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On October 28, 2022, Tongaat Hullet’s management announced that they opted to go into voluntary business rescue due to the company’s severe levels of financial distress. On Tuesday November 1, Tongaat Hullet missed the deadline to pay R401 million ($22.9 million) for cane delivered by 4,300 growers in September.

It has come to Post’s attention that a shipment of U.S. bovine genetics faced clearance problems in mainland China after Hong Kong Customs opened and inspected the shipment during transit. To minimize customs clearance issues in the future, U.S. exporters should be mindful that for any shipment transiting through a third-party, such as Hong Kong, shippers/forwarders should ensure that seals are handled properly in the case of inspection.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 5 agricultural chemicals (Acequinocyl, Isofetamid, Methoxyfenozide, Pyriproxyfen, and Mosapride) for various agricultural commodities.

The Netherlands will increase an existing tax on beverages as of January 1, 2023. This is envisioned to have a suppressing effect on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. In parallel, the Dutch government is exploring a progressive tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

The Government of Nicaragua has refused to issue import permits or has rejected shipments of U.S. poultry products – including raw frozen cuts, fully cooked products, and day-old chicks – from U.S. states where high pathogenicity avian influenza cases have been reported.

The federal government announced that dairy, poultry and egg farmers and processors will receive CAD $1.7 billion dollars in compensation for impacts of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA). This funding will be disbursed over six years, as direct payments and various investment programs, with the largest share going to the dairy sector.

On November 21, 2022, the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) released the People's Republic of China Plant Variety Protection Regulations (Revised Draft for Comments) (Chinese) for public comment.

Ginseng Board of Wisconsin Retail Promotion; Hong Kong Eases Curbs on Inbound Travelers; Visitor Arrivals to Hong Kong Grow 22 Percent; Cathay Pacific to Reach 70 Percent of Pre-pandemic Capacity by Late 2023; Quarantine for Arrivals in Macau Adjusted to “5+3;” More Places to Go in Hong Kong for Group Travelers; Outdoor Live Music Festival Set to Comeback

Export prices increased 2 percent as foreign buyers continued seeking Thai rice.

Post forecasts 2022/2023 corn production at a record 126 million metric tons (MMT) based on the growing demand and price for corn both in domestic and international market. This is up 8.6 percent on the 2021/2022 production estimated at 116 MMT.

Cotton consumption in marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is forecast at 2 million bales, slightly lower than previously forecasted, a decrease which is projected to reduce imports of U.S. cotton.

This report offers information for U.S. companies interested in exporting agri-food products to Italy, including an overview of the country's economic situation, market structure, export requirements, and best product export opportunities.