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CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, June 28, 2002 -- China's imports of forest products continue to grow rapidly. Continued efforts to preserve natural forests and improve harvesting practices have limited domestic supplies. At the same time, rising incomes and the government's efforts to improve the quality of housing are causing demand to rise.

INDONESIA, June 27, 2002 -- The market in Indonesia for prime cuts of beef is small, mainly limited to the higher class hotel and restaurant sector. However, a significant market exists for seconday cuts and offals - especially beef livers. For poultry products, the ban on chicken leg quarters remains in effect but represents a good market once the ban is lifted. Duck has good potential into the Bali tourism sector as duck is a traditional Balinese dish, while ATO Jakarta is working on developing a market for turkey cuts - namely thigh meat - and MDM through the Quality Sample Program.

VIETNAM, June 27, 2002 -- Vietnamese cotton imports rose by 16% in 2001 to slightly more than 88 thousand metric tons, with U.S. exports capturing a significant share. The Government of Vietnam has developed an ambitious plan, including high support prices, to dramatically boost domestic cotton production. Following ratification of the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, and some increases in European quota allocations, the Vietnamese textile and garment industries hope to increase exports by 17% this year. Vietnam's cotton PS&D and trade data are also provided.

INDONESIA, June 27, 2002 -- Facing high overhead costs, an unpredictable policy and institutional backdrop, and a shortage of raw materials, Indonesia's plywood output is forecast to continue declining in the near term. As forest resources continue to deteriorate and illegal logging persists, GOI has taken several steps to enhance the regulatory environment governing forest resource management, including a ban on log exports and mandatory certification of sustainable forest practices. Nonetheless, these policy tools will need to be implemented effectively to have any practical impact.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, June 27, 2002 -- The sustained growth of U.S. farmed mink and other fur exports to China since initial market entry in 1997 is an exemplary success story for American agricultural exports. After several years of persistent market development, China has become the number one market for the U.S. mink industry, recently accounting for more than 46% of American production. Each February and May for the past two years, Hong Kong and China buyers have dominated the major auctions held by the Seattle Fur Exchange (American Legend Cooperative) and the North American Fur Association. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, gross exports of raw U.S. mink to Hong Kong and China have risen from US$ 19.4 million in 1997 to US$ 50.2 million in 2000, an increase of nearly 160%.

ARGENTINA, June 27, 2002 -- Argentine exports of wheat and corn during March 2002

ARGENTINA, June 27, 2002 -- Argentine exports of oilseed, meal and oil during March 2002

ARGENTINA, June 27, 2002 -- Argentine exports of wheat and corn during April 2002

AUSTRALIA, June 28, 2002 -- The Australian Federal Government has set aside A$102.4 million over five years for a National Food Industry Strategy.

EGYPT, June 27, 2002 -- Total wheat imports since the beginning of the marketing year (July 2001) are estimated at 6,287,205 MT. Private sector imports of Russian and Ukrainian wheat have increased dramatically.

JAPAN, June 28, 2002 -- No summary available.

TURKEY, June 28, 2002 -- On June 25, the Turkish Government increased the import duties of some grains, vegetable oils and oilseeds (soybean duties remained at zero and soybean meal at 2%). Local oilseed processors, who were operating well below capacity, had for some time been asking for the increase to help jump start their industry. The duty on soybean oil increased from 23 to 33% (refined) and 12 to 30% (crude) and milling wheat from 10% to 40%. Turkey's corn duty had been set at 10% since January, 2002, and was increased from 10 to 35% (compared to a seasonal increase to 40% in Nov. 2001).

ISRAEL, June 28, 2002 -- Annual chick peas consumption in Israel average 20-23 thousand metric tons. Imports run between 2,500 and 5,000 mt, depending on rainfall. U.S. exports enjoy a 134mt duty free quota which normally is not fully utilized.

EUROPEAN UNION, June 28, 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".

THAILAND, June 28, 2002 -- Weekly rice price and trade update.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, June 28, 2002 -- China's coffee production has greatly increased over the last several years. At the same time, China's coffee consumption has also risen. Local consumers presently prefer instant coffee, but this situation is starting to change. Despite China's rising production, the country imports more than it exports.

JAPAN, July 1, 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: Food Labeling Watcher System among new consumer-oriented government and retailer initiatives to ensure food safety; the Japan Chain Stores Association develops its own food labeling standard for fresh products; high chemical residues are detected in Chinese spinach sold at Jonathan's family-style restaurant; Aleph enters institutional food service business; demand for residential land forecast to shrink to two-thirds of current level by 2010; and Japanese government considers creation of independent food safety committee in 2003.

MOLDOVA, REPUBLIC OF, July 1, 2002 -- In MY2002, Moldova expects a very good production of grains and oilseeds following record high production in MY2001. Total wheat production is forecast to reach 1.2 MMT and wheat exports to increase to over 200,000 MT. There is increasing demand for imports of soybeans. For the first time in 10 years, in MY 20001, Moldova imported about 30,000 MT of U.S. soybeans. These imports could increase in MY2002 to over 40,000 MT.

TUNISIA, July 1, 2002 -- The Tunisian vegetable oil and protein meal markets are price sensitive and quality plays a small role in purchasing decision. In CY 2001, the U.S. market share of the protein meal imports (soybean meal) increased to 22.9 percent, while U.S. export of soybean oil captured 9.5 percent of the market compared to zero during the previous year.

EGYPT, July 1, 2002 -- Restrictions remain on the importation of live cattle from most European countries because of BSE and FMD. Meat import restrictions on European meat have been eased, but requirements raise costs to prohibitive levels. In April 2002, the Ministry of Agriculture suspended the issuing of import licences for beef liver from the U.S., reportedly to review Islamic slaughtering and began to permit importation of water buffalo livers from India. U.S. beef liver exports have dominated the Egyptian market.

CANADA, July 1, 2002 -- Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) announced that fresh tomatoes, originating in or exported from the U.S. excluding tomatoes for processing, were dumped into Canada at, on average, 33% below normal price levels. This reaffirms a preliminary decision made on March 25, 2002, when the CCRA started collecting provisional duties on imports of these products. These duties will be imposed until the Canadian International Trade Tribunal determines whether the dumped imports hurt Canadian production. The Tribunal's decision is expected by July 23, 2002.

COLOMBIA, July 1, 2002 -- After three years of relentless Post's efforts, the Colombian Government lowered the duty for wet pet food.

INDIA, July 2, 2002 -- 2001/02 production revised higher to 15.6 million bales (170 kg).

GERMANY, July 2, 2002 -- Germany expects another bumper grain crop of 49.5 million tons in 2002. Production area is down by 0.8 pct but average yields are expected to be slightly higher than in record year 2001.

INDIA, July 2, 2002 -- Monthly edible oil imports during May 2002 touched the peak of the season with an estimated volume of 471,570 tons.

CANADA, July 2, 2002 -- In the matter of "Fresh Tomatoes, Originating in or Exported from the United States of America, Excluding Tomatoes for Processing," the Canadian International Trade Tribunal on June 26, 2002, hereby finds that the dumping of the aforementioned goods has not caused material injury or retardation and is not threatening to cause material injury to the domestic industry. As a result, the collection of duties by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will immediately cease. Duties collected by the CCRA will be refunded over the next 90 days.

BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA, July 3, 2002 -- This report covers food import rules for Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. It includes information on labeling, packaging, food additives, and import procedures. Important points of contact for U.S. food exporters are listed in the appendices.

YUGOSLAVIA (>05/92), July 3, 2002 -- USDA's Agricultural Affairs Office estimates that Serbia's winter wheat crop will total about 2.2 million metric tons (MTs) for marketing year (MY) 2002, about 20% less than in MY 2001.

INDIA, July 3, 2002 -- India's rice exports almost doubled to 937,000 tons in the first quarter of CY 2002 compared with the corresponding period of CY 2001.

CZECH REPUBLIC, July 3, 2002 -- Almost half of the wine consumed in the Czech Republic is imported and total wine consumption has grown by over 15 percent since 1989. A further increase in consumption and a consumer migration to higher quality wines are expected in the coming years. Total wine imports were $35 million in 2001. New world wines have taken the market by storm but U.S. suppliers have not benefitted proportionally.

CANADA, July 3, 2002 -- Canadian farmers seeded fewer acres of wheat (overall), but more to oats, barley and canola, according to Statistics Canada's June preliminary acreage estimates. Wheat acreage for 2002/03 is 26.27 million acres, down from 26.97 million acres in 2001. Oats acreage increased to 5.93 million acres, up from 4.71 million acres last year. Barley acreage is reported at 12.32 million acres, up from 11.6 million acres a year ago. Canola acreage is seen up to 9.96 million acres, from 9.46 million last year.

THAILAND, July 3, 2002 -- Cotton Imports (January - April 2002)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, July 3, 2002 -- As the current harvest approaches its end, producers have adjusted downward their production estimates for the MY 2002 and foresee a raw and refined sugar shortage for the last quarter of MY 2002. Government officials say it could be as much as 60,000 MT.

TURKEY, July 3, 2002 -- The Turkish seed industry has not reached the desired level of development, although it has realized significant improvements since the 1980's. Local seed production is not expected to meet demand for the foreseeable future. Vegetable, hybrid corn, cotton, and fodder crop seeds, as well as seed potatoes are expected to be imported through the medium term. As a part of its economic reform program the GOT ended the seed subsidy program on December 31, 2001.

CANADA, July 3, 2002 -- "What's New, Eh?" * Canada to Appeal WTO Dairy Ruling * Canadian International Trade Tribunal Finds No Injury or Threat of Injury by U.S. Fresh Tomatoes * Seven Pro-Choice Farmers Running in Upcoming CWB Election * Less Soybeans, Spring and Winter Wheat; More Durum, Barley, Oats and Canola Acres Says Statistics Canada *

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 1, 2002 -- This is an UNOFFICIAL English translation of the People's Republic of China Law on Import and Export Commodity Inspection 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 1, 2002 -- This report is the China Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Working Index. It is an index of all the food and food import regulations that have been translated by the Agricultural Affairs Office of the US Embassy in Beijing. All translations are UNOFFICIAL.

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, July 5, 2002 -- Recent heavy rains should not cause great harm to rice production, while they are actually helping corn. Despite WTO entry, imports of grain are not expected to increase much in MY 2001 or MY2002 as domestic grain stocks built up in the late 1990's remain large. Although China says it no longer subsidizes exports, corn exports at prices greatly below domestic prices are set to continue at least through the end of calendar year 2002.

CZECH REPUBLIC, July 4, 2002 -- The consumption of spirits is stagnating and is set to decline in the Czech Republic. One reason for this is that more people are switching to wine. Strict drunk driving laws may also play a role in declining alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, increasing incomes and changing tastes should result in solid demand for higher quality spirits and U.S. bourbon imports are rising. The U.S. share of total spirits imports was almost 13% last year.

FINLAND, July 4, 2002 -- The main market for the Finnish sawmill industry is Europe, which in 2001 accounted for 66 percent of exports. However, Finland sees the largest potential for growth to be in the Asian markets, where consumption of forest products is relatively low, but rising faster than in other markets. In 2001, exports to the European market decreased by 4 percent. Finnish exports to Japan increased by 9 percent to 808,000 cum and to the U.S. by 28 percent to 86,000 cum.

SWEDEN, July 4, 2002 -- Sweden sees the largest potential for export growth to be in the Asian markets, where consumption of forest products is relatively low, but rising faster than in other markets. In 2001, exports to non-European markets continued to increase and accounted for 21 percent of total sawn timber exports. Swedish exports to Japan increased by 1 percent to 659,000 cum and to the U.S. by 76 percent to 308,000 cum.

VIETNAM, July 4, 2002 -- Due to lower- than-expected export supplies, Vietnam's 2002 rice exports will be much lower, perhaps by 20-25%, than the Government's (already revised down) target of 3.5 million metric tons. Rice exporters, loading for Government to Government (G to G) contracts, have complained about their big losses caused by high local paddy and transportation costs. Post re-estimates Vietnam's 2002 rice exports down to 2.8 million metric tons. Vietnam's total 2002 rice growing area and production are also revised due to changes in 2002's Winter-Spring (W-S) and Summer-Autumn (S-A) crops. Trade data for the first 5 months of 2002 are also provided.

BRAZIL, July 4, 2002 -- Brazilian MY 2002 unmanufactured tobacco production is estimated at 674,500 mt, a sharp increase compared to the previous season, due to increased area planted and good yields. Prices for the 2002 crop were adjusted upward 12 percent from 2001. Total MY 2001 exports for were 435,500 mt, up 94,000 mt from MY 2000. Competitive price, high-quality product in Brazil and political problems in Zimbabwe contributed to increase exports. According to the industry, approximately 34 percent of the Brazilian cigarette market is impacted by unfair competition, mainly contraband product.

EUROPEAN UNION, July 4, 2002 -- The year 2002 is a year of turmoil for the EU dairy sector: higher production of SMP and butter is sold directly into intervention and exports are lagging. Next year should see an improvement of export prospects, due to improved demand and changes in export patterns for some products.

THAILAND, July 5, 2002 -- Weekly rice price and trade update.

CZECH REPUBLIC, July 5, 2002 -- The Czech Republic does not produce any rice and the main supplying countries are Viet Nam, Italy and Thailand. Total annual rice consumption is between 50,000 and 60,000 metric tons (MT). According to official statistics, the U.S. share of rice imports last year was only 2.1 percent but unreported transhipments from European brokers likely means that the U.S. share is closer to 10 percent. Rice is a well established food in the Czech Republic and consumption is stable at about 4.5 kilograms per capita. The most popular variety is non parboiled long grain rice. U.S. export opportunities should for rice should grow after the Czech Republic joins the EU, perhaps as early as 2004.

AUSTRALIA, July 5, 2002 -- The Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics has forecast that winter crop production for 2002/03 will fall by 5.3 MMT, or around 14 percent.

DENMARK, July 5, 2002 -- Danish grass seed production remains at a record high 85,000 tons, of which 90 percent is exported. Major grass seeds produced are perennial rye grasses, which account for 36 percent of production and 45 percent of total exports.

SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF, July 5, 2002 -- South Africa's 2001 corn crop, currently being harvested, is estimated at close to 9 million tons, compared to the 7.5 million ton 2000 crop. With commercial consumption estimated at about 8 million tons, a considerable surplus is available for export to the drought stricken region. Imports of close to 600,000 tons are also foreseen which should allow total exports to reach 1.2 million tons in MY02/03 compared to 1.28 million in MY 01/02. Actual commercial sales into the region will be affected by the limited foreign exchange available to the drought stricken countries. Donated grain is expected to form the bulk of the assistance rendered.

EUROPEAN UNION, July 5, 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".

POLAND, July 2, 2002 -- Poland's tobacco sector is in a state of transition as Poland prepares for EU accession which its government hopes to achieve by January 2004. It appears that Poland's post-accession tobacco production quota will likely be 36,000 tons. Meanwhile, tobacco production declined for the third consecutive year in MY 2001/02 largely due to poor weather conditions. The general trend in declining planted area is expected to continue as demand decreases due to anti-smoking campaigns and likely much higher post-accession tobacco product taxes. Approximately 45 percent of all adult males and 22 percent of females in Poland smoke. Tobacco imports and cigarette exports increased in 2001 while cigarette smuggling appears to have risen.

CARIBBEAN BASIN, July 2, 2002 -- Looking for suppliers of U.S. food and beverage products in the Sunshine State? The Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade office (CBATO) maintains a listing of major food exporters in the state of Florida. Anyone may access the latest update (06/02/02) of our list by visiting the CBATO website: www.cbato.fas.usda.gov. and

KENYA, July 2, 2002 -- The Kenyan horticultural sector has grown substantially with the year 2000 recording 99,000 mt of fresh produce exported to various destinations. Efforts to take advantage of AGOA have not been very successful mainly due to the conditions of acquiring a Pest Risk Assessment for the fresh produce. Overall the sector remains vibrant and growth forecast to continue. The proposed Horticultural Bill still remains contentious and its future uncertain as the players feel the sector is self regulating.

PERU, July 5, 2002 -- No summary available.

NETHERLANDS, July 5, 2002 -- The Netherlands imports 94 percent of its forest product needs. The value of U.S. forest product exports to the Netherlands amounted to US $36.7 million in 2000, up from $32.1 million in 1999. Opportunities for U.S. exports include Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood products.