(Portosdobrasil.gov.br via Flickr)

Mexico eyes Brazil farm products as hedge on Trump threat

Brasilia | Reuters — Amid trade tensions with the U.S., Mexico plans to send a delegation next month to visit Brazilian corn, beef, chicken and soy producers as an alternative to U.S. suppliers, its representative in Brazil said on Friday. Mexican charge d’affaires Eleazar Velasco said Brazil is uniquely positioned to expand agricultural commodity sales […] Read more

U.S. corn producers saw the now-scuttled Trans-Pacific Partnership deal as an opportunity to expand exports. (Don Wilson photo, PortSeattle.org)

U.S. ag sector seeks opportunities in face of challenges

CNS Canada — With shrinking farm income and a rising debt-to-asset ratio, the U.S. agriculture industry’s leaders are eyeing opportunities that could help it return to a point of profitability. U.S. net farm income is forecast to decline in 2017, with projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing an 8.7 per cent drop, bringing […] Read more

(CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Canada stresses NAFTA talks to involve all members

Toronto | Reuters –– Any talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement would involve all three member nations, a top Canadian official said on Tuesday, dampening speculation the U.S. might seek to sit down with Canada first and then Mexico. “We very much recognize that NAFTA is a three-nation agreement and were there […] Read more




(FIle photo by Allan Dawson)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn fall on crop prospects, trade fears

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures closed lower Thursday on improving South American crop prospects and jitters about U.S. trade relationships, analysts said. Wheat futures rose on better-than-expected weekly U.S. export sales. Chicago Board of Trade soybeans for March delivery settled down 5-3/4 cents at $10.49-1/2 per bushel and March corn ended […] Read more

(CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Canada to Mexico on NAFTA: You might be on your own

Calgary | Reuters — Canada will focus on preserving its U.S. trade ties during talks to renegotiate NAFTA and may not be able to help Mexico avoid being targeted by the Trump administration, Canadian government sources say. “We love our Mexican friends. But our national interests come first and the friendship comes second,” a source […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Canada not seen as U.S. target in NAFTA talks

Calgary | Reuters — Canada has a “very special status” and is unlikely to be hit hard by changes the U.S. wants to make to the NAFTA trade accord, the head of a business advisory council to U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday. Stephen Schwarzman made his remarks after addressing Canadian Prime Minister Justin […] Read more


(British Columbia Wine Institute photo)

B.C. to defend wine industry against U.S. trade action

Vancouver | Reuters — The British Columbia government said Wednesday it would defend its wine industry against a trade challenge from the U.S., and was confident it was not breaking any international trade rules. Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. said it started action against Canada at the World Trade Organization, accusing B.C. of discriminating against U.S. […] Read more

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

Trudeau to shuffle Dion out of foreign affairs

Ottawa | Reuters –– Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will shuffle his cabinet this week and is set to move Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, who ran into political trouble last year, a person with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. “Dion is out,” said the person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of […] Read more