Canadians Open to Agri Changes in Nafta Talks

(Dow Jones) -- A Canadian poll suggests a majority of its citizens say the country should consider changes to its supply-management agricultural regime if it means securing a better deal in the coming talks to revamp Nafta. Angus Reid Institute said over a quarter of respondents said Canada should offer to US and Mexico to scrap its supply-management regime, which has already earned criticism from President Trump, and 45% suggested Canadian negotiators should use the scheme as a bargaining chip in talks. Meanwhile, 29% said the system must be preserved. Under supply management, prices for dairy products, eggs and chickens are set based on the average costs of production. Production is controlled through a regulated quota system, and competition is thwarted through tariffs. ** Bunge Still Mulling Options for Sugar Business (Dow Jones) -- Commodities trader Bunge (BG) is prepared to move towards an initial public offering for the company's Brazilian sugar business, which has been under strategic review since late 2013, though CEO Soren Schroder says BG is not yet convinced the public markets are the best path. "We're working on a couple other things that could potentially be better and want to see them through," he says, referring to partnerships or a possible sale. If BG decides to float the unit, that "could be done relatively quickly," but it depends partly on whether Brazil's sugar industry strengthens and how the government there crafts ethanol policy.