bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

agriculture | farmers | food


Greece wants changes to EU-Canada trade deal to protect "feta" name
Athens will not back a multi-billion dollar trade pact between Canada and the European Union unless the deal is changed to specify that only Greece can use the term "feta" for its salty white cheese, according to a document seen by Reuters.
Fruits et légumes : moins on consomme plus on importe
Le déclin de la production est imputable à la stratégie commerciale des grandes surfaces pour faire chuter les cours grâce aux accords bilatéraux que la Commission européenne a négocié avec des pays tiers comme le Maroc.
Massive trade deal could come down to two things: Rice and cars
Officials are working feverishly to unsnag a deal with Japan and 10 other Asia-Pacific countries.
[Herald Interview] Korea to defend rice market in TPP talks
Korea’s top agriculture policymaker has emphasized that the government will not further open the country’s rice market if and when it joins the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership
EU-US trade talks should pick up steam once “fast-track” bill is voted through Congress, says top US farm lobbyist Bob Young
Bob Young, Deputy Executive Director at the American Farm Bureau Federation, talks with journalist Rose O’Donovan (AGRA FACTS) about on-going agricultural developments in negotiations towards a Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The EU claims that TTIP won’t reduce EU food safety standards – but is this true?
The EU commission has claimed that there will be no lowering of food safety standards in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that is currently being negotiated with the United States. However, an examination of the EU’s negotiating position shows that they are already offering changes which could lead to increased amounts of pesticide residues in food in the EU in the future.
Canada’s most sacred cows under attack as TPP takes aim at agriculture
The Americans have made it clear they have a deal-breaker with Canada — supply management in agriculture, notably dairy and poultry.
April 17: Lobby action tour on TTIP, impacts for food and farmers
On 17 April, Via Campesina, the D190-20 Alliance and Corporate Europe Observatory held a lobby tour around the Brussels European quarter, highlighting the corporate lobbies who are pushing an aggressive agenda around TTIP (the EU-US trade deal currently being negotiated).
Make the most of FTAs, Fonterra executive tells farmers
Australian farmers must work to understand the needs of Chinese consumers if they are to make the most of the free trade agreement signed with Beijing, an executive from New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra says.
Japan to reduce Thai rice purchases under TPP
Japan plans to reduce rice purchases from Thailand and import more from the United States if a trans-Pacific trade pact led by the two countries goes through.
Poultry industry calls for review of FTAs
The Pakistan Poultry Associa­tion has urged Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir to review the free trade agreements that are hurting more than helping the country.
Free trade and Mexico’s junk food epidemic
Food companies are infiltrating, inundating and taking over traditional food distribution channels and replacing local foods with cheap, processed junk foods. Free trade and investment agreements have been critical to their success.
EU-US trade deal will ’hang beef sector out to dry’: ICSA
The potential for losses of between €25m and €45m for the beef sector from any trade deal between Europe and the US has provoked a sharp response from the Irish farm organisations.
Why do we say NO to FTAs, TTIP and CETA
In this video, Via Campesina leaders from Europe, US and Canada explain how new free trade agreements affect food sovereignty.
17 April 2015: International Day of Peasant and Farmer Struggle against Transnational Companies and Free Trade Agreements
This April 17th 2015, La Via Campesina will focus its mobilizations on the impacts of Transnational Corporations and Free Trade Agreements on peasant and small-scale agriculture and national food sovereignty
Japan pork group proposes halving tariffs for TPP agreement
Japan, the world’s largest pork importer, can accept a 50 percent reduction in import tariffs to help pave the way for the nation to reach an agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a producer group said.
Gov’t mulls profit-sharing scheme for FTA-hit farmers
South Korea’s agriculture ministry said Friday that it is considering requiring firms that benefit from the country’s free trade agreements (FTAs) to share some of their profits to help make up for losses suffered by farmers, which has led to strong opposition from the business circle.
NFU opposes trade promotion authority
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson urged members of US Congress to oppose trade promotion authority – also known as fast track – noting that trade agreements should be fair to all parties involved, and the process should be transparent.
US moves toward greater trade with Africa
Pact with Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda — to be expanded to other countries later on — seen as a stepping stone to full fledged FTA
US, EU agriculture leaders try to ease trade concerns
US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack shared the stage with his counterpart EU commissioner Phil Hogan at the US Department of Agriculture’s annual Outlook Forum and discussed TTIP.