An elite U.S. Grains Council delegation was the first group to meet with key officials in Panama and Colombia since U.S. passage of the Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements. The team explored the outlook for FTA implementation with government officials in both countries, with private sector grain customers, and with U.S. ambassadors and USDA staff. National Corn Growers Association Chairman Bart Schott, said the purpose was to see how far those folks have gone in implementing the FTAs.
The Free Trade Agreement between South Korea and the US may take effect by February, despite more time needed for preparation. That's the word from Seoul's top trade official. South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon said both sides are working to advance the implementation of the Trade pact but it will take more time to complete procedures and it is impossible to meet the agreed upon date.
US Beef Image in Korea Still a Work in Progress
The newest installment in the U.S. Meat Export Federation beef imaging campaign in South Korea is designed to help sustain the very positive growth trend for U.S. beef since it was reintroduced in Korea in 2008. “World Class Beef” continues the “To Trust” theme, but is designed to help address those consumers, as well as end-users, such as restaurant owners, who have remained on the sidelines in the wake of extensive Korean media coverage that inaccurately reported concerns about American beef.
Climate Smart Agriculture Global Topic
“Climate-smart” agriculture was a recurring theme during the latest global climate change talks in Durban, South Africa. The concept promotes agriculture as playing a major role in addressing a changing climate, whether it’s sequestering carbon in the soil through specific crop management practices, or through the development of renewable energy sources that replace and reduce dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to changes in climate.
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