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The following GAIN reports were released on September 20, 2023. _______
Canada: Quebec Government Passes Legislation Impacting Trademarks - Bill 96On June 1, 2022, the Quebec government passed legislation titled Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec, to make new amendments to Quebec’s Bill 101. The declared purpose of Bill 96 is to reinforce and strengthen the use of the French language in Quebec by expanding the linguistic obligations and requirements originally outlined in Bill 101. Bill 96 has introduced significant trademark amendments and requirements for non-French trademarks on product packaging, labeling, public signage, posters & commercial advertising. These amendments will come into force on June 1, 2025.
China: Decree 248 Product List Update - September 2023The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Bureau of Import and Export Food Safety (BIEFS) recently updated the list of products subject to Decree 248. The PRC has not notified these changes to trade partners. Between April 19, 2023, and September 12, 2023, it added 15 products and removed 14 products. The changes affect dairy products, poultry products, fruit and vegetable juice, canned fruit, aquatic products, sweets, and chocolates. Before shipping, exporters should verify that their production or cold storage facilities have completed GACC's registration process. The updated list of products subject to Decree 248 facility registration is attached to this report.
New Zealand: Livestock and Products AnnualSince reaching peak numbers in 2016, the New Zealand national cattle herd has been gradually declining, and this is expected to continue in 2024. In recent years, government policies associated with waterway exclusions, winter grazing restrictions, and mitigating nitrogen leaching have been the main contributors to the decline. In the long term, the national beef industry faces an immense challenge due the New Zealand Government’s intent to price agricultural emissions by 2025. On-farm inflation is forecasted to be the biggest non-climate-related challenge in the next 18 months. Prices for livestock farm inputs increased 16.3 percent between March 2022 and March 2023 – representing the highest on-farm inflation rate for livestock farmers in 40 years. Export volumes to global markets in the first half of 2023 were up 8 percent on the previous year, with strong demand in the United States and China. However, global inflation and recession have seen prices soften by over 7 percent. China: China Issues Extension of the Exclusion of Section 301 Retaliatory Tariffs on Sorbitol AgainOn September 13, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced an extension of the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusion period for sorbitol and other select U.S. commodities would be valid to April 30, 2024. The exclusion was set to expire on September 15, 2023. This report contains an unofficial translation of the SCTC announcement.
Japan: USJTA Treatment for Fresh Fruit 2023The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) entered Year 5 of the agreement implementation on April 1, 2023. This report is one in a series of product briefs highlighting the tariff benefits for specific commodities and products from Year 5 (2023) to Year 7 (2025) of the Agreement. Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta/.
Japan: USJTA Treatment for Frozen and Dried Fruit 2023The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) entered Year 5 of the agreement implementation on April 1, 2023. This report is one in a series of product briefs highlighting the tariff benefits for specific commodities and products from Year 5 (2023) to Year 7 (2025) of the Agreement. Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta/.
Japan: USJTA Treatment for Fruit Juice and Jams 2023The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) entered Year 5 of the agreement implementation on April 1, 2023. This report is one in a series of product briefs highlighting the tariff benefits for specific commodities and products from Year 5 (2023) to Year 7 (2025) of the Agreement. Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta/. Both EU beef and pork production are trending down to record lows in 2023 and 2024. Livestock farmers are confronted with high input prices and a complexity of regulations, which combined are pressing profit margins and creating investment uncertainty by the farmers. In contrast to the beef sector in western Europe, the sector in central Europe is structurally subsidized by which the cattle herd is anticipated to slightly expand in some Member States. The market dynamics in the EU swine sector show a strong cycle with current record prices for piglets and hogs. The improved profitability is expected to support a temporary rebound of slaughter during the second half of this year. With the absence of a full recovery of pork sales to China, the sector is attempting to diversify exports and resetting its focus on the domestic market. However, both beef and pork producers face dwindling demand by EU consumers who show a preference for poultry meat. U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food products to Saudi Arabia increased 23 percent over the past year to a record $656 million due to expansions in online shopping platforms. In June 2022, the Saudi government fully lifted all COVID-19 restrictions allowing the food service sector to return to pre-pandemic operations while also fully reopening the country to foreign visitors. These changes significantly increased the demand for food ingredients as well as the revenue of the food service sector. In 2023, the total value of the Saudi food service market was estimated at approximately $25 billion, and it is projected to grow approximately 10 percent annually over the next several years.
In 2022, Taiwan imported US$ 279.1 million of coffee, an increase of 35.2 percent. It has one of the highest densities of coffee shops in the world. Consumers increasingly treat their coffee as an enjoyable experience rather than a simple drink, and a significant number of chains are providing specialty coffee to meet their need. This report includes details of the specialty coffee available in the market, as well as suggestions for U.S. exporters.
Uruguayan beef exports in 2024 are forecast slightly up at 467,000 tons carcass weight equivalent as a result of a projected larger beef output with a marginal increase in the domestic demand. China is expected to continue to be the number one market, followed by the United States and the EU. Export of live cattle in 2024 are forecast to increase to 200,000 head. Thailand: Rice Price - WeeklyThailand’s domestic and export prices dropped 1-3 percent in response to reduced demand and a further weakening of the Thai baht.
Turkiye: Cotton and Products UpdateTürkiye’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is forecast to decrease to 755,000 metric tons (MT; 3.5 million bales), since farmers will choose to plant less cotton in response to decreasing cotton prices and rising input costs. Cotton farmers were unable to make adequate profits in MY 2022/23 to cover rising input costs. In MY 2023/24, Turkish cotton consumption is expected to increase to 1.65 million metric tons (MMT; 7.6 million bales). Cotton imports in MY 2023/24 are forecast to be 800,000 MT (3.7 million bales), with the United States maintaining its market share as the leading supplier.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
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