(WhiteHouse.gov)

Trump expects only ‘tweaking’ of trade relationship with Canada

Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the country would be “tweaking” its trade relationship with Canada, stopping short of calling for a major realignment in a development likely to please visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump has pledged to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) linking the […] Read more


(FIle photo by Allan Dawson)

U.S. grains: Soy, corn fall on crop prospects, trade fears

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures closed lower Thursday on improving South American crop prospects and jitters about U.S. trade relationships, analysts said. Wheat futures rose on better-than-expected weekly U.S. export sales. Chicago Board of Trade soybeans for March delivery settled down 5-3/4 cents at $10.49-1/2 per bushel and March corn ended […] Read more

(EC.europa.eu)

Key European body backs EU-Canada trade deal

Brussels | Reuters — A planned EU-Canada free-trade deal moved closer to reality on Tuesday after a key committee advised the European Parliament to give its backing after months of protests and heated debate. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is seen as a test of Europe’s ability to forge future trade accords […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Struggling U.S. farm sector faces new threat as TPP dies

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to back out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, a US$62 billion market for U.S. farmers, provides a fresh threat to a slumping agricultural economy that has grown increasingly dependent on exports. Agricultural groups expressed disappointment over the move and urged the new administration to […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Canada not seen as U.S. target in NAFTA talks

Calgary | Reuters — Canada has a “very special status” and is unlikely to be hit hard by changes the U.S. wants to make to the NAFTA trade accord, the head of a business advisory council to U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday. Stephen Schwarzman made his remarks after addressing Canadian Prime Minister Justin […] Read more


(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Australia, New Zealand pledge to salvage TPP

Reuters — Australia hopes to salvage the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by encouraging China and other Asian nations into the agreement in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pull his country out of the pact, its trade minister said on Tuesday. New Zealand’s trade minister said ministers from the remaining TPP countries would […] Read more




Sonny Perdue with wife Mary during a rain prayer service in 2007. (SonnyPerdue.Georgia.gov)

Trump to name ex-Georgia governor as ag secretary

Washington | Reuters — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will name former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as his nominee for secretary of agriculture on Thursday, a senior transition official saidn Wednesday. Perdue, 70, served on Trump’s agricultural advisory committee during his presidential campaign. His nomination, which must be confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, will complete Trump’s […] Read more