1.   In NEW YORK, cotton prices fell after the government reported that U.S. exporters sold less cotton last week than traders expected amid competition from Australia and Russia.

2.   The South hoped to sell its cotton to Europe in exchange for industrial supplies.

3.   Traders said speculation that the investigation could reflect financial difficulties at the company and force it to sell cotton pushed cotton prices lower.

4.   A spokesman for Monsanto, which began selling Bt cotton in China four years ago, said the Chinese findings contradicted previous research.

5.   Eurocoton alleged the six countries sold their cotton in Europe at unfairly low prices.

6.   The co-op sells cotton for farmers in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

7.   They were introduced after allegations from Eurocoton, which represents European cotton and textile industries, that the six countries sold their cotton in Europe at unfairly low prices.

8.   The Chinese cabinet said it would also move to strictly enforce its monopoly, with only authorised cooperatives allowed to buy, process and sell cotton.