Europe
USMEF: Working to resolve the meat trade impasse with Russia
Last year was the best ever for U.S. beef exports to Russia ($307 million), and a very strong year for U.S. pork exports ($282 million). But trade slowed dramatically toward the end of 2012, as Russia stepped up enforcement of its zero-tolerance policy for residues of the livestock feed additive ractopamine. Despite diplomatic efforts to address this issue, the Russian market formally closed to U.S. pork and beef on February 11.
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Rabobank: Horse meat issue can’t curb Euro beef demand
Mislabeled beef containing horse meat caused a scandal in Europe during the first quarter of 2013, but consumer beef demand was fairly unaffected by the news.
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Most Mexican beef exports escape Russia ban
The lion's share of Mexico's beef exports to Russia will not be blocked by a Russian ban on meat imports it fears may contain traces of the feed additive ractopamine.
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Russia to ban meat from most Canadian, Mexican suppliers
Russia plans to ban meat imports from most Canadian and Mexican suppliers from April 8 over concerns about the use of the feed additive ractopamine, Russia's veterinary and phytosanitary service (VPSS) said on Friday.
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EU-U.S. trade talks promise both prizes and pitfalls
Forthcoming transatlantic trade talks might offer a fresh incentive for Europe to worry a bit less about protecting past economic gains and focus a bit more on securing sources of future prosperity.
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EU, U.S. fire starting gun for free trade talks
The United States and the European Union agreed on Wednesday to push for the launch by the end of June of talks to create the world's biggest free trade alliance, which could be a benchmark for global competitors to follow.
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Russia consumer safety watchdog sees long U.S. meat ban
A Russian ban on U.S. beef, pork and turkey imports coming into effect this month is likely to last for a long time, Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Russia's consumer safety watchdog, was quoted as saying by Interfax on Monday.
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Canada, EU fail to settle differences over free trade pact
Canada and the European Union failed to settle their differences on a proposed free trade deal this week at top-level talks to hammer out an agreement that is already well behind schedule.
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EU leaders agree to push for U.S. trade deal
European leaders agreed on Friday to push for a free-trade pact with the United States, putting the onus on the White House to decide whether to try for a deal that would encompass half the world's economic output.
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Europe removes agriculture barriers to U.S. trade talks
The European Union dropped its ban on some U.S. meat imports on Monday in a gesture aimed at starting talks on a free-trade pact that would encompass about half the world's economic output.
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Russia may block some North American meat over ractopamine
Ractopamine is used as a feed additive by livestock producers in the United States and Canada and elsewhere. But countries such as China have banned its use amid concerns that traces of the additive could persist, despite scientific evidence stating that it is safe.
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