摘要: |
This Y2K analysis of international food transportation was conducted by FAS personnel in overseas posts in May and June. The information collection and analysis targeted countries that are normally among the top 10 markets for U.S. agricultural exports and top 8 suppliers of food products during the January-March time period. Canada, which is among the top markets and suppliers, was not assessed because of its advanced state of Y2K readiness. For further information on these countries, check a report by USDA's Food Supply Working Group, Assessment of Year 2000 on the International Food Industry as it Affects the United States, on the USDA web site. China, an important market, and Bangladesh and Indonesia, major recipients of U.S. food aid, were also surveyed. FAS agricultural attaches were provided with names of critically important ocean shipping lines, port container terminal operators, and grain elevators in order to guide the information collection process. FAS interviewed host government officials and private sector operators, as well as researched publicly available information in the host country. |