INDIA, July 26, 2004 -- Although there was a slight improvement in the monsoon activity during the week ending July 14, the overall situation remains grim in most parts of west, central, and north India, all of which are experiencing 50 to 100 percent below-normal rains.

CARIBBEAN BASIN, July 26, 2004 -- With a GDP per capita of $35,200, Bermuda enjoys one of the highest living standards in the world. Bermudans are under heavy fire from American media advertising, and, as a result, are oriented to American name-brand food products. The United States is Bermuda's leading trading partner exporting nearly $56 million in food and beverage products. This report will help U.S. exporters assess the existing and challenging opportunities in the island's retail food sector.

CARIBBEAN BASIN, July 26, 2004 -- Bermuda has a vibrant hospitality industry that is reinventing itself to mitigate the current slowdown in the number of tourist arrivals. Visitors spent over $75 million in food and beverage products in 2003. In addition, Bermuda's population, one of the wealthiest in the world, enjoys eating out year round. The United States is the island's leading trading partner, accounting for 76 percent of all food imports. The purpose of this report is to help U.S. exporters assess the existing and challenging opportunities in Bermuda's HRI food service sector.

CARIBBEAN BASIN, July 26, 2004 -- This report was prepared by the U.S. Interest Section, Havana and is part of an ongoing series of reports on food prices & availability. A comparison of basic food prices in January 2003 and January 2004 shows that food process declined by nine percent. However, this leaves the average Cuban family of four spending 90 percent of their monthly income on food.

CARIBBEAN BASIN, July 26, 2004 -- This report was prepared by the U.S. Interest Section, Havana and is part of an ongoing series of reports on food availability. The Cuban government implemented new strategies in July 2003 to reduce food prices. However, their efforts have not yet been successful and the average Cuban is still unable to afford higher cost protein such as meat.

TAIWAN, July 26, 2004 -- On July 21, Taiwan announced the third rice tender for 10,000 metric tons of medium brown grain and 10,000 metric tons of medium-short brown grain. The tenders will be for 2004 crop. The technical bids are scheduled for August 11, while the price bids are set for August 13. All bidding documents and rice samples should submitted to the Central of Trust of China by 10:00 a.m. August 11.

MEXICO, July 26, 2004 -- *ATO MEXICO CITY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT SPONSOR SEAFOOD SAFETY SEMINAR *MEXICO'S NATIONAL FARM AGREEMENT STILL IN HOT WATER *U.S. A DEVELOPING MARKET FOR MEXICAN HASS AVOCADOS *EUREPGAP REGULATIONS WOULD AFFECT MEXICAN HASS AVOCADO EXPORTS *CORN INDUSTRY STRATEGIES TO MEET THE 2008 CHALLENGE *DECREASED MEXICAN COFFEE PRODUCTION DUE TO LACK OF INCENTIVES *STRATEGIES TO FACE THE NAFTA 2008 OPENING *CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR URGES STRUCTURAL REFORMS

CHILE, July 26, 2004 -- Chile begins "japonica" exports to Brazil. Rice producers Association estimates exports could grow to 100 MT per month in 2005.

AUSTRALIA, July 26, 2004 -- On July 15, 2004, the Australian Government announced changes to its quarantine policy-making system for agricultural imports. Biosecurity Australia will be moved within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and a new standing, independent panel will be established to assess comments to draft Import Risk Assessments. The changes come amidst widespread complaints from agricultural interests regarding a series of recent quarantine actions.