| The following GAIN reports were released on January 21, 2025. _______ Australian wheat and barley producers faced challenges during difficult seasonal conditions in most major production regions. Given the circumstances, overall wheat and barley production is estimated to respectively reach the third and fifth-largest levels on record. Wheat exports are forecast to reach the fourth-highest on record, rising by 26 percent to 24 million metric tons (MMT) for MY 2024/25, and barley exports are forecast at 5.5 MMT. Sorghum and rice producers are experiencing highly favorable production conditions in MY 2024/25. Sorghum production is forecast at 2.2 MMT, similar to the prior year, almost all of which will be exported. Rice production is forecast at 375,000 metric tons (MT), a decline of 16 percent from the prior year estimate. Conditions favored a bigger planted area of rice, but industry intervened prior to planting to target a smaller level of production. Australia is forecast to be a net importer of rice in MY 2024/25, with imports of 260,000 MT and 230,000 MT of exports. Building upon initial consultations held in summer 2024, Canada's Competition Bureau seeks public comments on new guidelines regarding environmental claims. Interested stakeholders have until February 28, 2025, to send their comments. The Communist Party of China's (CPC) annual Central Rural Work Conference (CRWC) was held on December 17-18, 2024. This annual meeting sets overarching guidelines for the PRC's agriculture sector and for rural development. According to information released following the meeting, there were no major changes in overall policy direction for 2025, but details emerged regarding previously stated policy directions. Information suggests that CPC leadership reiterated the importance of building PRC capacity to produce grains and major agricultural products to support food security efforts. The CRWC report indicated the PRC will continue efforts to raise the quality and usage of arable land, encourage the adoption of new agricultural technologies, and support rural incomes and improve the quality of life in rural areas. On January 7, 2025, The People's Republic of China (PRC) notified Phytosanitary Requirements for Imported Plant-derived Fertilizers to the World Trade Organization (WTO) under G/SPS/N/CHN/1323. The PRC's SPS Enquiry Point at sps@customs.gov.cn will accept comments until March 8, 2025. The proposed date of entry into force is July 1, 2025. This report provides an unofficial translation of the requirements. Stakeholders should conduct their own review of the regulation. On January 18, 2025, Colombia's National Institute for the Surveillance of Food and Medicines (INVIMA) confirmed that cellulose is approved by the Colombian government as a cheese additive for use as an anti-caking agent in grated and/or granulated fresh cheese for surface treatment. FAS Bogota reached out to INVIMA for this confirmation after receiving several reports of issues with shipments of U.S. cheese at Colombian ports that contained cellulose. In 2024, U.S. exports of cheese to Colombia reached over $35 million. In market year (MY) 2024/25, total citrus production in Mexico is expected up by 4 percent versus the previous year, driven primarily by the increase in lime production. Fresh orange production is projected up only marginally due to unstable environmental conditions such as prolonged drought, high temperatures and erratic rainfall in the main producing regions. Post's forecasting for MY 2024/25 reflects producer expectations of improved environmental conditions that will aid in tree recovery and produce higher quality fruit. Orange juice production will increase following several years of lower production due to fruit quality issues. More favorable conditions helped to obtain better quality fruit through the latter half of MY 2023/24 and producer sentiment and market demand remains positive for MY 2024/25. Exports of fresh citrus fruit are projected to remain stable for fresh oranges and grow moderately for fresh lemons/limes. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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