China’s approval still needed on Gavilon takeover

Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp. said it expects to get Chinese regulatory approval for its long-delayed US$5.6 billion purchase of U.S. grain merchant Gavilon by the end of March. The transaction, which has received clearance from U.S. and European anti-competition authorities, needs Chinese approval because Marubeni will increase supplies of grains to the world’s most […] Read more

Brazil on the offensive to clear name over BSE

Brazil is launching a diplomatic offensive to defend its huge beef industry and clarify details of an "atypical case" of BSE that prompted its top customer, Russia, to consider import restrictions after Japan suspended purchases altogether. The 13-year-old cow kept for breeding purposes died of other causes in 2010 and never developed the disease, technically […] Read more