Wto Backs Canada On COOL

Canada appears to have won at least a partial victory in challenging a U.S. country-of-origin rule for labelling meat sold in grocery stores. Media reports last week said a World Trade Organization dispute panel ruling favours a trade challenge by Canada and Mexico against the COOL regulation. If so, it would overturn key portions of

Past Grads Honoured By University Of Manitoba

Two past graduates of the University of Manitoba’s faculty of agricultural and food sciences were recognized recently for their outstanding contributions to Manitoba’s agricultural community. Harold Froese, egg producer and industry leader, and Herm Martens, community leader and dedicated volunteer, received Certificates of Merit from the faculty of agricultural and food sciences at the University


New Minister Hopeful WTO Talks Will Succeed

It may take a lower level of ambition, but the sputtering WTO trade talks may yet reach the finish line, says Ted Menzies, minister of state for finance. Menzies has witnessed the Doha round negotiations, which began in 2001, as a farm leader, opposition trade critic and now a cabinet minister. The round was envisaged

Ritz Returns, Outsider Named To Transport Post

The return of Gerry Ritz to the agriculture portfolio was welcomed by many farm groups, although they’re still trying to get a handle on some new faces in cabinet posts that impact farming. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture “and its members are eager to continue working with Minister Ritz,” said president Ron Bonnett. “We believe


Ritz Committed To Promoting Trade

Gerry Ritz says if reappointed agriculture minister in Stephen Harper’s new majority Conservative government he’ll continue to push to open markets around the world for Canadian farmers. “We’re also expanding the Market Access Secretariat,” Ritz said in an interview May 3. “We’re going to put actual agricultural people in consuls around the world where we

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ews that South Korea may soon lift a ban on Canadian beef imports could be a major boost for Canada’s beef sales abroad, an industry official says. South Korea’s agriculture minister was recently quoted as saying his country could remove the eight-year ban by the end of June. That would reopen one of Canada’s biggest


South Korea Likely To Lift Canadian Beef Import Ban

South Korea is likely to lift an eight-year ban on Canadian beef imports by the end of June and plans sweeping changes in its grain-growing and import policies in the face of rising global food prices, the country’s farm minister said April 14. Rising global food prices have prompted the country to eye participation in

Testing For BSE Worthwhile, Study Suggests

Anew industry study concludes a voluntary BSEtesting program for cattle could help boost Canada’s beef exports to Asia. But it cautions that BSE-tested beef would only be a niche market and the demand for it might be limited. Testing alone may not fully restore Canada’s beef markets lost to BSE in Japan and other Asian


Traders Protest Ukraine Grain Monopoly

Ukraine’s plans for greater state control of grain exports could push foreign grain trading houses out of the country, a German international trade association said Mar. 22. A draft law in Ukraine proposes that traders and exporters would have to buy grain from a Ukrainian state company instead of directly from the country’s farmers, which

Cattle And Hog Groups To Lobby Electioneering Candidates

Improved market access and better business risk management programs top livestock producers’ wish list for the May 2 federal election. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Canadian Pork Council vow to make trade and BRMs election issues as the campaign gets underway. They also say they will tell politicians that rising input costs and an