International Trade: Page 44

International Trade

American Soybean Association praises US-Colombia free trade agreement

The American Soybean Association has praised the upcoming implementation of the U.S.–Colombia free trade agreement, which will provide a boost for U.S. soybean exports and other American agricultural products to Central and South America’s third-largest economy. The agreement, which goes into effect on May 15, is a significant opportunity for soybean farmers, as it will expand a valuable export market for the industry's products, said American Soybean Association First Vice President Danny Murphy.

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International Trade

Chile farmers ask for additional import duties on Argentina poultry

Chile's farm bureau is petitioning for a 15 percent surcharge duty on imported Argentine chicken, an additional import duty of 25 percent on corn with a high percentage of cracked kernels and a 30 percent duty for feed mixtures with significant cracked corn content, according to reports. Chicken imports to Chile have increased by 20 percent since 2008.

International Trade

USDA trade mission creates opportunities for US agriculture in China

Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse led nearly 40 American businesses on a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission to China March 23–28. U.S. agricultural exports to China have grown more than 80 percent in the past three years, and the USDA trade mission aimed to help American businesses strike new deals, strengthen business ties, expand their markets and support jobs for Americans.

International Trade

Vietnam animal feed surplus leads to reduced imports

Vietnam's animal feed distributors have reduced their imports in the first two months of 2012 due to high domestic supply, according to Vietnam Animal Feed Association vice chairman Pham Duc Binh. Import values of animal feed fell to US$359 million in January and February, 17.5 percent lower than the same time in 2011.

Competitive export scenario emerging for poultry producers

Following a profitable 2011 in their export business, U.S. poultry producers face a new question in 2012: Will the reentry of Thailand to the market for raw poultry in the EU ignite increased competition among poultry exporters in the U.S., Brazil and Thailand? Very likely, the answer is yes.

Feed Production by Region

Saudi Arabia grain imports may jump 16 percent

Saudi Arabia's grain imports may increase by 16 percent in the 2011–2012 marketing year due to demand for animal feed, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization. Imports will rise to 12.91 million metric tons from 11.16 million metric tons in the 2010–2011 year, raised from an October 2011 forecast of 12.16 million metric tons.

Chicken producers seek improvements in trade

It has been well documented just how important the chicken industry is to the vibrancy of the whole U.S. economy. But the industry’s growth potential, and thus its economic potential, is in gaining increased access to foreign markets.

American Soybean Association supports permanent trade relations with Russia

The American Soybean Association is urging the Senate Finance Committee to establish permanent normal trade relations with Russia as the committee holds hearings on the implications of Russia's accession into the World Trade Organization for the U.S. The U.S. has maintained normal trade relations with Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992.

International Trade

US supplied 77 percent of Korea’s corn imports in 2011

The U.S. supplied 77.6 percent of Korea's corn imports in 2011, according to the U.S. Grains Council

International Trade

American Soybean Association expresses concerns over export market

The American Soybean Association submitted formal comments to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk expressing concerns over the state of both soybean export quantity and value to the EU, saying that the EU’s policies on biotech soybeans, as well as "inaccurate characterization of biodiesel by the Renewable Energy Directive," have contributed to a 70 percent drop in total soybean export quantity and a 44 percent decrease in soybean export value to the EU over the last 14 years. "America’s soybean producers have lost a significant portion of what was a viable and thriving export market," said association President Steve Wellman.

China reduced ethanol growth means increased distiller’s grain imports

China's five-year plan to reduce its domestic production of grain-based ethanol will result in tighter supplies of dried distiller's grain for animal feed and an increased demand for imports of the byproduct through 2016, according to the U.S. Grains Council. Imports of dried distiller's grains from the U.S. to China may rise to 6 million metric tons in the next four years, almost double the 3.1 million metric tons imported in the 2009-2010 marketing year.

International Trade

Russia poultry imports down, grain exports up in 2011

Russia's poultry imports dropped by 14 percent, to 420,000 metric tons, in January through November of 2011, according to the Federal State Statistics Service. The country's overall fresh and frozen meat imports went up by 3.1 percent, to 1.3 million metric tons.

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