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Retail pasta prices rose about 12% this year in Europe and 8% in the United States, according to market research firm Nielsen. CANADA DRYWhen the Prairies turned dry this summer, Canadian farmer Darold Niwa saw hopes of a bumper durum harvest dashed. Durum, the hardest wheat, produces pasta with the prized "al dente" firm texture, unlike soft wheat. In the meantime, Vincenzo Martinelli, president of the durum section of Italian millers association Italmopa, nervously awaits the outcome of the Canadian harvest. "Without Canada, prices will only go up," he said.

Persons: De, Continental Noodles, Vincent Liberatore, Liberatore, Darold Niwa, Jerry Klassen, Philip Werle, There's, Severine, Maisons, Vincenzo Martinelli, Gus Trompiz, Rod Nickel, Emilio Parodi, Ceyda, Julie Ingwersen, Michael Hogan, Caroline Stauffer, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Foods, Nielsen, Grains, CANADA, Prairies, Statistics, Traders, Northstar, European Union, Thomson Locations: Fara San Martino, Italy, PARIS, WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canada, Turkey, Toronto, Continental, Spain, India, Europe, United States, Oyen , Alberta, durum, Statistics Canada, France, Algeria, TURKEY, Turkish, American, Russia, North Africa, Milan, Ceyda Caglayan, Istanbul, Chicago, Hamburg

Oleg Panteleev, head of the AviaPort aviation think-tank in Moscow, said Russian airlines have "solved the problem" of operating under Western sanctions. When those firms stopped providing services – Lufthansa Technik said it suspended sales to Russia from Feb. 28, 2022 – Russian airlines turned to a pool of far smaller suppliers. Ivan Melnicov, chief executive of Air Rock and another aircraft parts distributor in Moldova called Aerostage Services, denied selling products to Russia. Most of the shipments listed in Russian customs records as having been made by Air Rock and Aerostage took circuitous routes, transiting through the UAE or Kyrgyzstan. He said Skyparts had procured one of the Northrop Grumman parts from a U.S. supplier but denied ever sending it to Russia.

Persons: Paul Hanna, Northrop, Oleg Panteleev, Kirill Skuratov, Northrop Grumman, Ivan Melnicov, Melnicov, Aerostage, Kafolati Komil, Mahmadbashir Yakubov, Kafolati, Skyparts FZCO, Lisa Barrington, Saeed Abdulloev, Skyparts, Karine Bukrey, Ramses Turizm, Bukrey's, Ramazan, Bukrey, Akpinar, Nordwind, Valery Pashaev, Pashaev, Maurice Tamman, David Clarke, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Ural Airlines Airbus, Palma de Mallorca, REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Northrop Grumman, Central Asia, Airbus, Boeing, Ural Airlines, Northrop, United Arab Emirates, Western, Reuters, of Commerce, European Union, Russian, S7 Airlines, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Aeroflot, Lufthansa Technik, Engineering, Rock Solutions, Air Rock, Aerostage Services, Airlines, UAE, Istikloliyat, Skyparts, Nordwind Airlines, Thomson Locations: Palma de, Spain, Russian, Yekaterinburg, U.S, Moscow, Russia, Central, Ukraine, Tajikistan, UAE, Turkey, China, Kyrgyzstan, Swiss, Germany, Moldova, Air, Moldovan, Saudi Arabia, Komilchon, Ural, Dubai, United Arab, Turkish, Antalya, Nusret, Technic, New York

☆ Canada to challenge extension of US softwood lumber duties
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Finished lumber is seen at West Fraser Pacific Inland Resources sawmill in Smithers, British Columbia, Canada February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Jesse Winter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Canada will challenge what Ottawa described as an "unfair, unjust and illegal" extension of U.S. import duties on Canadian softwood lumber products, the trade ministry said on Tuesday. The softwood lumber tariffs are the legacy of a decades-long trade dispute over the structure of Canada's timber sector that could not be resolved when a quota agreement expired in 2015. "For years, the United States has imposed unfair, unjust and illegal duties on Canadian softwood lumber, hurting Canadian industry and increasing housing costs in both countries," Trade Minister Mary Ng said in the statement. "We are prepared to discuss another softwood lumber agreement when Canada is ready to address the underlying issues related to subsidization and fair competition so that Canadian lumber imports do not injure the U.S. industry," a USTR spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Persons: Jesse Winter, Mary Ng, Ismail Shakil, Susan Heavey, Devika Syamnath, Andy Sullivan Organizations: West Fraser Pacific Inland Resources, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Ottawa, U.S . Commerce Department, Canada, Washington, Trade, United, U.S . Trade, Thomson Locations: West, Smithers , British Columbia, Canada, U.S, Mexico, United States, Ottawa, Bengaluru

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen inside its headquarters in Mumbai, India, April 6, 2023. India's trade deficit with the UAE was $21.62 billion in 2022/23, or 8.2% of its total deficit, government data shows. An RBI official communicated this message verbally to foreign exchange dealers at a seminar this month, four sources said. The central bank is "keen that volumes of such trades go up" and "has assured the market that they will be ready to support banks with INR-AED trades," this banker said. "The RBI is telling banks to first encourage large clients and corporates to start INR-AED trades because their balance sheets are relatively stronger," another banker said.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, corporates, Siddhi Nayak, Jaspreet, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Bank of India, REUTERS, Rights, United Arab, Reuters, Reserve Bank, Indian Oil Corp, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Rights MUMBAI, DELHI, United Arab Emirates, UAE, dirhams, Abu Dhabi

☆ Singapore downgrades GDP outlook, avoids recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Chen Lin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Goss domestic product (GDP) expanded a seasonally-adjusted 0.1% quarter-on-quarter in April to June, slower than 0.3% growth seen in the government's advance estimate. Manufacturing will remain weak, dampened by a protracted downturn in electronics, while finance and insurance sectors will likely be subdued, MTI said. The ministry narrowed its GDP growth forecast to 0.5% to 1.5% this year from 0.5% to 2.5% previously. Analysts are expecting no change to monetary policy at MAS's October meeting, despite cooling momentum. MAS left its policy settings unchanged in April, after tightening five times in a row since October 2021, reflecting concerns over the city-state's growth outlook.

Persons: Feline, Goss, MTI, Yong Yik Wei, Brian Tan, Chen Lin, Tom Westbrook, Kanupriya Kapoor, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Port, REUTERS, MAS, Ministry of Trade and Industry, The Straits Times, Monetary Authority, Singapore's, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Port of Singapore, MTI, SINGAPORE, Singapore, Asia

But Chinese suppliers could be critical if Tesla were to establish a plant in India and keep costs in check for a cheap EV. Instead, the Indian officials said they had suggested a workaround in which Tesla would emulate the approach of Apple (AAPL.O). The U.S. smartphone giant in recent months has obtained approvals to bring Chinese suppliers to India after they found local joint-venture partners. New Delhi in recent months has been approving some Chinese suppliers' JV partnerships with Indian companies on a case-to-case basis, one of the government sources said. One of the Indian officials said pairing local and Chinese players could work for Tesla.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tesla, Elon Musk, Apple, China's BYD, Nikunj Ohri, Acharya, Nikunj, Aditi Shah, Aditya Kalra, Jason Neely Organizations: Elon, REUTERS, DELHI, Apple, Tesla, Tata Motors, U.S ., Thomson Locations: India, China, New Delhi, U.S, . New Delhi

"When we're 50% foreign owned that gives people pause within Japan," Johnson said in an interview. Companies often view the presence of an activist investor as a challenge to their strategy or a factor that could delay execution of their plans. The activist investor previously praised JSR's "fact-based decision making" and said it supports the sale to JIC. "But that doesn't contribute to the Japanese semiconductor materials industry overall," he said. "I don't think they're being imaginative enough ... there's a wide range of materials expertise in Japan," Johnson said.

Persons: Eric Johnson, Johnson, ValueAct, JSR's, Atsushi Ikeda, Goldman Sachs, Ikeda, Yuta, JSR, Sam Nussey, Miho Uranaka, Makiko Yamazaki, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Stephen Coates Organizations: JSR, Japan Investment Corp, Samsung, Intel, ValueAct, Companies, Citigroup, Svea, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, American, Japan, there's

☆ Nidec's acquisitive CEO hails new Japan rules aimed at making takeovers easier
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Nidec Corp's logo is pictured at an earnings results news conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2018. Nagamori welcomed the prospect of Japan becoming more receptive to unsolicited bids. Because unsolicited bids are seen as taboo, Nidec has typically focused on buying and turning around money-losing companies, he said, but "that takes time". In corporate Japan, unsolicited bids have been seen as too adversarial. he said, referring to Nidec's tender offer price with an 80% premium.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Shigenobu Nagamori, Nagamori, Nidec, Makiko Yamazaki, Miho Uranaka, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO

IMPORTED ASSEMBLY KITSAfter a chaotic decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia encouraged Western carmakers to build factories. "Undoubtedly, the expansion of Chinese carmakers on the Russian market will continue," said Andrey Olkhovsky, the head of dealership chain Avtodom. It is a radical change of fortunes for Chinese carmakers in Russia. Production of Chinese vehicles only began in Russia in 2019 with the arrival of Chinese automotive company Great Wall Motor (601633.SS). LESS LOCAL INPUTUnder the partnership with Chinese firms, less of the production at former Western factories is currently conducted in Russia, the sources said.

Persons: Jetour, Maxim Shemetov, Moscow's, Sergei Sobyanin, French carmaker, JAC, Sehol, Moskvich, capitalising, Vladimir Bespalov, Vladimir Putin, Andrey Olkhovsky, Olkhovsky, Wall, Sollers, Avtovaz, Denis Manturov, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Zhang Yan, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, French, French carmaker Renault, Moscow Automobile Factory, JAC Motors, Reuters, Renault, Nissan, Russia's Industry, Trade Ministry, Wall, Chery, Geely, HK, Argo, Ford Transit, Nissan's St, Lada, China's FAW Group's, FAW, Western, Trade, Thomson Locations: Lyubertsy, Moscow Region, Russia, Soviet, Moscow, Anhui, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Western, Tula, Autostat, Tatarstan, Nissan's, Nissan's St Petersburg, St Petersburg, Leningrad, Japan, Europe, China, Shanghai

☆ Russia moves to ban iPhones for government officials after claiming they were hacked by the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian government ministries are beginning to ban officials from using Apple iPhones. Russia's trade ministry will impose a ban starting Monday, the Financial Times reported. Beginning July 17, employees at Russia's trade ministry will no longer be allowed to use iPhones on the job, the Financial Times reported. In March, the Kremlin told officials to stop using Apple products, citing fears they were vulnerable to US hacking. Following the Russian claims, Apple announced patches to its iOS software, crediting researchers at the Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab with identifying vulnerabilities.

Persons: Apple Organizations: Apple, Financial Times, Service, Kremlin, iOS, Washington Post, Federal Security Service Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Malaysian PM Anwar discusses Tesla investment, Starlink with Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday he held a call with billionaire Elon Musk to discuss automaker Tesla's investment in the country and SpaceX's satellite communications service. "I welcome the company's interest and decision to invest in Malaysia, and Elon Musk's willingness to come to Malaysia," Anwar said in a statement. Anwar said Tesla's operations in Malaysia will begin this year. The two also discussed Starlink, the satellite communications service started by Musk and operated by his company SpaceX, Anwar said. Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Elon Musk, Elon Musk's, Anwar, Tesla's, Tesla, Mei Mei Chu, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, Musk, SpaceX, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia

REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta/File PhotoNEW DELHI, July 14 (Reuters) - India will not impose countervailing duty (CVD) on select steel products imported from China despite a recommendation from trade officials and lobbying from local steel manufacturers, a government source told Reuters. The decision by the finance ministry aims to protect steel consuming firms from higher prices even though it could hurt local steel manufacturers, the source said. In April DGTR - which is India's trade ministry's arm that investigates unfair trade practices - recommended CVD on some stainless steel flat products. The finance ministry has rejected the recommendation despite steel purchases from China touching a six-year high in April-May period, with imports rising 62%. India's finance and trade ministry did not immediately reply to emails sent after office hours.

Persons: Mukesh Gupta, Nikunj Ohri, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Trade, Reuters, Trade Organisation, Jindal Stainless Ltd, Steel Authority of India, Thomson Locations: Jammu, DELHI, India, China

☆ South Korea export downturn slows, trade balance swings to surplus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Jihoon Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 1 (Reuters) - South Korea's export downturn slowed in June, with auto exports extending robust rises and semiconductors narrowing their decline, as the bellwether Asian economy posted its first trade surplus since early last year. Exports of semiconductors fell 28.0%, the smallest decline in eight months. Shipments to China fell 19.0%, the smallest decline since October, while those to the United States fell 1.9% in their third month of decline. Imports fell 11.7% to $53.11 billion, narrowing from a 14.0% fall the previous month and but slightly steeper than the 11.0% decline expected by economists. As a result, the country posted a trade surplus of $1.13 billion in June after 15 months of deficits for the export-reliant economy.

Persons: Jihoon Lee, Heekyong Yang, Diane Craft, William Mallard Organizations: Automobile, European Union, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, China, United States

TOKYO, June 27 (Reuters) - State-backed Japan Investment Corp (JIC) sees potential for more mergers and acquisitions in high-end corners of the chipmaking industry following its planned $6.4 billion buyout of materials maker JSR (4185.T), the head of its private equity arm said. "We see potential in some speciality materials markets where JSR can win dominant positions by combining with other materials makers," Ikeuchi said in an interview. "We believe that we can boost Japanese chip materials makers' global competitiveness by spurring industry consolidation," he added. In the chemicals industry, for example, Japan has "too many players making similar products that were once competitive but are now commoditised," Ikeuchi said. JIC, overseen by the powerful trade ministry, was set up in 2018 to invest in Japanese companies to boost the nation's competitiveness.

Persons: Shogo, Ikeuchi, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Ritsuko Shimizu, Jamie Freed Organizations: Japan Investment Corp, JIC Capital, Japan, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, chipmaking, Japan

☆ South Korea to return to Japan's 'white list' for exports on July 21
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, June 27 (Reuters) - Japan will reinstate South Korea to its "white list" for exports with fast-track trade status effective July 21, Japanese trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Tuesday, a crucial step for resolving an economic row between the two nations. Japan lifted export curbs on high-tech materials to South Korea in March as the nations mended ties amid North Korea's repeated missile launches and China's stepping up defence activities. South Korea's trade ministry welcomed the move as a "complete recovery of trust between the two countries in export control". The ministry also said it would work closely with Tokyo on bilateral and multilateral export control issues in future. Reporting by Miho Uranaka in TOKYO, Hyunsu Yim in SEOUL, writing by Kaori Kaneko Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yasutoshi Nishimura, Miho Uranaka, Hyunsu Yim, Kaori Kaneko, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: South, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, South Korea, Tokyo, SEOUL

☆ Shares in Japan's JSR untraded on surprise possible buyout
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JSR's market capitalisation was 677 billion yen ($4.71 billion) at Friday's market close. JIC would spend about 1 trillion yen on the acquisition, the Nikkei newspaper reported, injecting 500 billion yen into a new company to make the purchase and borrowing 400 billion yen from Mizuho Bank. JSR is a top supplier of photoresists, which are light-sensitive chemicals used to print patterns on wafers, to global chipmakers. JSR, which was set up in 1957 as a government-backed producer of synthetic rubber, reported a 20% jump in sales to 408.9 billion yen in the year ended March, while operating profit declined 33% to 29.4 billion yen. Shares in JSR, which unusually for a Japanese company has a foreign-born CEO, have gained 25% year-to-date.

Persons: JIC, Travis Lundy, Sam Nussey, Jamie Freed Organizations: JSR, Japan Investment Corp, Nikkei, Mizuho Bank, JIC, Quiddity Advisors, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, United States, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Factbox: Japan ramps up efforts to strengthen its chip industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are investments in Japan announced by chipmakers and measures the government is taking to revive its semiconductor industry. Sony Group (6758.T) and auto parts maker Denso (6902.T), which will use the chips TSMC makes, are also investors. It said it would be the first chipmaker to bring EUV technology to Japan for production. It has offered TSMC a 476 billion yen subsidy, or about half the expected cost of the factory. Rapidus secured an initial 70 billion yen of funding from the government, and local media reported in April that the government was finalising a plan to provide an additional 300 billion yen.

Persons: TW, Rapidus, JIC, Makiko Yamazaki, Sam Nussey, Tim Kelly, Miho Uranaka, Miyoung Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: Semiconductor, chipmakers, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Sony Group, Micron Technology, Samsung Electronics, Reuters, Business Machines, IBM, Samsung, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan Investment Corp, Innovation Network Corp of Japan, Toshiba, Japan Industrial Partners, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Kyushu, Denso, KS, Yokohama, Japan's, Chitose, Hokkaido, Rapidus, U.S, China, State

June 27 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Wall Street closed in the red on Monday - the Nasdaq shed more than 1% for the third trading day in four - and the U.S. yield curve inversion accelerated to near-historic levels. But inflation and policy concerns are driving sentiment more than geopolitical fears. The Bank for International Settlements on Sunday called for more rate hikes, warning the world economy is at a crucial juncture in the fight against inflation. The International Monetary Fund's Gita Gopinath said on Monday investors may be overly optimistic on the speed and cost of taming inflation.

Persons: Jamie McGeever, Gita Gopinath Organizations: Kremlin, Nasdaq, Swiss, Bank for International, U.S, JSR, Japan Investment Corp, ECB, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Russian, U.S, Japan, Canada, Sintra, Portugal

India's foreign ministry is consulting with departments on their appetite for fertiliser and gas from Cairo as part payment for the credit line, an Indian official said. India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in May 2022 to help control rising domestic prices, rescinding a plan to export 3 million tons of wheat to Egypt in the year 2022/23. The other sources from India and Egypt did not wish to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the press. India's external affairs ministry, finance ministry, trade minister, and Egypt's foreign ministry and trade ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. India exported $4.11 billion of goods to Egypt in the last fiscal year, while importing $1.95 billion.

Persons: Narendra Modi's, Ali Moselhy, Moselhy, Rajendra Jadhav, Conor Humphries Organizations: Reuters, Indian, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, DELHI, India, Egypt, Delhi, Cairo, New Delhi, Russia

☆ Japan to give Toyota $854 million support for domestic EV battery output, Nikkei reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, June 15 (Reuters) - Japan will give Toyota (7203.T) around 120 billion yen ($854 million) support towards the automaker's plan to invest in domestic production of the lithium ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EV), the Nikkei newspaper said. The government help would also come as Japan and other U.S. allies increasingly look to secure supply chains away from China, which is a major player in EV batteries. Japan's trade ministry has designated storage batteries, including car batteries, as critical to economic security and has earmarked 330 billion yen in its second supplementary budget to support their supply and development, the Nikkei said. In Toyota's case the total amount of the project to be subsidised is seen reaching 330 billion yen, the newspaper said. ($1 = 140.4500 yen)Reporting by David Dolan; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Dolan, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Toyota, Nikkei, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, China

☆ Russia takes over another Western asset with Bosch plant deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NAMI, Russia's Central Automobile and Engine Research and Development Institute, has been snapping up assets from global carmakers that left Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. NAMI has already taken over plants that were previously run by carmakers Renault (RENA.PA), Nissan (7201.T) and Toyota (7203.T). The price of the transaction was not disclosed, but NAMI has picked up other assets for nominal fees. "Previously the company was engaged in the production of steering systems, anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability programme systems," NAMI said in a statement. Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Gleb Stolyarov Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: NAMI, Robert Bosch, carmakers, Alexander Marrow, Gleb Stolyarov, Mark Potter Organizations: Central Automobile, Research, Development Institute, carmakers Renault, Nissan, Toyota, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Samara

☆ South Korea vows support for its chip sector amid China-US tension
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, June 8 (Reuters) - South Korea pledged support for its chip sector on Thursday, with President Yoon Suk Yeol describing competition in the industry as an "all-out war" amid heightened Sino-U.S. tension. The government plans to help expand research and development, bolster smaller players, strengthen legal protection for chip technology and set up a chip testing facility, the industry ministry said in a statement. South Korea has sought to avoid becoming embroiled in a tit-for-tat row between China and the United States over semiconductors. On one hand, chipmakers Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) and SK Hynix Inc (000660.KS) depend on U.S. technology and equipment. At the same time, about 40% of South Korea's chip exports go to China, trade ministry data showed.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Yoon, Fitch, Joyce Lee, Edwina Gibbs, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Companies, Samsung Electronics Co, SK Hynix Inc, Washington, Samsung, SK Hynix, SK Hynix's, SK, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Korea, China, U.S

MEXICO CITY, June 2 (Reuters) - Mexico said on Friday it would counter U.S. arguments over agriculture biotech measures, including plans to limit its use of genetically modified (GM) corn, in trade dispute settlement consultations requested by Washington earlier in the day. If the consultations fail to resolve disagreements within 75 days, Washington can request a dispute settlement panel to decide the case. The United States requested formal trade consultations in March over objections to Mexico's plans to limit imports of GM corn and other agricultural biotechnology products. The new decree eliminated a deadline to ban GM corn for animal feed and industrial use, by far the bulk of its $5 billion worth of U.S. corn imports, but maintained a ban on GM corn used in dough or tortillas. Some sector experts have expressed concern that the move could set a precedent among other countries, which would disrupt the global corn trade.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, February's, Tom Haag, Cassandra Garrison, Adriana Barrera, Kylie Madry, Dave Graham, Ismail Shakil, Leslie Adler, William Mallard Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Washington, U.S, Trade Ministry, United, U.S . Trade, U.S ., Corn Growers Association, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Canada, U.S, Washington, United States, Mexican, Mexico City, Ottawa

MEXICO CITY, June 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. is escalating its conflict with Mexico over agriculture biotech measures, including the stance on genetically modified (GM) corn, by requesting dispute settlement consultations, senior officials of the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Friday. If the consultations announced on Friday fail to resolve disagreements within 75 days, Washington can request a dispute settlement panel to decide the case. The United States requested formal trade consultations in March over objections to Mexico's plans to limit imports of GM corn and other agricultural biotechnology products. Earlier this week, Mexico's agriculture minister expressed confidence in an interview that the dispute with the U.S. would not escalate to a dispute settlement panel. The new decree eliminated the deadline to ban GM corn for animal feed and industrial use, by far the bulk of its $5 billion worth of U.S. corn imports, but maintained a ban on GM corn used in dough or tortillas.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Tom Vilsack, Tom Haag, Cassandra Garrison, Adriana Barrera, Ismail Shakil, Leslie Adler Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Trade, U.S, Trade Ministry, United, Economy Ministry, Agriculture, U.S ., Corn Growers Association, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Canada, Washington, United States, Mexico City, Ottawa

☆ China, South Korea agree to strengthen talks on chip industry, Chinese commerce ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Printed Chinese and South Korean flags are seen in this illustration, July 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationBEIJING, May 27 (Reuters) - China and South Korea have agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on semiconductor industry supply chains, amid broader global concerns over chip supplies, sanctions and national security, China's commerce minister said. Wang Wentao met with South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Detroit, which ended on Friday. Wang also said that China is willing to work with South Korea to deepen trade ties and investment cooperation. South Korea is in the crosshairs of a tit-for-tat row between the United States and China over semiconductors.

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