Japan and the U.S. began a two-day meeting on U.S. beef imports Wednesday to exchange views as the U.S. calls for an easing of Japan’s tough import restrictions.
Japan only allows imports of U.S. beef from cattle 20 months old or younger, because mad cow disease has not been detected in meat from young cattle.
In May, the World Organization for Animal Health ruled that the United States was a “controlled risk nation” _ a country that can export beef from cattle of any age. The U.S. has cited that report in urging Japan to review its policy.
During the two-day closed, technical meeting, the U.S. will submit the data it provided to the animal health organization and Japan will examine it, agriculture ministry official Toshio Katagai said. Read more
Tokyo - Japan and the U.S. will hold a two-day technical meeting on U.S. beef imports, officials said Monday, amid expectations the talks may pave the way for easing Japan’s strict import restrictions.
Officials from the two countries will meet Wednesday and Thursday in Tokyo, according to a press release by the Japanese Health and Agriculture Ministries.
Japan only allows imports of U.S. beef from cattle 20 months old or younger, because the mad cow disease has not been detected in meat from young cattle - although the U.S. has called for that restriction to be eased. Read more
(RTTNews) - German import price index rose 0.6% on an annual basis in May, the Federal Statistics Office said, Tuesday. Import prices increased 0.5% annually in April and 0.9% in March. Stripped of crude oil and mineral oil products, the index of import prices advanced 1.3% year-on-year. On a monthly basis, import prices expanded 0.3%, slower than 0.9% climb in the previous month. The growth in the import index in May matched the expectations of economists.
The 9.3% annual price increase of non-ferrous metals and their semi-finished material in May was particularly high, the Federal Statistics Office noted. Prices of raw nickel, used in the production of stainless steel, soared 128.9%, while prices of raw lead, zinc and tin climbed 19.2%.
In contrast, prices of data processing devices and mechanisms slumped 29.0% annually, while prices of electronic elements decreased 16.3%. Read more
CAIRO, Egypt — Egyptian producers continue to make headway in their efforts to promote the industry as an affordable source for classic French and English reproductions as well as trend-setting contemporary furniture.
At the fourth edition of the annual Furnex fair, held at the Cairo International Convention Center earlier this month, 165 companies showed their lines to more than 700 foreign buyers from 62 countries, including the United States and Canada. The show featured a new area devoted to home textiles.
Market organizer ExpoÂlink welcomed buyers at a gala dinner, where attendees enjoyed local cuisine, entertainment and a breathtaking view of the Pyramids lit up at night. At the event, Expolink officials announced that next year’s show will be open to international exhibitors, expanding its profile beyond its current Egypt-only focus. Read more
After an unsuccessful attempt last month, India tonight floated a fresh global tender for import of one million tons of wheat to meet its PDS requirements even as prices have started rising in the world market.
The State Trading Corporation has invited bids from international suppliers for receiving deliveries in two tranches. The tender has been floated to receive 4.7 lakh tons during August-September and 5.3 lakh tons during October-November.
“We are in no hurry for the deliveries since we have enough quantity of wheat…” a Food Secretary T Nandakumar said.
The last date of submission of bids is July 4 and on the same day they will be opened. The government will take a final decision on the bids by July 10. Read more
Thirty six companies from 14 sectors will take part in this year’s edition of the Luanda International Fair (Filda), a representative of the Brazilian export promotion agency Apex said Friday in Sao Paulo.
Juarez Leal, coordinator if the international events unit of Apex, said that the Brazilian participation in the fair was expected to generate business of around US$11 million.
According to APEX, the Brazilian contingent will be made up of companies from the areas of, construction, machinery and equipment, vehicles, food and drink, drink, domestic utilities, decoration, clothing, footwear, furniture, cleaning products and services sectors. Read more
São Paulo - Brazilian furniture exports totalled 14.13 billion Brazilian reais (US$ 6.74 billion at current exchange rates) last year, representing an increase of 17.2% when compared to 2005, according to the Brazilian Furniture Industry Association (Abimóvel).
The state of Minas Gerais (SE Brazil) presented the greatest growth in sector foreign sales, 46.8% when compared to 2005, followed by the state of São Paulo (SE), with 21.8%, and Pernambuco (NE), 7.4%. However, in absolute turns, the largest Brazilian exporters of furniture were the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, followed by Santa Catarina, also in the south. Read more
São Paulo - A delegation of 15 furniture store owners from the Arab Gulf countries will come to the southeastern Brazilian city of São Paulo to participate in the Brazilian Contemporary Furniture and Home Décor fair, to be held between February 9th and 12th at the Imigrantes Exhibition Centre. Organized by the Brazilian High-End Furniture Manufacturers Association (Abimad), the event will bring together 174 exhibitors, and will also be attended by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
“The major store owners in the Middle East will attend the fair. The Arab Gulf countries have a huge potential for high-end furniture. The market is not yet fully explored,” said Rafael Molon, who is in charge of the international relations department at Abimad.
Arab importers to attend the event include representatives of Marlin Furniture, from the United Read more
São Paulo - The furniture made by Brazilian company Mac Design is exhibited in six houses in a housing project in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The condominium is part of The National Housing Project, by real estate developer Emaar Properties, from Dubai. The project will have 10,000 houses, and will receive investment of US$ 2.7 billion.
According to the president of Mac Design, Márcio Assunção CecÃlio, the idea is to furnish the largest possible number of homes with company furniture. “The furniture is already being exhibited in the houses, and we are now waiting to see if we will get new orders,” he said. In total, 26 items, among chairs, sofas, armchairs and tables for external environments are decorating the houses in Dubai. Up to the end of the year, 5,000 houses should be ready. Read more
Leaders of more than half of the nation’s largest companies are optimistic about the economic outlook for 2008 and beyond, a survey shows.
Top management at 55 companies of 100 surveyed said economic growth will continue, up from 18 in a survey in November, The Asahi Shimbun found.
Analysts say the upbeat outlook stems from a feeling that businesses have adequately dealt with three main problems of excess equipment, heavy debts and overstaffing.
Most respondents shared the view that economic growth is steady and unlikely to worsen abruptly. Read more
