Stories by Hallie Gu | Canadian Cattlemen

China tells state firms to halt purchases of major U.S. farm products

Purchases of soybeans, pork, corn, cotton on hold

By Jing Xu, Hallie Gu, Keith Zhai, GFM Network News June 1, 2020

Beijing/Singapore | Reuters –– China has told state-owned firms to halt purchases of soybeans and pork from the United States, two people familiar with the matter said, after Washington said it would eliminate special treatment for Hong Kong to punish Beijing. Large-volume state purchases of U.S. corn and cotton have also been put on hold, […] Read more

Canola, Crops, Markets, Reuters

China to resume imports of Canadian canola, sources report

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu, GFM Network News March 31, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China has agreed to allow imports of Canadian canola to resume, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, lifting a ban in place since March 2019 that had halted US$2 billion worth of trade. The agreement was reached during a call held by China’s customs administration and Canada’s […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

China encourages firms to raise pigs overseas

Officials aim to plug domestic pork shortage

By Shivani Singh, Hallie Gu, GFM Network News March 17, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China said Monday it is encouraging companies to build pig farms overseas to plug a severe domestic pork shortage after a worse-than-ever African swine fever slashed almost half of its pig herd. China has urged local authorities to support qualified domestic firms to “go out,” and build hog farming bases in […] Read more

General, Markets, Reuters

Trade deal will not affect China’s other ag suppliers, Liu says

By Hallie Gu, Shivani Singh January 16, 2020

Beijing | Reuters — China’s other suppliers of agricultural commodities will not be impacted by the Sino-U.S. trade deal since buying will be based on market principles, Vice-Premier Liu He said, according to a report from state-owned CCTV on Thursday. Liu was speaking on Wednesday at a press briefing after signing the Phase One trade […] Read more

Crops, Reuters

China approves two new GM crops from U.S. for import

By Hallie Gu, Shivani Singh December 31, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — China approved two new genetically modified (GM) crops for import on Monday that could boost agricultural purchases from the United States, while renewing permits for 10 others, the Chinese agriculture ministry said. Earlier this month, Beijing and Washington announced a Phase 1 trade deal, under which China has agreed to import […] Read more

Reuters, Soybeans

Beijing’s refusal to order U.S. farm buys becomes pain point

By Hallie Gu, Heather Timmons October 30, 2019

Washington/Beijing/Reuters – U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that Beijing commit to big purchases of American farm products has become a major sticking point in talks to end the Sino-U.S. trade war, according to several people briefed on the negotiations. Trump has said publicly that China could buy as much as $50 billion of U.S. farm […] Read more

U.S. President Donald Trump appears with China President Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders summit on June 29, 2019.

General, Markets, Reuters

U.S. farmers suffer ‘body blow’ as China slams door on farm purchases

By Hallie Gu, Tom Daly August 5, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — Chinese companies have stopped buying U.S. agricultural products, China’s commerce ministry said on Tuesday, a blow to U.S. farmers who have already seen their exports slashed by the more than year-old trade war. China may impose additional tariffs on U.S. farm products bought shortly before the purchase ban took effect, China’s […] Read more

Reuters, Soybeans

China’s soy crushers in no rush to buy from U.S.

By Hallie Gu, Shivani Singh July 24, 2019

Beijing | Reuters – Despite the carrot of a potential exemption from import tariffs, Chinese soybean crushers are unlikely to buy in bulk from the United States any time soon as they grapple with poor margins and longer-term doubts about Sino-U.S. trade relations, people familiar with the matter said. China imposed a 25 per cent […] Read more

Hogs, Reuters

China June pork imports surge more than 62 per cent from previous year

By Hallie Gu, Shivani Singh July 23, 2019

Beijing | Reuters – China’s pork imports in June surged from the previous year, customs data showed on Tuesday, as the world’s top consumer of the meat stocked up on supplies after African swine fever has decimated domestic pig herds. China brought in 160,467 tonnes of pork in June, up 62.8 per cent from the […] Read more

Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

China to suspend pork imports from Quebec processor

By Dominique Patton, Hallie Gu June 18, 2019

Beijing | Reuters — China will block pork imports from a third Canadian firm after a shipment was found to contain the banned feed additive ractopamine, the customs agency said on Tuesday, deepening a trade and diplomatic dispute with Canada. The firm in question is Frigo Royal, the agency said on its Wechat account. Ractopamine […] Read more

Ontario to insure for crop loss due to lack of labour

U.S. livestock: Ham prices lead lean hog futures higher

Newfoundland farmers may shoot problem moose at night

GFM Network News