Paris | Reuters — More than 100 French left-wing lawmakers decided Tuesday to appeal to the country’s Constitutional Council to block a contentious free trade deal between the European Union and Canada. Supporters of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) say it will boost economic growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. […] Read more

French MNAs take EU-Canada trade deal to court

Tim Hortons owner confirms US$1.8B deal for Popeyes
Reuters — Restaurant Brands International, owner of the Burger King and Tim Hortons fast-food chains, said on Tuesday it would acquire Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for US$1.8 billion in cash. The deal is a bet by Oakville, Ont.-based Restaurant Brands that it can use its international reach to introduce Popeyes’ Louisiana-style fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits […] Read more

Canada’s farm income to dip, but remain above average
Reuters — Canadian farmers’ incomes will decline seven per cent in 2017, falling for the second year in a row but remaining at above-average levels, the country’s agriculture department predicted on Friday. A drop in North American cattle and calf prices from record highs in 2015 is the main reason for the two-year dip, Agriculture […] Read more

Japan feedmakers to tap corn stocks after U.S. supply disruption
Tokyo | Reuters — Japan’s feedmakers are expected to tap the country’s emergency stockpiles of corn as inventories decline to critically low levels due to a delay in shipments from the U.S. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to approve the measure after heavy storms in the northwestern U.S. caused lengthy delays to […] Read more

China bird flu deaths surge in what could be worst season ever
Beijing | Reuters — As many as 79 people died from H7N9 bird flu in China last month, the government said, stoking worries that the spread of the virus this season could be the worst on record. January’s fatalities were up to four times higher than the same month in past years, and brought the […] Read more

Snow, avalanches, rain delay grain movement to U.S. ports
Chicago | Reuters — Severe winter weather has slowed rail deliveries of crops to shippers in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, sending freight rates soaring and prompting Asian buyers to seek fill-in loads as they wait for the backlog at ports to clear. Blizzards, avalanches and heavy rain in recent weeks have hit transport of corn, […] Read more

Agrium forecasts less profitable year than expected
Reuters — Fertilizer maker Agrium, the world’s biggest farm retailer, on Thursday forecast a less profitable year than expected and said its quarterly profit plunged. The Calgary-based company said after normal trading hours that it expects to earn $4.50-$6 per share in 2017. The midpoint of $5.25 fell below analysts’ average estimate of $5.45, according […] Read more

U.S. forecaster says La Nina faded, sees El Nino potential
Reuters — A U.S. weather forecaster on Thursday said La Nina has faded and neutral conditions are likely to continue in the coming months, though it noted some chance that the El Nino phenomenon may reappear as early as the Northern Hemisphere spring. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the National Weather Service, […] Read more

JBS shares slump as prosecutors target controlling holder
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– Shares in JBS SA, the world’s biggest beef exporter, tumbled on Tuesday after prosecutors demanded that Joesley Batista step aside as head of JBS controlling shareholder J+F Investimentos SA. Common shares fell as much as 6.2 per cent to 11.29 reais (C$4.76) in early trading before paring losses to 11.85 […] Read more

B.C. police stop farmer clearing snowy street with Zamboni
Vancouver | Reuters — Police stopped a “well-intentioned” farmer on Vancouver Island on Monday night after he tried to clear a snowed-in neighbourhood street with a Zamboni, a vehicle for cleaning ice rinks and a fixture in arenas across Canada. Central Saanich police spokesman Dan Cottingham said on Tuesday the man told them he had […] Read more