bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

NFU puts trade, supply management on agenda
3-Dec-2010
Terry Boehm is having a busy week. The president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) just returned on Tuesday from a trip overseas, landing at the forefront of the NFU’s 41st annual convention, which starts today in Saskatoon. About 250 people from across the country are expected to attend the yearly event, which covers a range of issues from free trade to green initiatives.
Kenya picked for new EU food safety training
18-Nov-2010 Business Daily
EU regulations on food safety have undergone many tests with the latest farm-to-fork traceability demand, putting pressure on developing states to adjust their sanitary and phytosanitary control systems to match the European standards.
India: No import of US dairy products for now
15-Nov-2010 The Hindu
In recent bilateral talks during US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, the Agriculture Ministry made it clear that India will subject US dairy products to the same protocol and veterinary certification as was applicable to other countries, and that India would have to be sensitive to religious sentiments.
European trade agreement could impact Canadian agriculture
29-Oct-2010 The Post
Not many farmers may know that there are trade negotiations under way with the European Union that may severely impact agriculture in Canada. Items such as food inspection, supply management, local food, Canadian Wheat Board and Plant Breeders Rights are all on the negotiating table.
Sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers to trade in EPAs
28-Sep-2010 CTA
This paper from ICTSD sets out a common vision on issues that could constitute sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers in EPAs and investigates how abusive use of these provisions could be an obstacle to market access.
US makes no specific request for easing Japan’s beef import curbs
17-Sep-2010 Kyodo
The United States made no specific request for relaxing Japan’s beef import restrictions over mad cow disease at a two-day bilateral working-level meeting that ended in San Francisco on Wednesday, Japanese officials said Thursday.
R-CALF proposes renegotiation of FTAs
22-Jul-2010 Farm Futures
R-CALF USA sent a letter to President Obama Tuesday requesting a moratorium on future FTAs and rejection of the pending FTAs with Colombia, Korea and Panama until the impacts current FTAs have on the profitability and viability of US producers is assessed.
US, EU sign deal to end long banana dispute
9-Jun-2010 AFP
The United States said Tuesday it had signed an agreement with the European Union aimed at ending a longstanding dispute over banana tariffs.
Bananas: Geneva Agreement signed, bilaterals cut tariffs further
3-Jun-2010 ICTSD
The Geneva Agreement on Trade in Bananas cuts the EU’s multilateral banana tariff in gradual steps while its bilateral tariff on bananas from Peru, Colombia and six Central American countries will be slashed still further.
EU-Mercosur trade talks significant to beef sector
14-May-2010 Meat International
The European Commission’s trade directorate has announced its intention to resume bilateral trade negotiations with the Mercosur group of countries. If successful, these talks could have significant implications for UK agriculture, especially the pig, poultry and beef sectors.
EU moves toward new rules on animal welfare
29-Apr-2010 Bridges
The EU is starting to consider new rules on animal welfare that could have significant impacts on its trading partners.
Beef in Taiwan: Tongues, tails and testicles
27-Apr-2010 MinnPost
US beef has become a political issue across East Asia. After North Korean nukes and the value of the Chinese yuan, it’s one of the biggest headaches for American diplomats.
Japan, US ‘some distance’ apart in beef trade talks
8-Apr-2010 Bloomberg
“For us, food safety based on Japan’s scientific standards is the priority,” Akamatsu said today. “The OIE standards are different from the Japanese scientific ones.”
Europe losing Caribbean’s support
16-Mar-2010 Fresh Plaza
The European Commission has made new trade concessions to Colombia, Peru and Central America on sugar, rice, bananas and rum that may well provoke a Caribbean protest — indeed, a turning away
Message to President Obama: Why trade will not save rural America
4-Feb-2010 Civil Eats
Obama’s emphasis on export markets is odd given that it runs directly counter to a lot of the Administration’s work to support local food systems.
Manila government unprepared for tuna ban
3-Feb-2010 UPI Asia
The tuna ban is not meant to preserve tuna stocks in West and Central Pacific, but to dislodge fishing companies from Third World countries from their tuna fishing grounds and allow the tuna fleets of the European Union and Japan to take over these tuna-rich fishing areas.
Consumers’ Foundation demands prion tests on US beef imports
22-Jan-2010 Taiwan News
The Consumers’ Foundation demanded Tuesday that the government include prion tests in its inspection of US beef imports to detect any possible bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contamination of the products.