Latest news with #USDepartmentofAgriculture
Time Out
17 hours ago
- General
- Time Out
3 best restaurants for American beef in Tokyo
The first Asia outpost of this premier steakhouse, known for its top-quality long-dry aged US beef, opened 11 years ago in Roppongi. In a restaurant scene where American-style steakhouses were – and still are – a rarity, the Manhattan-born Wolfgang's Steakhouse and its in-house ageing rooms pioneered the classic fine-dining steakhouse experience in Japan. The restaurant adheres closely to its parent's tried-and-true meat preparation process, which includes dry-ageing its imported US beef in the aforementioned chambers, slicing only the good bits, and cooking them in a broiler at 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit (that's 900°C). The result is the epitome of dry-aged steak in Tokyo, with every bite delivering rich, deep flavours and a perfectly caramelised crust, just as you'd expect from a top-tier New York steakhouse. If you're looking to go all out, order the signature Prime Steak (from ¥30,800 for two), a sizzling plate of top-tier American beef. The steak delivers a feast for the senses, from the mouthwatering aroma to the dramatic presentation on a piping hot dish. Dig in to discover a perfectly crisped exterior and a tender, juicy pink centre. The meat served is classified as 'prime grade', the highest tier of meat ranked by the US Department of Agriculture.
West Australian
21 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
In China, The Great American burger is now made with Australian beef
At his restaurant in Beijing, Geng Xiaoyun used to offer a special dish of salt-baked chicken feet — or 'phoenix talons' as they are called in China — imported from America. With prices climbing 30 per cent from March due to tariffs, the owner of Kunyuan restaurant had to pull the Chinese delicacy from the menu. 'American chicken feet are so beautiful,' Xiaoyun said. 'They're spongy so they taste great. Chinese [chicken] feet just aren't as good.' Geng can now source chicken feet from Brazil or Russia but said they just don't stand up to the American ones. He keeps a small stash for himself but hopes to serve his American phoenix talons once again. 'The price of American chicken feet will come back down,' Xiaoyun said, 'as long as there are no big changes in the world's political situation.' But the 90-day tariff pause agreed by China and the US in Geneva in May is now under threat as both sides have accused each other of breaching the terms. On Monday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry responded to President Donald Trump's claim that the country 'totally violated its agreement'. The ministry pointed at recent US artificial intelligence chip export controls as actions that 'severely undermine' the Geneva pact. As the world waits and watches, American agricultural products have been vanishing from Chinese stores and restaurants and losing ground to other imports. US Department of Agriculture grade beef has been a draw for years at Home Plate, a Beijing restaurant known locally for its American-style barbecue. However, staff said the restaurant stopped serving American beef last month. Dishes like The Great American burger are made with beef imported from Australia. Australian beef has zero duty under the terms of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, though China does maintain the right to a safeguard limit on those imports. Liu Li, a beef supplier at the Sanyuanli market for three decades, said the tariffs have disrupted supply, hiking the price of US beef by 50 per cent compared to before the tariff fight. 'US beef is fattier and tastier,' Li said. 'It's a shame we're in a trade war. The high price is just too much to bear.' CNBC
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to reduce reliance on Vietnam
The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar Bloomberg By Neil Jerome Morales and Cliff Venzon The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in an interview on Friday. There may also be a 'deal' with Indonesia and Thailand, he added. 'We are trying to diversify sources to keep a level playing field,' Laurel said. Vietnam is 'the most reliable' supplier, but the fact that its shipments account for 90 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports could be a 'problem' in case of supply shocks, he said. The price of all rice varieties sold by Vietnam rose to a three-month high in April because of an 'uptick in buying interest from domestic and offshore traders,' according to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Affordable prices of the staple grain are central to the agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also helmed the agriculture department before appointing Laurel in November 2023. His government slashed import tariffs from 35 per cent to 15 per cent last year and declared a food security emergency in February to tame runaway prices. That's helped slow overall inflation to its lowest level since 2019, giving the central bank room to further cut interest rates. Laurel expects this year's rice imports will be lower than in 2024 and won't exceed 4.5 million tonnes. His outlook compares with a forecast from the US Department of Agriculture that sees the Southeast Asian nation importing 5.4 million tonnes in 2025. Domestically, the country is on track to produce a record of 20.46 million tonnes in rough rice output this year, the secretary said. Meanwhile, the Philippines is facing a 17 per cent duty on its goods to the US, the lowest rate in Southeast Asia — after Singapore — under President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff agenda. Laurel said this presents an opportunity as it could make Filipino shipments to the US, particularly seafood products like tilapia and shrimp, more competitive than those of its neighbours.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to cut Vietnam reliance
A man rests on sacks of rice along a street in Manila on May 9, 2024. Vietnam supplies 90 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports - AFP MANILA: The Philippines, the world's top rice importer, plans to look beyond its dominant supplier, Vietnam, to ensure steady supplies and competitive prices at home. The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in an interview on Friday (May 30). There may also be a "deal' with Indonesia and Thailand, he added. "We are trying to diversify sources to keep a level playing field,' Laurel said. Vietnam is "the most reliable' supplier, but the fact that its shipments account for 90 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports could be a "problem' in case of supply shocks, he said. The price of all rice varieties sold by Vietnam rose to a three-month high in April because of an "uptick in buying interest from domestic and offshore traders,' according to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Affordable prices of the staple grain are central to the agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also helmed the agriculture department before appointing Laurel in November 2023. His government slashed import tariffs from 35 per cent to 15 per cent last year and declared a food security emergency in February to tame runaway prices. That's helped slow overall inflation to its lowest level since 2019, giving the central bank room to further cut interest rates. Laurel expects this year's rice imports will be lower than in 2024 and won't exceed 4.5 million tonnes. His outlook compares with a forecast from the US Department of Agriculture that sees the Southeast Asian nation importing 5.4 million tonnes in 2025. Domestically, the country is on track to produce a record of 20.46 million tonnes in rough rice output this year, the secretary said. Meanwhile, the Philippines is facing a 17 per cent duty on its goods to the US, the lowest rate in South-East Asia - after Singapore - under President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff agenda. Laurel said this presents an opportunity as it could make Filipino shipments to the US, particularly seafood products like tilapia and shrimp, more competitive than those of its neighbors. "If our competitors are slapped with higher tariffs than us, it's fine,' he said. - Bloomberg
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to cut Vietnam reliance
[MANILA] The Philippines, the world's top rice importer, plans to look beyond its dominant supplier, Vietnam, to ensure steady supplies and competitive prices at home. The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers such as India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Friday (May 30). There may also be a 'deal' with Indonesia and Thailand, he added. 'We are trying to diversify sources to keep a level playing field,' Laurel said. Vietnam is 'the most reliable' supplier, but the fact that its shipments account for 90 per cent of the Philippines' rice imports could be a 'problem' in case of supply shocks, he said. The price of all rice varieties sold by Vietnam rose to a three-month high in April because of an 'uptick in buying interest from domestic and offshore traders', according to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Affordable prices of the staple grain are central to the agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who also helmed the agriculture department before appointing Laurel in November 2023. His government slashed import tariffs from 35 to 15 per cent last year and declared a food security emergency in February to tame runaway prices. That's helped slow overall inflation to its lowest level since 2019, giving the central bank room to further cut interest rates. Laurel expects this year's rice imports will be lower than in 2024 and will not exceed 4.5 million tonnes. His outlook compares with a forecast from the US Department of Agriculture that sees the South-east Asian nation importing 5.4 million tonnes in 2025. Domestically, the country is on track to produce a record of 20.46 million tonnes in rough rice output this year, the secretary said. Meanwhile, the Philippines is facing a 17 per cent duty on its goods to the US, the lowest rate in South-east Asia – after Singapore – under US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff agenda. Laurel said this presents an opportunity as it could make Filipino shipments to the US, particularly seafood products such as tilapia and shrimp, more competitive than those of its neighbours. 'If our competitors are slapped with higher tariffs than us, it's fine,' he said.
