The latest Agricultural Outlook by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization will be released on June 15, 2010. The Outlook forecasts market trends, assesses the impact on food security of the economic crisis, and discusses how farm production can meet growing global demand.
European Trade Commissioner De Gucht has stated that the European Commission is expected to propose granting duty-free, quota-free access for Palestinian exports to the EU in the coming months. This would improve the access of Palestinian exports to EU markets beyond the current free trade agreement and help to revamp the private sector.
The European Commission has decided to encourage industry, governments and NGOs to set up certification schemes for all types of biofuels, including those imported into the EU. This will help implement the EU's requirements that biofuels must deliver substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and should not come from forests, wetlands and nature protection areas.
In the June 10, 2010 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:
Driven by a surge in exports and broad customer demand, the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) is teaming up with the Charleston region’s rail-served warehouses to serve targeted export accounts through the Port of Charleston. The new business development program aims to build new business through the port and 14 rail-served warehouses with 2.7 million square feet of space in the Charleston area.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Office of Intellectual Property Protection has decided to investigate Turkey’s revised trademark law, as requested by the Special Committee on Intellectual Property Rights Protection of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association.
The Canada Border Services Agency has launched a three-month pilot project to broadcast via Twitter estimated border wait times for crossing the Canada-United States land border.
Canada's Minister of International Trade reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthen trade and economic cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region before wrapping up his trade visit to Japan. While in Japan, Minister Van Loan attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, where he held a number of bilateral meetings with counterparts from APEC member economies.
The following are details of the June 7, 2010 European Court of Auditors report which concludes that European Union Member Country controls over simplified customs procedures for imports are deficient.
The Port of Long Beach has announced a $40 million project deepening the Port of Long Beach Main Channel to allow safer transit for the largest ships including oil tankers was officially kicked off on June 8, 2010, by the Port and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.