| The following GAIN reports were released on December 23, 2025. _______
China's on-demand delivery e-commerce sector, also known as on-demand retail or instant retail, is reshaping the country's retail landscape by combining digital convenience with rapid local fulfillment. Delivering products within 30 minutes to two hours, this fast-growing model has achieved remarkable annual growth rates, outpacing overall e-commerce expansion. Valued at $110 billion in 2024, the market is projected to nearly triple by 2030, driven by rising consumer demand for speed and convenience, government support for digital innovation, and significant investments from major platforms like Meituan, Alibaba, and JD. As the sector expands into lower-tier cities and diversifies its product offerings, it presents a critical opportunity for U.S. exporters to reach urban, tech-savvy consumers seeking high-quality, instantly available goods. This report provides key insights into market trends, consumer behavior, and strategic considerations to help U.S. exporters effectively navigate this dynamic channel. Croatia's domestic food production focuses on marketing premium "natural" agricultural products and is opposed to full and open adoption of biotechnology-derived foods. Croatia follows the European Union's (EU) biotech legislation but has "opted-out" of planting genetically engineered (GE) seeds. This report provides an overview and updates on agricultural biotechnology in Ethiopia. In 2024, Ethiopia published regulatory guidelines for genome edited plant products and genetically modified plants with staked genes. In 2025, Ethiopia granted commercial approval for cultivation of TELA maize hybrids and Bt-GT cotton. The United States in coordination with Ethiopia's regulatory authorities, have finalized new veterinary health certificates authorizing the export of U.S. live cattle, day-old chicks, and hatching eggs to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Agricultural Authority confirmed the approval of these market access requests on December 16, 2025. The European Union (EU) follows a complex, rolling system of review for active ingredients and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in food. For agricultural inputs, U.S. farmers must know early in the process of review to prevent or mitigate the loss of, and/or access to, chemical inputs. The information in this document provides interested stakeholders with advance notice of those active ingredients under review, highlighting those substances undergoing new restrictions or may not be renewed. This is a quarterly update from June 2023. Ghana is prioritizing the strengthening of national food security. By improving its food security, Ghana enhances overall national security. In Ghana, the cowpea is a vital food source and a crucial component of national food security, especially in the northern regions (i.e., bordering the Sahel's turmoil prone Burkina Faso) where it is a dietary staple. The July 2024, highly successful commercial release of Ghana's indigenously developed pod borer-resistant cowpea (PBR cowpea) or the Bt cowpea, event 709A; has Ghanaian farmers now clamoring for the commercial release of Bt cotton seed. Research work on the bruchid resistant cowpea, as well as genome editing of rice, targeting disease resistance and drought tolerance is progressing a pace. On November 17, 2025, Indonesia notified a draft Decree from Indonesia's Halal Authority (BPJPH) regarding, "Guidelines for the Implementation of the Halal Product Assurance System for Storage, Packaging, and Distribution Services" to the WTO TBT Committee (G/TBT/N/IDN/183). This regulation establishes new requirements for business operators providing storage, packaging, and distribution services for halal-certified products, which could impact U.S. agricultural exports beyond the halal certification requirements to be implemented on October 17, 2026. Although the comment deadline was November 30, 2025, FAS requested an extension for comment until mid-January 2026. FAS Jakarta recommends U.S. industries impacted by the proposed regulation submit comments to FAS Washington by early January to inform advocacy efforts. This report contains an unofficial translation of the draft Decree. On December 8, 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) published a proposal for the "Eleventh Amendment" to the "Public Health (Food) – 2015" legislation, in which the MoH proposes to open a route for U.S. food and agricultural goods into Israel which are manufactured and marketed in the United States. Note: This amendment does not adopt U.S. standards for food and agricultural goods, as goods still must align with Israeli standards. The proposal is open for public comments until December 29, 2025, 23:59 (Israel Standard Time). On Friday, March 7, 2025, Kenya's Court of Appeal halted the government's initiative to permit the trade and cultivation of genetically engineered (GE) products, pending the full hearing of an appeal filed by the Kenya Peasants League, and other opponents of GE technology. A new case challenging the constitutionality of the Biosafety Act of 2009 has also been filed in a Kisumu court and is scheduled to be heard on November 20, 2025. This court has granted the petitioners' request to halt the commercialization of Bt corn until the case is fully heard and decided. Despite the ongoing biotechnology court cases, the current Kenyan executive branch supports the use of genetic engineering technology to address food security and climate change challenges. On November 27, 2025, the Government of Kenya, through the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), issued a notice announcing a seasonal closure on the harvesting and trade of domestically produced macadamia nuts. Consequently, exports of Kenyan macadamia nuts will be limited from December 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026. The Philippines remains a net importer of logs and lumber to meet growing domestic demand driven by construction, furniture manufacturing, and infrastructure development. FAS Manila estimates U.S. wood exports to the Philippines will increase in 2025, with softwood lumber accounting for the majority of exports and opportunities emerging for hardwood and glue-laminated wood. However, challenges such as limited product familiarity and higher shipping costs compared to ASEAN countries hinder broader adoption of U.S. wood. Despite these obstacles, the Philippine market presents significant untapped potential for U.S. exporters, particularly in construction and furniture manufacturing. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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