Washington | Reuters — The U.S. and Canada have made progress in talks to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement, and officials from the two sides will work together into the night to flesh out areas for further discussion, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday. Freeland sounded upbeat as she emerged from […] Read more

Progress seen in NAFTA talks

U.S. grains: Wheat weakens on poor export demand
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures fell 1.8 per cent on Wednesday, its third decline out of the last four sessions, as export prospects for U.S. supplies remained dim despite crop shortfalls in key production areas of the Black Sea region, traders said. Corn dropped after earlier touching a two-week high […] Read more

AGT sees ‘further port access’ in Hudson Bay deal
The grain industry player in a deal to restore and restart the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill has factored the port’s access to Arctic tidewater into its business plan. Regina-based pulse processor AGT Food and Ingredients is one of the members of the Arctic Gateway Group, which on Friday confirmed a deal to […] Read more

With drugs pipeline in focus, Bayer seen considering cuts
Frankfurt | Reuters — Bayer is considering job cuts and outsourcing as part of a wide-ranging review of drug research and development that will last until at least November, a person familiar with the company told Reuters. The prospect of “very tangible changes” contributed to a decision by key board members to extend the contract […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat falls on Russian export plans
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures dropped 2.5 per cent on Tuesday to a one-week low after Russia’s agriculture ministry said it had no plans to restrict grain exports from the world’s biggest wheat supplier, traders said. Corn firmed on support from news that Argentina planned to impose a 10.2 per cent export tax […] Read more

Trudeau indicates no compromise on key NAFTA demands
Surrey, B.C. | Reuters — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated Tuesday that Canada would not compromise on key demands at high-level talks this week with the U.S. to update the North American Free Trade Agreement. Senior officials from both sides are due to meet in Washington on Wednesday in a bid to settle major differences […] Read more

Hudson Bay rail line repairs to start ‘immediately’
Off-and-on talks toward a new ownership group for the Hudson Bay Railway have produced a deal, which it’s hoped will lead to the line’s repair before this winter, federal officials announced Friday. Federal Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr and Northern Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the Arctic Gateway Group Limited Partnership has bought the Hudson […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn, soy rise on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures rose on Friday as traders covered short positions ahead of a long holiday weekend, but both commodities posted monthly declines as prospects for large U.S. harvests weighed on prices. Wheat climbed on technical buying, along with worries about tightening global supplies. Chicago Board of Trade December […] Read more

U.S. to move ahead with Mexico pact, keep talking to Canada
Washington/Toronto | Reuters — Contentious U.S.-Canada trade talks ended on Friday with no deal to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement after the mood soured, and President Donald Trump notified Congress of his intent to sign a bilateral trade pact with Mexico. U.S. and Canadian trade officials set plans to resume their talks on […] Read more

StatsCan’s canola forecast deemed supportive
CNS Canada — A summer of dryness and sizzling heat has apparently taken its toll on canola plants in many areas of Western Canada, according to the latest crop production estimate from Statistics Canada. In a survey compiled in the latter days of July and released Friday, Statistics Canada pegged canola production for 2018-19 at […] Read more