REMINDER: USDA Accepting Applications for Agribusiness Trade Mission to Dominican Republic WASHINGTON, March 19, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is now accepting applications for its agribusiness trade mission to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, scheduled for July 13-17, 2025. Current and potential U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in the region must apply by April 2, 2025. “With strong economic growth and rising demand for high-quality food in the Dominican Republic, now is an ideal time for U.S. agribusinesses to expand their presence,” said Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley. “This trade mission will connect U.S. exporters with key buyers and help them forge partnerships to tap into this dynamic market.” The Dominican Republic is the largest economy in the Caribbean and the seventh-largest economy in Latin America. Since the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2007, U.S. agricultural exports to the Dominican Republic have doubled, reaching $2 billion in 2024. CAFTA-DR has phased out almost all tariffs, and the agreement further strengthens the position of U.S. products in the region. Consumer-oriented products represent the largest share of U.S. agricultural exports to the Dominican Republic, with growing demand across multiple sectors, including: Beef, pork, poultry and related products Dairy products Snack, bakery and confectionery products Fresh fruit Wine and distilled spirits Dog and cat food During the trade mission, participants will join buyers from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica for targeted business-to-business meetings to explore and discuss potential business opportunities in each country. Foreign Agricultural Service staff and regional experts will also provide in-depth market briefings, lead informative site visits and host networking events.  For more information or to apply, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions/dominican-republic-july-2025. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 2, 2025. The agribusiness trade mission to the Dominican Republic is one of several USDA-led export promotion initiatives in 2025. Recent trade missions to Thailand and Guatemala yielded successes for U.S. exporters. Application periods have closed for upcoming trade missions to Hong Kong and Peru, and USDA will announce application details for planned missions to Côte d'Ivoire, Mexico and Taiwan soon. To learn more about FAS Agribusiness Trade Missions, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.   USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The following GAIN reports were released on March 28, 2025.

U.S. Department of State,update

Secretary Rubio’s Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov 03/15/2025 Secretary Rubio’s Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov 03/15/2025 08:45 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.  The Secretary informed Russia of U.S. military deterrence operations against the Iran-backed Houthis and emphasized that continued Houthi attacks on U.S. military and commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea will not be tolerated.  Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov also discussed next steps to follow up on recent meetings in Saudi Arabia and agreed to continue working towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia. On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day 03/17/2025 On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day 03/17/2025 12:01 AM EDT Marco Rubio, Secretary of State HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day hide On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day

USDA latest news

 

The following GAIN reports were released on January 22, 2025. _______     China: Grain and Feed Update In MY 2024/25, the PRC’s grain output is estimated to reach a record 706.5 million metric tons (MMT), a 1.6 percent increase driven by expanded acreage and higher yields. Corn production is forecast to rise 2 percent to 294.9 MMT with more high-yield varieties, while wheat and rice are forecast to grow to 140.1 MMT and 145.3 MMT, respectively. Lower corn prices boosted corn’s use in feed and industrial applications, reducing reliance on wheat and rice. The corn import forecast is lowered to 14 MMT, while wheat imports are expected to fall 37 percent due to strong domestic production. Driven by demand in regions near India and with an end to India's export restrictions, rice imports are forecast to increase.   Croatia: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual This report provides information on agricultural product export certificates required by the Government of Croatia and was updated as of November 2024.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Sustem,update

 

Federal Reserve Board announces it has withdrawn from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20250117a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System   Visit us on the web at Federal Reserve Board.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Sustem,update

 

Federal Reserve Board announces approval of proposal by First Busey Corporation https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/orders20250116a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization - G.17 The latest G.17 data are now available. https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g17/current/default.htm   Visit us on the web at Federal Reserve Board.

USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service,update

 

Opportunities for U.S. Agricultural Products in Morocco In 2023, Morocco was the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture on the African continent, importing over $610 million in U.S. agricultural products, accounting for over 16 percent of all U.S. exports to Africa. The United States has seen total exports quadruple and agricultural exports double since entering into a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Morocco in 2006.1 The United States-Morocco FTA (USMFTA) is the only U.S. FTA on the African continent. It provides reliable market access and transshipment opportunities to use Morocco to reach other African countries. The United States was Morocco’s third-largest agricultural product supplier in 2023 and has historically been in the top five. Morocco is a net importer of agricultural products and predominantly imports bulk commodities and raw materials from the United States, although opportunities for intermediate and consumer-oriented products exist because of Morocco’s robust food processing sector and expanding consumer demand.  Please click here to read more >>

The following GAIN reports were released on August 14, 2024.

USAID FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE:newsletter

 

Science for Impact Newsletter PEER Impact Forum on June 27th Join USAID in celebrating the conclusion of the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program, which has supported nearly 500 research partnerships over 13 years. Through PEER,  scientists in low and middle-income countries engaged over 2,500 local students in research and built partnerships with over 350 U.S.-based researchers. They produced evidence that influenced at least 188 significant changes to local and regional policies and programs in  disaster response, wildlife trafficking, maternal and child health. The virtual program will take place on June 27, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET.  The forum will highlight the PEER program’s accomplishments and feature insights and reflections from USAID, the National Science Foundation, the Department of State, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and PEER researchers and U.S.- based partners. Tune in here.

GAIN reports

 

The following GAIN reports were released on May 16, 2024. _______ Brazil: Unprecedented floods in Rio Grande do Sul threaten Brazil's agricultural output Brazil’s Southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul (RGDS), has been impacted by record high rainfall levels, reaching up to 800 millimeters in some regions, leading to unprecedented floods. The death toll reached 145 as of May 12th and nearly 620,000 people have been displaced. A major agricultural powerhouse, RGDS’s agricultural and livestock sectors have been severely impacted. While accurate projections are still unknown, market specialists estimate losses across such key commodities as soybeans, rice, wheat, corn, meat and dairy. Impacts on local food production and possible price spikes are particularly concerning for consumers and policymakers, particularly on rice and dairy products.   China: Guidance on Unofficial Facility Registration Websites for Food and Ag Exports FAS has received inquiries about several websites that offer facility registration to export various food and agricultural products to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Many of these websites, however, are not official PRC government websites. Exporters should register their facilities through official government websites or through a U.S. government agency.   Costa Rica: Coffee Annual FAS/San José projects marketing year 2024/25 coffee production to remain near record low levels, as exchange rate challenges, persistent labor shortages, and above average precipitation forecasts prevent the sector from rebounding. Sluggish export sales in 2024 are exacerbating already challenging financial and agronomic conditions for Costa Rica’s nearly 27,000 coffee growers, who are likely to delay or reduce investments in rust resistant varieties, fertilizer applications, and other cultural practices.   Japan: TRQ Allocation Rates for FTAs in JFY 2023 Since 2018, Japan has implemented three large-scale free trade agreements (FTA) with major economies: the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement, and the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA). Under the three agreements, Japan created tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for a selection of commodities and products in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector. This report provides the full list of TRQs and country specific quotas (CSQs) from these three agreements and their respective allocation rates for Japanese Fiscal Year (JFY) 2023. During JFY 2023, the number of TRQs/CSQs which had allocations across the three agreements ranged from 60 to 67 percent.   Japan: Wine Additive Approvals Under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement In 2019, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) entered into force. As a result, Japan approved 16 new wine additives that were previously not allowed in wine produced or consumed in Japan.   South Africa: Fresh Deciduous Fruit Semi-annual The cold and wet winter of 2023 provided favorable conditions for deciduous fruit and aided in improved production volumes. Production is expected to grow and improve in quality from MY 2022/23 when fruit was affected by hail damage. Despite pressure on the Port of Cape Town, industry solutions including increased use of Port Elizabeth will bolster the volumes of increased export-quality fruit that is able to reach markets. Post revises MY 2023/24 production of pears and table grapes upwards, while apple production is revised slightly downward on stagnated growth in area. Pear production for MY 2022/23 is revised upwards on updated production estimates and confirmed export figures.   Spain: Cotton and Products Annual 2024 Early spring precipitations in Andalucía came as a relief, refilling water reservoirs. However, this allowed for only a marginal recovery in area planted to cotton, as rains arrived when planting plans were already in place and largely oriented to less water-demanding crops such as winter grains or early spring-planted sunflower. While summer conditions will determine the final size of Spain’s MY 2024/25 cotton crop, the projected recovery should allow for larger exported volumes.   For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.

usa.gov:Know how to recognize and respond to bullying

 

Know how to recognize and respond to bullying

Bullying can happen at school, home, or online. It often results in negative social, emotional, and academic outcomes for children. Get the tools you need to keep kids safe at StopBullying.gov. It is a government resource that helps adults: Identify bullying and cyberbullying Understand who is at risk Prevent and respond to bullying

USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service,reports

The following GAIN reports were released on February 5, 2023. _______   Nigeria: Nigeria Becomes Second African Country to Approve Biotech Corn for Commercial Planting In January 2024, Nigeria approved the commercial release of four TELA maize varieties, which have been genetically engineered for improved insect-resistance and drought-tolerance. In addition to South Africa, Nigeria has become the second country in Africa to approve the commercialization of genetically engineered corn. In marketing year 2022/2023, Nigeria produced an estimated 12.7 million metric tons (MMT) of corn, with an average yield of 2.2 tons per hectare. According to the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF), yields of TELA maize could reach up to 10 tons per hectare if grown under good agronomic practices. Thailand: Grain and Feed Update MY2023/24 rice and corn production forecasts remain unchanged. MY2023/24 wheat imports are revised up to 3.0 MMT. Turkiye: Pet Food Sales in Turkiye Are Expected to Double by 2027

Interesting following GAIN reports..

 

The following GAIN reports were released on January 25, 2023. _______   Canada: Grain and Feed Update In marketing year 2023/24, wheat production fell seven percent from the previous year to 31.95 million metric tons as severely low soil moisture in vast sections of Alberta and Saskatchewan reduced yields. This decline in production is despite a six percent increase in area planted to wheat. Wheat exports are forecast to decrease six percent year-over-year on lower exportable supplies. Exports to Saudi Arabia have rebounded after a five-year diplomatic conflict ended in May 2023. Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Wonton - Volume 4 Issue 2 Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: ATO Hong Kong Encourages Healthier Lifestyle with U.S. Food Ingredients; Hong Kong to Hold 5-month Day & Night Vibes Campaign; New Survey on Hongkongers’ Cross-border Consumption; Hongkongers Hunt for Roast Chicken, Laundry Detergent and Other Bargains at U.S. Warehouse Store in Shenzhen; Hongkongers Head North to Bulk Buying Megastores, Yata to Scale Down Operations; Are Hong Kong Residents Ready for Waste Charging Fees; Farms Must Tread Carefully on Swine Flu; Hong Kong Suspends Imports of Poultry from Four U.S. Counties, and areas in Poland, Japan, and South Korea; Hong Kong Suspends Imports of Raw Oysters from an area in France. India: FAIRS Annual Country Report

Secretary of State’s ...

 

Secretary of State’s International Religious Freedom Awards

01/18/2024 09:03 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Today, the Secretary of State has awarded the Department’s International Religious Freedom Award to the following individuals in recognition of their courage and commitment to promoting and defending religious freedom globally: Farid Ahmed, Kola Alapinni, Mirza Dinnayi, Peter Jacob, Martha Patricia Molina Montenegro, Tali Nates, Lhadon Tethong, and a group of nine Orthodox clergy from Lithuania represented by Gintaras Sungaila.  These advocates have focused on promoting human rights and mutual respect for all in countries including Nigeria, Iraq, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, and Nicaragua, as well as protecting the rights of Orthodox Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, and members of other religious communities around the world.

These awards are part of the Department’s events commemorating 25 years of the International Religious Freedom Act, which was signed by President Clinton on October 27, 1998.  For more information about this year’s awardees, please visit the website of the Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom.