Reuters — Japan and the Obama administration on Tuesday rejected calls from some U.S. lawmakers to consider re-opening a Pacific trade deal and said any renegotiation attempt could scupper the whole pact. “Renegotiation is not an option,” Caroline Atkinson, Obama’s deputy national security adviser for international economics, said on a call hosted by the Atlantic […] Read more

Japan, White House rule out re-opening TPP pact

CP said exploring Norfolk Southern takeover
Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) is looking to acquire U.S. peer Norfolk Southern, business news service Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Canada’s second-largest railroad operator has already raised financing and held early-stage merger talks with Norfolk Southern, Bloomberg reported, citing two of the people. Freight carried by major U.S. railroads […] Read more

White House may have to renegotiate on TPP, senator says
Washington | Reuters –– A key U.S. senator said on Friday the Obama administration may have to renegotiate parts of a Pacific trade pact, heralding a tough battle to win support in Congress. The administration notified lawmakers Thursday it plans to sign the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, starting a countdown to a congressional vote that could […] Read more

Canada to review TPP pact, seek public input
Ottawa | Reuters –– Canada’s new Liberal government will review a landmark Pacific trade deal negotiated by the outgoing Conservatives and wants public input on the accord, Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said Thursday. Some Canadian dairy farmers and auto workers say their jobs could be threatened by the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, which seeks to cut […] Read more
Drought to shrivel Ukrainian wheat harvest in 2016
Kiev — Severe drought across half of Ukraine has hit winter sowing and could sharply reduce the country’s 2016 wheat harvest, a senior state weather forecaster said on Monday. The drought, in which the central Dnipropetrovsk region suffered its driest autumn in 50 years, could lead to a 20 per cent year-on-year fall in the wheat […] Read more

Algeria buys large quantity of durum
Reuters —Algeria’s state grains agency OAIC purchased about 350,000 tonnes of durum wheat for shipment in December and January likely to be sourced from Canada in a tender which closed on Thursday, European traders said on Monday. The average price paid was just below $330 per tonne, traders said, with one citing the price of […] Read more

Brazil’s JBS concludes acquisition of Cargill pork unit
Sao Paulo / Reuters – Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA said on Friday it had concluded its $1.45 billion acquisition of Cargill Inc’s U.S. pork assets without any restrictions from regulators, a deal that makes it one of the largest meat companies in the United States. UPDATE: Cargill Illinois hog processing plant offline until Monday Chicago / […] Read more

#FreeBacon sizzles on social media
WHO review: Negative tweets outnumber positive ones by more than 6.5 to one
Bacon lovers took to social media on Tuesday to express disdain over a World Health Organization report that said processed meat is likely to cause cancer. The hashtags #FreeBacon, #Bacongeddon and #JeSuisBacon were among the top-trending topics worldwide on Twitter for a second straight day. Celebrities, politicians and ordinary consumers were reacting to Monday’s announcement […] Read more

CME to raise feeder cattle index weight requirements
Chicago | Reuters –– CME Group plans to increase the weight ranges for its feeder cattle index, which is associated with the feeder cattle futures contract, the exchange said in a statement on Tuesday. The amendment will become effective when the November 2016 contract is listed for trading on Nov. 20, after the expiration of […] Read more

Brazil’s JBS considering slew of acquisitions
Sao Paulo | Reuters –– JBS SA, the world’s largest meat packer, is ready to take on a slew of acquisitions next year, chairman Joesley Batista said Tuesday. The Brazilian company controls assets in the U.S., Canada, Australia and other countries. Batista, speaking on the sidelines of a telecommunications industry event in São Paulo, declined […] Read more