestock, Markets

China’s beef imports to drop as hotpot comes off the boil

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News, Sophie Yu April 13, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — Just over two months ago, the Jinyuan Fucheng Beef Hotpot restaurant in northern Beijing had a long line of customers waiting outside its doors almost every night of the week. Now, the restaurant that can seat 800 barely fills 20 tables a day, with most people still wary of dining out

Crops, Markets

China to resume imports of Canadian canola, sources report

By Dominique Patton, GFM Network News, Hallie Gu March 31, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China has agreed to allow imports of Canadian canola to resume, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, lifting a ban in place since March 2019 that had halted US$2 billion worth of trade. The agreement was reached during a call held by China’s customs administration and Canada’s

Bunge lifts outlook as quarterly profit nearly doubles

ICE weekly outlook: Canola’s top likely in for 2020

U.S. grains: Crop prices slide as pandemic concerns rattle markets

GFM Network News