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CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 18, 2002 -- China continues to be a major apple juice concentrate producer. During the 2001/2002 marketing year, production is estimated to have reached nearly 250,000 tons. Along with production, exports continue to climb. However, since the U.S. anti-dumping case, China has maintained export price controls on apple juice concentrate.

CANADA, July 18, 2002 -- Opportunities in the Canadian Institutional Foodservice Market are primarily in the healthcare sub-segment: specifically retirement home foodservice.

CANADA, July 18, 2002 -- Canada's seafood imports are growing at a compound annual rate of 6.5% and are forecast to reach nearly 600,000 MT in 2002. The U.S. is the largest single supplier, accounting for 38 percent by volume and 45 percent by value, of total Canadian seafood imports.

MALAYSIA, July 18, 2002 -- No summary available.

MALAYSIA, July 18, 2002 -- No summary available.

MALAYSIA, July 18, 2002 -- No summary available.

BURMA, July 19, 2002 -- Burma exported 84,274 metric tons of beans and pulses in June 2002. The major destination was India.

THAILAND, July 19, 2002 -- Weekly rice price and trade update.

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF, July 19, 2002 -- GDP growth rate in 2002 is forecast at between 6 - 7, doubled from the previous year. In the first quarter of 2002, the Korean economy grew 5.7 percent. Forestry Administration estimates the CY 2002 total consumption of wood products at 27.86 million CUM on the basis of roundwood, composed of the imported wood products of 26 million CUM and 1.55 million CUM of local wood products. Korean self-sufficiency rate of all wood products remains unchanged at 5.6 percent from the previous. In 2002, the wood frame housing is expected to be on track because Korean housing policy focuses on more single family and low rise housing as they have planned. The success of burn test on major structural systems of light weight wood frame houses is expected for the Korean building code to allow multi family food frame housing. Korean government is in the process of revising the entire building code system in an effort to move to performance based standards and is expected to issue a completely new building code this year.

EUROPEAN UNION, July 19, 2002 -- This weekly report contains data on rice prices in the U.S., Thailand and the EU. It also lists current import duties and export subsidies in the EU. All information will be published as such in the weekly USDA publication "Rice Market News".

SPAIN, July 19, 2002 -- Spain's per capita consumption of seafood products is among the highest in the world. Since the catch of the Spanish fishing fleet has been declining, imports now supply more than half of demand. Total 2001 imports were 1.3 million metric tons, or $3.4 billion an increase of ten percent in volume and 7.7 percent in value from a year earlier. U.S. seafood imports reached a record 28,429 tons valued at $70.9 million.

JAPAN, July 22, 2002 -- A summary of current news reports in America's largest food and agricultural export market as translated from Japan's mass media and food press. This issue includes: Japan Chain Stores Association announces food sales of member supermarket companies increased 1.5% in May; Seibu Department Store plans to sell all its shareholdings in Seiyu, Seiyo Food Systems and other group firms over the next three years; food manufacturers are tightening inspection standards and reviewing suppliers following recent food safety scandals; and soymilk has gained popularity as a substitute for cow milk since the detection of BSE in Japan.

YUGOSLAVIA (>05/92), July 22, 2002 -- Yugoslavia (or the Republic of Serbia) took a major step toward international economic integration in 2002 by greatly liberalizing its trade regime. The maximum custom duty for imports into Serbia is now 30% . Montenegro is applying their own customs tariff different code which is even more liberal, with zero import tariffs on most agriculture products. Yugoslavia is rapidly trying to adapt its trade regime to the requierements of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, including the WTO.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 22, 2002 -- This is an UNOFFICIAL English translation of the People's Republic of China Administrative Measures for Genetically Modified Food Hygiene and should be used as a guide only. Exporters should carefully discuss regulations and their application with Chinese importers to ensure that their interpretation of the regulation is accurate.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 22, 2002 -- This is an UNOFFICIAL English translation of the People's Republic of China Administrative Measures for Wholesome Agricultural Production and should be used as a guide only. Exporters should carefully discuss regulations and their application with Chinese importers to ensure that their interpretation of the regulation is accurate.

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2002 -- Total consumption of wine exceeded 6.9 million liters in CY2000. Major suppliers include France, Australia, USA, Italy and Chile. Supermarkets and restaurants are the main distribution channels. While imports of wine are not restricted, there are high excise duties.

NETHERLANDS, July 22, 2002 -- The Netherlands is a gateway into Europe. More than 6,700 foreign companies, of which 1,833 from the U.S., have established operations in Holland. Food products and food ingredients can be sold direct to processors, food retailers and food service companies or via intermediaries such as importers or wholesalers.

FRANCE, July 22, 2002 -- On July 4, 2002, the French Ministry of Agriculture approved 8 applications for open field testing of biotech products, 3 of which will be planted in 2002. The 3 biotech corn products to be tested this year are two male-sterile corn hybrids and a high-digestibility corn. These new approvals increase the number of test plots in France to 41, mainly corn. MONSANTO and the French company BIOGEMMA are conducting most of the open field research programs underway in France.

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2002 -- The market for seafood in Singapore is about 67,000 metric tons, of which more than 90 percent is imported. The bulk of demand is for warm water fish. The hote-restaurant inudstry require coldwater fish and seafood. Major suppliers of coldwater fish and seafood include Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Japan and United States.

INDIA, July 23, 2002 -- The critical southwest monsoon has weakened considerably since early July, which could adversely affect this year's fall rice harvest prospects.

YUGOSLAVIA (>05/92), July 24, 2002 -- The National Commodity Reserve intends to export 537,000 MT of wheat by the end of August 2002. An additional 100,000 MT of wheat from the new MY03 crop will be also exported during July and August to bring the total export sales from both crops to 637,000 MT, as sponsored by the state trading entity of the Republic of Serbia.

CZECH REPUBLIC, July 24, 2002 -- According to the Czech Statistical Office this year's grain harvest will be 2.2% lower than last year. Total grains are expected to reach 6.76 million metric tons (MMT) versus 6.9 MMT last year. Yields will be higher, areas are lower. Last year's total area was 1.556 million hectares (ha), this year it's 1.486 million ha. Spring crops are expected to have higher yields than last year due to predicted favorable weather. Wheat prices are depressed due to competition from FSU suppliers. Winter barley will be affected by rainy weather this spring and yields will probably remain at last year's level. A table is provided updating estimates for grains, rapeseed, and poppy seed (harvested area, yields and production).

GUATEMALA, July 24, 2002 -- This is an update of the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards which contains: Food laws (updated), labeling requirements, pesticides and other contaminant, copyright and trademark laws, import procedures (updated), tariffs and quotas (updated).

CANADA, July 24, 2002 -- In an open letter to Western Canadian farmers, CWB Board of Directors Chairman Ken Ritter writes that how wheat and barley is marketed in Canada is determined by prairie Canada farmers through democratic elections, not via ag committee recommendations. Ritter outlines several concerns that the CWB has with the proposed free-trial experiment and says that the value of the CWB is built on three factors: (1) single-desk selling; (2) price-pooling; and (3) government guarantees for credit sales and payments to farmers.

CANADA, July 24, 2002 -- "What's New, Eh?" * Canada Pleased with WTO Finding on U.S. Byrd Amendment * Canada Enhances Biosecurity Border Measures * West Nile Virus Confirmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba * Should the CWB Be in the Feed Barley Business? * CWB's Ken Ritter Criticizes Ag Committee Recommendation for Free-Market Trial in Letter to Prairie Farmers * 75% of Alberta Agricultural Land Driest in 133 Year History * Alberta Announces Separate Farm Aid Program to Offset Effects of Drought * McCain Foods Acquires First Manufacturing Company in Asia * Organic and Natural Food Trade Show Opportunity * Grocery Innovations Canada Recruitment Starts

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 24, 2002 -- This is an UNOFFICIAL English translation of the People's Republic of China announcement no. 144 on the import of animal origin animal feed products and should be used as a guide only. Exporters should carefully discuss regulations and their application with Chinese importers to ensure that their interpretation of the regulation is accurate.

THAILAND, July 24, 2002 -- Soybean production is forecast to grow slightly but still falls short of an anticipated strong domestic demand, leading to a heavy reliance on imports of beans and meal. Imports from U.S. should be more attractive, on account of the concerns over the new export tax of Agentina.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 24, 2002 -- Although China just became a member of the World Trade Organization and implemented new tariff rates at the beginning of this year, a noticeable shift in import patterns has started to emerge.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 24, 2002 -- Guangdong's Lishui Fruit Market is the largest imported fruit wholesale market in China. From 2000 to 2001, its import volumes and values rose. U.S. fruit varieties hold a sizable share of the market, but tropical fruits from Southeast Asia make up a large portion too.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 24, 2002 -- China's entry into the World Trade Organization and the accompanying decrease in tariff rates should auger well for U.S. companies looking to enter the China market in general and the south China market in particular. The opportunities in south China at the present time are in the Retail and HRI sectors.

MEXICO, July 25, 2002 -- Mexican Supreme Court Rules Suspension of the 20-Percent Tax on HFCS Unconstitutional*U.S. Fructose Importers May Be Locked Out of Mexico*U.S. Reacts Negatively to Court Ruling On Fructose*Mexico is World's Most Egg-Friendly Country*Mexican Lawmakers Examining European Agriculture Finance Schemes*Mexico's Pork Industry on the Warpath Again*Mexico's Secretariat of Economy Alleges No Damage Being Done By A1 Restrictions

CROATIA, July 25, 2002 -- The Croatian pet food market grew by19 percent in the past three years and dog and cat food imports totaled $13.2 million in 2001. Croatia does not yet domestically produce pet food. Trade data indicate only a small percentage of pet food imports come directly from the United States but U.S. brands are commonplace and several are made with U.S. ingredients in Western Europe. Future growth is expected as the population ages and standards of living rise.

HONG KONG, July 25, 2002 -- Updates

UZBEKISTAN, REPUBLIC OF, July 25, 2002 -- No summary available.

ARGENTINA, July 23, 2002 -- The steep peso devaluation (70% as of June 2002) has created a new environment for the Argentine citrus industry, but is not likely to have much impact on trade. The imposition of 10 percent export taxes, a saturated market, "dollarized" inputs, and the lack of credit are keeping traders from taking fully advantage of the benefits of the new exchange rate. Lemon imports to the U.S. were suspended in September 2001 by a Federal district court, and new outbreaks of citrus canker are likely to further delay new shipments. A record high lemon crop of 1.3 million tons is expected in CY 2002, although 100,000 tons is expected to be left on the trees.

MEXICO, July 23, 2002 -- On July 22, 2002, the Secretariat of Treasury announced in the Diario Oficial (Federal Register) additional ports of entry for U.S. imported fresh potatoes.

THAILAND, July 26, 2002 -- Weekly rice price and trade update.

EUROPEAN UNION, July 26, 2002 -- This weekly report contains data on rice prices in the U.S., Thailand and the EU. It also lists current import duties and export subsidies in the EU. All information will be published as such in the weekly USDA publication "Rice Market News".

ARGENTINA, July 23, 2002 -- Argentine exports of oilseed, meal and oil during April 2002

ISRAEL, July 26, 2002 -- Total citrus production in MY2001 dropped to 600,000 mt from a planted area of 18,450 ha. Estimated exports totaled 163 tmt. The sector's volume of production and exports is rapidly dropping towards the critical size below which they can no long support major export infrastructure and facilities. Farmers refrain from renewing investments because of the chronic low profitability of the crop.

ISRAEL, July 24, 2002 -- Israel's tomato processing industry is experiencing a serious decline from levels of more than 300,000 mt in the recent past, to 145,800 mt in MY2001. Tomato product exports which were $33 million in CY1995, dropped to $14 million in 1999 and $8 million in 2000. The number of active processing plants has been cut in half in ten years. Fresh tomato exports - mainly cherry tomatoes - totaled 18,000 mt in CY2001. Israel's chronic water shortage and the continuously rising price of irrigation water may force more tomato producers to search for more profitable crops.

CHILE, July 26, 2002 -- This report contains January through March 2002 export data and cumulative data for Fishmeal and Fishoil. Sources: Central Bank. Units: Metric Tons.

INDIA, July 24, 2002 -- Rainfall activity during the week ending July 17 remained subdued for the third consecutive week, escalating the drought situation in north, central, and western India.

MEXICO, July 25, 2002 -- On July 17, 2002, the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice published in the Diario Oficial (Federal Register) an announcement reinstating the 20-percent tax imposed on sales of beverages containing HFCS.

PERU, July 26, 2002 -- Unusual cold weather kills 75 people and over 50,000 animals in the southern Andes of Peru