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The following GAIN reports were released on February 24, 2022. _______   China: American Ginseng approved for use as a food ingredient under Guangdong pilot program On December 10, 2021, Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (GAMR) released information and rules of a pilot program to allow several Traditional Chinese Medicine products, including American ginseng, to be used as ingredients in food and beverage products. Formulas for these products were only accepted for a period of 10 days in December 2021. Though this pilot program may eventually expand the ways in which ginseng is used, it is expected to have limited impact on demand for premium U.S. ginseng. Local contacts report food companies are seeking low-priced, often domestically-produced ginseng to use as a food ingredient to control costs. The pilot program ends on November 8, 2022. There is no announcement of next steps after the pilot program ends.   China: Updated Technical Guidelines for Cold Chain Foods On January 30, 2022, China's State Council released two updated technical guidelines for preventing and controlling COVID-19 in cold-chain food. The Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus in Cold Chain Food Production and Operation (Second Edition) and the Cold Chain Food Production and Operation Process Covid Control and Disinfection (Second Edition) establish guidelines for producers and operators involved in cold-chain food, including production, loading and unloading, transportation, storage, and sales. In September 2020, the PRC notified emergency measures to the WTO regarding China's cold chain food and alleged concerns over COVID-19.   Ecuador: Agricultural Trade Between United States and Ecuador Reaches Historical Record Despite economic constraints and the continued COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. - Ecuador bilateral agricultural trade in 2021 rose to $3.8 billion. In addition, U.S. agricultural exports reached a record $587 million. This demonstrates continued opportunities in Ecuador and underscores the value of the growth potential within the market, although many tariff and policy issues remain for several product categories.   Egypt: The Resilience of the Egypt Economy in the face of COVID-19 Shocks and High Commodity Prices  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in commodity prices globally, Egypt succeeded in maintaining inflation rates within the Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE’s) target range of 7 percent (±2 percent) in 2021, at a time when many countries of the world are witnessing a wave of high inflation. Egypt has adopted rational economic and monetary policies over recent years that have taken into account achieving stability in commodity prices, as well as setting interest rates in line with inflation targets. This put Egypt at the forefront of emerging markets in reducing its rate of inflation.   Press Release  |  February 25, 2022 *Corrected version sent to reflect the correct month of enforcement actions and administrative hearings scheduled   FDIC Makes Public January Enforcement Actions; No Administrative Hearings Scheduled for March 2022 WASHINGTON - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today released a list of orders of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in January 2022.  There are no administrative hearings scheduled for March 2022.   The FDIC issued nine Orders in January 2022.  The administrative enforcement actions in those Orders consisted of four Orders to Pay Civil Money Penalty, one order terminating consent order, one voluntary termination of deposit insurance, and three orders of prohibition from further participation.   To view orders, adjudicated decisions and notices and the administrative hearing details online, please visit the FDIC’s Web page by clicking the link below.   January 2022 Enforcement Decisions and Orders