United States and European Communities Reach Agreement on Enlargement Compensation Package
Package reduces several EU tariffs and expands a number of EU tariff rate quotas, enhancing and strengthening market access opportunities for U.S exports to the EU market for a broad range of agriculture and several industrial goods. The agreement was initialed in Brussels and will be signed once the EU Member states approve the agreement. (11/30/05)

United States Wins WTO Challenge Against Mexican Rice Duties and Trade Laws
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman announced today that the WTO Appellate Body has found in favor of the United States in a challenge of Mexico’s antidumping duties on U.S. long grain white rice and several provisions of Mexico’s trade laws. (11/29/05)

Latin Americans Like U.S. Food Products
The recent Americas Food and Beverage Show held in Miami, Florida highlights the popularity of U.S. Food Products in Latin America. (USDA Radio News: real, mp3; 11/28/05)
-- The Future of the Miami Food and Beverage Expo (USDA Radio News: real, mp3; 11/28/05)

USDA Offers GSM-102 Credit Guarantees for Export Sales
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Nov. 25, 2005, the availability of the following credit guarantees for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation's Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2006:
-- Central America Region ($300 million)
-- Eurasia Region ($200 million)
-- Russia ($200 million)
-- Turkey ($500 million)

U.S., EU Sign Interim Wine Trade Agreement
A new interim agreement on wine trade with the EU ensures that U.S. wine exports to the EU will not be disrupted pending the signing and entry into force of the wine agreement. (USDA Radio News -- real, mp3; 11/23/05)
-- Statement by USTR Representative (11/23/05)
More USDA Radio News Features:
-- On Wine Agreement and U.S. Wine Producers (11/23/05; real, mp3)
-- Wine Trade Agreement and EU Wine Producers (11/23/05; real, mp3)

Australian Federal Court Ends Pork Legal Challenge
On November 18, 2005, the Australian High Court refused to grant Australian Pork Limited special leave to appeal an earlier Full Federal Court decision in favor of the Australian Government relating to the importation of pork into Australia. The High Court decision brings an end to APL's legal challenge to the granting of permits to import pork into Australia.  (Attaché Report; 11/23/05)

The Japanese Beef Market and Australian Competition
Combined perspectives of AgTokyo and AgCanberra: The eventual resumption of North American beef into the Japanese market will have a profound effect. The market has not recovered to 2001 levels due to prolonged high prices and limited availability of preferred cuts, and Australia has moved aggressively to fill the void left by the ban on U.S. imports. The resumption of North American beef trade may risk triggering of the safeguard. (Attaché Report; 11/23/05)

Turkey Exports Soaring
U.S. turkey producers are sending more and more of their products to other countries. (USDA Radio News -- real, mp3; 11/23/05)
-- Foreign Customers Gobbling Up U.S Turkey (11/22/05; real, mp3)

Looking Ahead to the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong Next Month . . .

U.S. Trade Official Rebuts French Minister on WTO Farm Issues
Allgeier's letter to Financial Times cites openness of U.S. market (U.S. Department of State; 11/28/05)
-- U.S. Wants WTO Ministerial Meeting After Session in Hong Kong (U.S. Department of State; 11/23/05)
-- Johanns Summarizes Rome Meetings (11/22/05; Transcript; USDA Radio News -- real, mp3)
-- Johanns Reviews the State of Food and Agriculture During FAO Plenary Session (Transcript, 11/21/05)
-- More on the state of food and agriculture from the FAO conference (PowerPoint presentation; FAO Web site)
-- Johanns Announces Travel to Rome for FAO Ministerial (11/18/05)
-- Prime Minister Blair Urges for progress in Hong Kong (Attaché Report; 11/17/05)
-- Transcript of Tele-News Conference with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Rob Portman regarding current trade negotiations (11/09/05)
-- Statement of Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture Before the House Committee on Agriculture (Review of Agricultural Negotiations in the Doha Development Round; 11/02/05)
-- U.S. Disappointed by Latest EU Proposal in WTO on Farm Tariffs (U.S. Department of State; 10/28/05)
-- USTR Statement on European Union WTO Counter Proposal (10/28/05)

USDA Radio News Features:
-- The Bumpy Road to Hong Kong (11/29/05 -- - real, mp3)
-- Details on WTO Cotton Trade Proposals (11/22/05 -- real, mp3)
-- Agriculture Meetings in Rome (11/22/05 -- real, mp3)
-- Johanns Meets With Iraq’s Ag. Minister (11/22/05 -- real, mp3)
-- Lesser Expectations for Hong Kong WTO Meeting (USDA Radio; 11/09/05 - real, mp3, wave)
-- A Review of EU Farm Trade Proposal to WTO (USDA Radio; 11/08/05 - real, mp3, wave)
-- U.S. Officials Will Travel to EU Next Week Concerning WTO (USDA Radio; 11/02/05 - real, mp3, wave)
-- U.S. Trade Representative Displeased With EU WTO Proposal (USDA Radio; 10/31/05 - real, mp3, wave)
-- The European Union Proposes New Farm Trade Reform to WTO (USDA Radio; 10/28/05 - real, mp3, wave)

The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference: December 13–18, 2005

U.S. Agricultural Trade Outlook Forecast (11/22/05)
2006 Forecast…
Ag Exports raised $1 billion to record $64.5 billion
Ag Imports raised $500 million to $61.5 billion
Ag Trade Surplus set at $3 billion
Full Report (.pdf)
USDA Radio News Features:
-- Export Declines Forecast for Soybeans (11/25/05; real, mp3)
-- USDA Raises Export Forecast Again (11/22/05; real, mp3)
-- New Trade Forecast Numbers (11/22/05; real, mp3)
-- Exports Vital to Farmers (11/22/05; real, mp3)

Australia To Adopt Country of Origin Labeling Changes
The Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council met in late October and agreed that the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) proposed draft standard for Country of Origin labeling should be accepted in Australia. It is expected that the new standard will be gazetted (made law) by early 2006. Once adopted, the standard will include a transitional period. Changes include the addition of Country of Origin Labeling requirements for pork and food sold for catering purposes in-line with the current requirements for packaged and unpackaged fish, fruit and vegetables. (Attaché Report; 11/21/05)