Global Agricultural News, Issue 112

Current Catalogue

01 Brazil announces for the first time the results of its agricultural exports after the implementation of the Mercosur-EU agreement.

The United States intends to disqualify South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

03 South Korea launches Aquatic Food Awareness Week to expand global exports

01 Brazil announces for the first time the results of its agricultural exports after the implementation of the Mercosur-EU agreement.

On November 1, 2026, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock announced for the first time the data on Brazilian agricultural exports to Europe after the implementation of the Mercosur-EU Interim Trade Agreement. Data show that from May to September 2026, Brazil's agricultural exports to the EU reached 17.74 million tons, an increase of 8.1 percent over the same period last year; exports reached 12.21 billion billion US dollars (about 82 billion yuan ²), up 14.8 percent year-on-year.

In order to reduce trade costs and expand EU market access, Brazil and other four Mercosur member states and the EU signed the Mercosur-EU Interim Trade Agreement on January 17, 2026. ³. According to the agreement, about 99% of Brazil's agricultural exports to Europe will enjoy tax cuts or quota concessions. Among them, roasted coffee, instant coffee and avocado have begun to enjoy phased tax reduction, which is expected to be tax-free in 2030; meat, honey and other products have also received preferential market access arrangements. Half a year after the implementation of the agreement, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry released data on agricultural exports to Europe for the first five months, focusing on major export categories such as soybeans and products and meat, as well as products with rapid export growth such as bee products, avocados and coffee, so as to reflect the changes in Brazilian agricultural exports to Europe in the initial stage of the implementation of the agreement.

From the actual effect:(1) soybean and its products exports increased significantly. After the implementation of the agreement, exports of soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil increased by 20.5; exports reached about 4.19 billion US dollars (about 28.14 billion yuan), an increase of 34.2 percent over the same period last year;(2) exports of meat products grew rapidly. Meat exports reached 272000 tons, an increase of 170 percent over the same period last year; exports reached 1.23 billion billion US dollars (8.26 billion yuan); and (3) avocado exports expanded significantly. Brazilian avocado exports to Europe increased by 433.7 year-on-year; exports reached US $19.87 million billion (approximately RMB 0.133 billion), an increase of 421.2 year-on-year;(4) Roasting and instant coffee exports increased simultaneously. Brazilian roasting and instant coffee exports to Europe increased by 38.2 and 116.5 respectively over the same period last year; exports reached 78.66 million US dollars (about 0.528 billion yuan) and 770000 US dollars (about 5.17 million yuan), up 19 per cent and 91.6 per cent respectively over the same period last year;(5) exports of bee products to Europe increased. Brazilian Bee Products ⁴ exports to Europe reached about 11 million US dollars (about 74 million yuan), up 367 percent year-on-year.

From the perspective of Brazil's agricultural development, the agreement will help consolidate the EU as an important export market and create conditions for the expansion of exports of processed agricultural products. The sustainability of this role still depends on the implementation of the agreement's commitments and the ability of Brazilian products to meet EU health, environmental and traceability requirements.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Brazil

organize: Liu Xingyu Group A

the United States intends to disqualify South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

On November 2, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative reported that the Trump administration intends to cancel the eligibility of South Africa and Rwanda under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) effective January 1, 2027. The move aims to urge the two countries to reduce trade and investment barriers to the United States in order to safeguard the economic, trade and diplomatic interests of the United States.

In the 1990 s, nearly 90% of sub-Saharan Africa's export revenue came from primary products such as agricultural products, with a single export structure. ⁶. Therefore, broadening the market and developing the processing industry has become an important way to improve its trade structure. In order to support local economic growth and deepen economic and trade ties between the United States and Africa, the United States passed AGOA in 2000, which is conditional on market economy, rule of law, protection of human rights and labor rights, and elimination of trade and investment barriers with the United States. Eligible countries are allowed to exempt from general tariffs when exporting a total of more than 6800 kinds of commodities (HS8), including more than 1300 kinds of agricultural products, to the United States. ⁷. In 2000, a total of 34 countries benefited from preferences, and after subsequent additions and subtractions, 33 countries benefited in 2026. ⁸. Among them, about 2/3 of South Africa's agricultural exports to the United States enjoy AGOA duty-free treatment; in 2025, about 4% of Rwanda's exports to the United States enjoy AGOA preferential treatment. ⁹ the degree of dependence is relatively low. Under AGOA, the United States will review the eligibility of beneficiary countries annually and may cancel, suspend or limit their eligibility based on the results of the review.

In this review of 2027 eligibility, the United States believes that South Africa has trade and investment barriers, corruption and security diplomacy problems. Earlier, the United States had asked South Africa to repeal the Land Requisition Act. ¹⁰, and allowed American companies to be exempted from the black shareholding ratio stipulated by South Africa, but the South African government did not respond; at the same time, South Africa sued Israel in the International Court of Justice and maintained contacts with Iran, which also caused dissatisfaction with the United States. With regard to Rwanda, the United States believes that it has problems such as trade and investment barriers, insufficient protection of the rule of law, and ineffective protection of human rights and labor rights, and accused its military of providing support to the rebels in eastern Congo (DRC), intensifying regional conflicts, and violating the mediation of the two countries in the United States. The peace commitments made under the United States have harmed the diplomatic interests of the United States.

If the United States cancels the eligibility of AGOA benefits in both countries, agricultural products that rely on the tax exemption under the law will resume paying general import tariffs, which may weaken product competitiveness, reduce corporate profits, and cause employment pressure. The Confederation of South African Business estimates that loss of eligibility would result in the loss of thousands of jobs across the country. ¹¹. Rwanda's loss of duty-free access may make it more difficult to attract new investment to the U.S. market ¹².

Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative

organize: Liu Xingyu Group A

03 South Korea launches Aquatic Food Awareness Week to expand global exports

on November 5, 2026, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of South Korea, the department will hold the "2026 Korean Aquatic Food Promotion Week" from November 7 to 28 ". The move aims to integrate scattered overseas promotion resources and expand South Korea's aquatic food exports with the help of the global year-end consumption season.

Aquatic food is the second largest category of Korean food exports, after processed food. MOF data shows that South Korea's aquatic food exports will be $3.03 billion in 2024. ¹⁴(about 20.348 billion yuan), in 2025 to 3.33 billion U.S. dollars (about 22.363 billion yuan), an increase of 9.7 percent over the same period last year, a record high, of which seaweed exports 1.13 billion U.S. dollars (about 7.589 billion yuan), an increase of 13.7 percent, the largest export category. South Korean aquatic food is mainly exported to Japan, China, the United States and Southeast Asia and other countries and regions. Previously, the overseas promotion activities of Korean aquatic food were relatively scattered, and there was a lack of unified promotion arrangements, which was not conducive to expanding product visibility and market coverage. In order to integrate overseas marketing resources and improve promotion efficiency, MOF held the first Korean Aquatic Food Promotion Week in 2017. It used shopping nodes such as "Double Eleven" in China and "Black Friday" in the United States to promote sales in many countries simultaneously. Since then, it has gradually formed annual promotion projects. In recent years, although South Korea's aquatic food exports have continued to grow, global food trade barriers have increased. The United States has imposed reciprocal tariffs on South Korean aquatic food since April 2025, and the demand in the Chinese market has also slowed down. In this context, MOF continues to strengthen overseas market promotion and expand sales channels through the publicity week to further expand aquatic food exports.

This publicity week takes "K-Seafood" as the unified promotion logo, focusing on online sales, offline retail and catering promotion. (1) Expand online sales channels. MOF will set up "K-Seafood Exclusive Pavilion" in 8 countries including China and the United States, relying on 10 mainstream e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, Jingdong and Amazon" ¹⁵ focus on the promotion of laver, fish cakes and other major export products, expand the online market coverage. (2) Strengthen offline retail promotion. United China Metro, Singapore LEE Mart and other large retailers and overseas Korean food franchisees, combined with "Double Eleven" and "Black Friday" and other shopping nodes to carry out promotional activities to expand product sales coverage. (3) Expand the overseas catering market. Cooperate with 57 hotels and restaurants in Vietnam, Taiwan and Indonesia to develop special menus using abalone, oyster, flounder and other ingredients to improve the acceptance of Korean aquatic food in overseas catering markets.

MOF Chief Huang Zhongyu said that this event will help South Korea's food industry accelerate its deployment to overseas high value-added markets and further consolidate the global competitiveness of South Korea's aquaculture industry. However, the effectiveness of activities still depends on factors such as overseas consumer demand, channel implementation and exchange rate environment.

Source: Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (MOF)

organize: Tang Poetry Group A

comments

1. seis meses com alta de completa, Europeia, Acordo Mercul-União, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Brazil, 8% nas exporta ções do agroneg brasileiro https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2026/acordo-mercosul-uniao-europeia-completa-seis-meses-com-alta-de-14-8-nas-exportacoes-do-agronegocio-brasileiro

2. The full text is calculated on November 5 at about 6.7156 yuan per US dollar.

3. The Mercosur-EU Interim Trade Agreement is a trade agreement signed between the European Union and the four Mercosur member states of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. It covers the fields of trade in goods, trade in services, and investment. It is mainly through the gradual reduction of tariffs, Expand market access and simplify trade procedures to promote economic and trade exchanges between the two sides.

4. Bee products: honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly and bee pollen and other beekeeping products collectively.

United States Trade Representative's Ambassador Greer Issues Statement on President Trump's Intent to Terminate Preference Program https://www.ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2026/november/ambassador-greer-issues-statement-president-trumps-intent-terminate-rwanda-and-south-africa-agoa

6. https://www.fao.org/4/u8480e/U8480E0n.htm

7. General tariff: refers to the basic tariff paid at the regular rate of the United States when the goods do not enjoy AGOA and other preferences, excluding additional additional tariffs.

8. Eight new countries were added: Angola, Comoros, Congo (DRC), Côte d'Ivoire, Swaziland, Gambia, Liberia and Togo; nine countries were excluded: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Seychelles and Uganda.

9. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business-tech/how-agoa-ban-could-hurt-rwanda-and-south-africa-5658000

10. The Land Acquisition Act: passed by the South African Parliament on 27 March 2024, regulates the procedure for the expropriation of private property by the South African Government for public purposes or in the public interest, requiring in principle just and reasonable compensation. For specific situations such as land abandonment and idleness for speculative appreciation, the Act allows for zero-compensation expropriation, taking into account the relevant circumstances.

11. https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/south-africa-braces-for-some-job-losses-as-us-trade-benefits-end-4994489

12. https://www.channelafrica.co.za/channelafrica/news/rwandas-agoa-exit-threatens-us-export-competitiveness/

13. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseList.do?repCodeType=정부부처&repCode=A00023&pWiseMinistry=ministryNews官方新闻稿 (November 5, 2026)

14. The full text is calculated on November 5 at about 6.7156 yuan per US dollar.

15. "K-Seafood Exclusive Pavilion" (K-Seafood) is the official flagship area of Korean aquatic products set up by the Ministry of Marine Fisheries (MOF) in overseas mainstream e-commerce platforms, mainly used to focus on the promotion of laver, fish cakes and other major export categories.

List of members contributing to the current period

zhang Shuangqin (Nanjing Agricultural University, International Business, Master's Degree, Grade 2026)

liu Haonan (Nanjing Agricultural University, International Business, Master's Degree, Grade 2026)

liu Xingyu (Nanjing Agricultural University, International Trade, Master's Degree, Grade 2026)

sun Weikang (Nanjing Agricultural University, International Trade, Master's Degree, Grade 2026)

tu Biguo (Nanjing Agricultural University, International Trade, Master's Degree, Grade 2026)

wu Mengran (Nanjing Agricultural University, Agricultural and Forestry Economic Management, Undergraduate, Grade 2026)

tang Poetry (Nanjing Agricultural University, Agricultural and Forestry Economic Management, undergraduate, level 2026)

organizer: Nanjing Agricultural University "Big Country Strong Farmers" Globalization and Agricultural and Rural Development Research Team
sponsored by: China Foreign Agricultural Economic Research Association
editor: Xie Chaoping, Tian Xi
team Leader: Luo Yaping and Zhang Shuangqin
special thanks: Foreign Investment Promotion Division, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Center for Sustainable Standards, Central University of Finance and Economics

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