CHINA APPROVES GM CORN, SOYBEAN VARIETIES
The world’s biggest buyer of corn and soybeans has given its assent to 27 GM corn seed varieties and three GM soybean varieties as it expands its list of approvals to increase the development and planting of high-yielding crops, Reuters reported, citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The varieties approved by the ministry in a notice issued on March 19 include seed varieties owned by Dabeinong 002385.SZ and China National Seed Group, a unit of Syngenta Group. The nation of 1.4 billion people is striving to raise domestic production and improve food security through higher-yielding seeds and reduce its grain imports of more than 100 million tonnes a year. The list of approved varieties is open for public comment until April 17, according to the ministry.
(Link: WorldGrain)
EU CONSIDERING TARIFFS ON GRAIN IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA, BELARUS
The EU is getting ready to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus, according to EU officials familiar with the plans, Reuters reported. The European Commission is proposing a duty of 95 euros per tonne on cereals from Russia and Belarus with tariffs of 50% on oilseeds and derived products, The Financial Times said. The tariffs would cover grains for use in the 27 EU member countries but not grain that moves through the nations for use elsewhere. Farmers across the EU have been protesting climate change restrictions placed on them and the removal of customs duties on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion. Farmers argue that cheap grain from Ukraine has undercut their prices. EU imports of grain and oilseed in 2023-24 from Russia totaled 1.8 million tonnes by the end of February.
(Link: WorldGrain)
