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What's New - August 2005

United States Succeeds in Removing Japan’s Barriers to U.S. Apples
United States Trade Representative Rob Portman and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced today that the United States has succeeded in having Japan finally remove its unjustified restrictions on the import of U.S. apples. Japan’s actions resulted from a dispute won by the United States in the World Trade Organization. The United States and Japan jointly informed the WTO today that Japan’s steps end this decades-long dispute. (08/31/05)

Joint Statement from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Investigation Results of Texas Cow That Tested Positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
-- Johanns Announces Key Component Of Animal I.D. System (08/30/05)
-- Transcript: USDA And FDA Officials Provide Update On Animal ID And Epidemiology Results (08/30/05)
-- Johanns Issues Animal ID Principles (USDA Radio; 08/30/05 - real, mp3, wave)

USDA Modifies Sugar Program To Address Market Disruption Caused By Hurricane Katrina
In response to the sugar market turmoil created by Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Department of Agriculture today further modified the FY 2005 sugar program. (08/30/05)

Conner Welcomes New Group of BORLAUG Science and Technology Fellows to the United States
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner today welcomed 36 agricultural research scientists and policymakers from eight developing countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America to the United States for training under the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program. (08/29/05)
Borlaug Fellowship Program Starts Second Year (USDA Radio; 08/29/05 - real, mp3, wave)

USDA Announces New Online System For U.S. Exporters And Banks
The General Sales Manager Online System enables U.S exporters and U.S. banks to submit required documentation online, or electronically, for the GSM-102, Supplier Credit Guarantee and Facility Guarantee Programs. These programs facilitate commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports. (08/25/05)
-- More About the GSM Online System

U.S. Agricultural Trade Outlook Forecast (08/24/05)
2005 Forecast…
Ag Exports raised $1.5 billion to $62 billion (just below 2004 record)
Ag Trade Surplus rises to $4.5 billion
Initial 2006 Forecast…
Ag Exports set at record $63.5 billion, Ag Imports at record $61.0 billion
Ag Trade Surplus falls to $2.5 billion
Full Report (.pdf)
USDA Raises Export Forecasts (USDA Radio; 08/24/05 - real, mp3, wave)

WTO Major Topic at "Quint" Meeting (USDA Radio; 08/24/05 - real, mp3, wave)

Members Named To Seven Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman today announced the appointment of private-sector members to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC) and six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs). Members will serve until May 2007. Lists of members by committee are attached. (08/22/05)
-- More About Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade

Broiler Exports Are Very Strong (USDA Radio; 08/18/05 - real, mp3, wave)

Johanns Announces Travel To Australia And New Zealand
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will travel to Australia and New Zealand August 17–23 to attend the 6^th Quint Ministerial Meeting hosted by Australia and then continue on to Auckland, New Zealand for bilateral talks. (08/17/05)

Attaché Report - Japan: Agricultural Biotechnology Report
As one of the largest importers of agricultural biotechnology products from the U.S., Japan has approved 61 biotech events for food, 38 for feed and 50 for planting. (08/17/05)

U.S. Agricultural Trade Update (Economic Research Service; 08/15/05)

Outlook For U.S. Grain Trade (USDA Radio; 08/15/05 - real, mp3, wave)

The Latest U.S. Agricultural Trade Data (Economic Research Service; 08/12/05)

Trade Talk At Farm Bill Forums (USDA Radio; 08/10/05 - real, mp3, wave)

U.S. Step Two Proposal Well Received by Many Nations
Secretary Johanns says the proposal to Congress to end the Step Two Cotton Program is being generally well received in the international community. (USDA Radio; 08/08/05 - real, mp3, wave)

Disease-Related Trade Restrictions Shaped Animal Product Markets in 2004 and Stamp Imprints on 2005 Forecasts
Disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions that affected U.S. animal product markets and exports in 2003 continued to constrain markets in 2004. U.S. cattle and beef markets were most affected. (Economic Research Service; 08/05/05)

Johanns Announces First Visit of Borlaug Science and Technology Fellows From Central America
Ten agricultural scientists from Central America have arrived in the United States for training under the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program. These are the first Borlaug fellows from Central America to come to the United States for scientific training at land-grant universities and research facilities. (08/05/05)

The Philippines Lifts Ban On U.S. Beef And Beef Products
Under the agreement, the United States will now be able to export boneless beef from cattle not older than 30 months to the Philippines. The estimated value of the Philippines market reopening to U.S. boneless beef is $2.5 million. (08/04/05)
-- Another Country Lifts Ban on U.S. Beef (USDA Radio; 08/04/05 - real, mp3, wave)

The WTO Goes Public
The World Trade Organization will hold its first public meeting ever of its Trade Dispute Panel. The public meeting will address the decades old European ban on North American beef. (USDA Radio; 08/03/05 - real, mp3, wave)

Non-definitive Test Result Reported on July 27 Is Negative for BSE (08/03/05)
-- No BSE in "Non-Definitive" Sample (USDA Radio; 08/03/05 - real, mp3, wave)

President Signs CAFTA-DR (08/02/05)
-- Statement of USTR Rob Portman on Signing of CAFTA-DR (08/02/05)
-- President Bush Signs CAFTA (USDA Radio; 08/02/05 - real, mp3, wave)

USDA Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Application Process To Begin in August
Groups of U.S. agricultural producers seeking assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers (TAA) program for fiscal year 2006 may submit their applications to FAS between August 15, 2005, and January 31, 2006. (08/01/05)

USDA To Donate Agricultural Commodities for Iraq
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will donate 21,250 metric tons of corn and 8,750 tons of soybean meal to the U.S. Grains Council, a private organization, for use in Iraq. (07/29/05)

Statement By Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Regarding Passage Of CAFTA By The U.S. House Of Representatives (07/28/05)
-- CAFTA Passes House (USDA Radio; 07/27/05 - real, mp3, wave)
-- Statement of USTR Rob Portman (07/27/05)

Statement by Dr. John Clifford Regarding Non-Definitive BSE Test Results (07/27/05)
-- Transcript of Technical Briefing (07/27/05)
-- Non Definitive Sample Requires Further Testing (USDA Radio; 07/27/05 - real, mp3, wave)
-- Johanns Says BSE Program Credible and Beef Is Safe (USDA Radio; 07/28/05 - real, mp3, wave)

USDA, FDA, DHS and FBI Join States And Private Industry To Protect Nation's Food And Agriculture Supply From Agroterrorism
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a new collaboration with states and private industry to protect the nation's food supply from terrorist threats. (07/26/05)
USDA and Security Agencies Collaborating on Agroterrorism (USDA Radio; 07/26/05 - real, mp3, wave)

Relief Efforts for Victims of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami Information is available for those seeking to donate commodities and services.

Featured Reports
08/31 Quarterly International Trade Report (ITR) for Course Grains
08/30 World Asparagus Situation & Outlook
08/26 Quarterly International Trade Report (ITR) for Rice
08/26 NAFTA Boosts U.S. Horticultural Exports
08/26 U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Availability and Handling Charts
08/24 Canada Crop Conditions: Variable Across the Prairies
08/24 Wheat: World Situation and Outlook
08/17 Russia: Harvest Progressing Ahead of Last Year's Pace
08/15 Cotton: U.S. Exports Up in 2004/05 with Smaller Exports to China
08/15 China's Protein Meal Consumption Rises led by Soybean Meal
08/15 Former Soviet Union Wheat Exports Expected Strong
08/12 China: Larger Than Expected Wheat Crop in 2005/06
08/12 Ukraine: Wheat Harvest on Track to Surpass Last Year
08/02 World Tomato & Tomato Products Situation & Outlook, Aug 2005
07/27 Cuban Market, Good for U.S. Grain

World Production, Market and Trade Reports
08/30 U.S. Planting Seed Trade
08/15 Cotton: World Markets and Trade
08/15 Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade
08/15 Grain: World Markets and Trade
08/12 Early release -- Cotton Data PDF - Excel - Excel CO2631000
08/12 World Agricultural Production PDF - Data
08/11 Dairy Monthly Imports
07/29 Tobacco: World Markets and Trade

World Market and Trade Reports
2005 Release Dates

Export Regulations
In Detail

Federal Register Notices
08/24/05 Emergency Relief from Duty-Free Imports of Perishable Products from Andean Countries
08/08/05 Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers
07/14/05 WTO Agricultural Safeguard Trigger Levels

Export Sales

Archival export sales reports are available from 1998 to the present. -- The Export Sales Reporting Program: The Early Alert System for U.S. Exporters (brochure)

USDA Calendar of Publications
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