U.S. rejoins International Coffee Organization

U.S. rejoins International Coffee Organization    The U.S. government said it has rejoined the International Coffee Organization after an 11-year absence.
   The ICO was created in 1963 by the United Nations as a forum for producing and consuming countries to discuss issues affecting the coffee industry. The United States left the organization in 1993 citing concerns over ICO quota policies.
   “The International Coffee Organization has undertaken impressive reforms in recent years to strengthen its market orientation, build programs to help coffee farmers improve quality, efficiency and access to markets, and streamline the global coffee trade,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a Feb. 5 statement.