| The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Friday, May 14, 2021. _______ In May 2021, Burma's rice exports are forecast to decline with the expectation of the continued closure of Burma-China border checkpoints to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, the official rice exports are expected to increase due to the appreciation of foreign currencies against the Myanmar Kyat. Domestic prices for Emata 25 percent broken rice and superior quality Shwe Bo Pawsan rice are forecast to increase in May due to increased local demand. On May 12, 2021, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) notified the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that on April 28, 2021, China detected African Swine Fever (ASF) in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. China is continuing to monitor the situation. China is aiming to tackle food waste from farm to fork and everywhere in between. The country launched a clean plate campaign last summer and passed the Anti-Food Waste Law at the end of April this year. Both of these measures seem to point to China's growing interest in using its resources more sustainably. While the campaign and new law aren't expected to diminish China's demand for imported food and agriculture goods, sustainability is expected to become an increasingly important selling point for these products. The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) has been in effect for 16 months, however the timing of Japan's fiscal year meant that the agreement entered "Year 3" of implementation on April 1, 2021. This report is one in a series of product briefs highlighting the tariff benefits for specific commodities and products from Year 3 (2021) to Year 5 (2023) of the agreement. Additional information is available at www.usdajapan.org/usjta/. The continued sharp increases in food price inflation from 3.4 percent in 2019, to 4.6 percent in 2020 and to an estimated 5.4 percent in 2021, remains a concern in South Africa. This is due to its inflationary role in the general Consumer Price Inflation (CPI), and its potential to exacerbate the ongoing economic and social impact of COVID-19, especially with regard to food security in poor households. Some of the drivers of food price inflation are state administered electricity tariff increases (+15 percent); increases in minimum wages (+16 percent); allegations of excessive price increases by some retailers; and changing consumer shopping trends. South Africa has also been impacted by higher crude oil prices (+30 percent in 2021) and international commodity prices such as sunflower oil, grains, and meat. While Post expects that U.S agricultural exports may rebound in 2021, the increase in food inflation may compound the challenges being faced by U.S. agricultural exports. Export prices for white and parboiled rice are still trending upward, increasing 2-3 percent from the previous week, with new inquiries from African markets and increased demand for glutinous rice from Asian markets.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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