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agriculture | farmers | food

Dairy industry to protest Colombia-EU FTA signing
19-May-2010 Colombia Reports
Colombian dairy farmers from across the country will launch a last-ditch round of protests on Wednesday to oppose the signing of the Andean nation’s free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union
Farmers of La Via Campesina mobilize in Madrid against EU’s neoliberal trade agenda!
18-May-2010
The only beneficiaries of Europe’s free trade agreements are the same transnational corporations and international financial investors which have caused the current economic, social, environmental and political crisis.
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.
Agriculture minister admits EU FTA will hurt dairy farmers
14-May-2010 Colombia Reports
Colombian Agriculture Minister Andres Fernandez admitted Thursday that his country’s free trade agreement with the European Union, due to be signed next week, will adversely affect more than 400,000 farming families across Colombia, reports Caracol.
Farmers from both sides of the Atlantic unite for food sovereignty
12-May-2010 Via Campesina
The European Union is eager to sign free-trade agreements under the Spanish presidency between the EU and MERCOSUR, Central America and Peru and Colombia. Farmer’s organizations from both Latin American countries and Europe are united in their opposition to the talks.
Ten EU nations protest resumption of Mercosur talks
12-May-2010 AFP
Ten EU nations, led by France, protested in a statement to the entire EU Council that the resumption of free trade talks with the Latin American bloc Mercosur sends "a highly negative signal" for Europe’s struggling farm sector.
Livestock keepers concerns on FTAs
4-May-2010
Letter to the Government of India about the impacts of FTAs on livestock keepers and traditional pastoral communities
Indian farmers won’t say cheese
4-May-2010 IPS
India is facing strong pressure to open up its markets to cheese and other dairy produce from Europe, even though the New Delhi government has expressed fears about how small farmers could be forced into deeper poverty as a result.
Food for thought and action
4-May-2010 Pacific Island News Association
A critical look at the likely implications of a free trade agreement dubbed Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER-Plus) between the island countries and Australia and New Zealand on food sovereignty.
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.
Korea-China FTA - The Deal Needs Steps to Protect Farmers, Small Firms
23-Apr-2010
A Korea-China free trade agreement will be a definite plus for the country at least statistically. The governing camp must risk in losing votes from angry farmers, fishermen and small-and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
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
US Grains Council highlights importance of free trade
22-Feb-2010 HAT
Without FTAs between the US and markets in Latin America and Southeast Asia, US Grains Council Directors warn the US risks losing export competitiveness.
Le pain suisse menacé de disparition
7-Feb-2010 24 Heures
Si la Suisse signe les accords de libre-échange agricole avec l’Union européenne, les cultures de céréales panifiables pourraient disparaître du pays en quatre ans. En 2016, il ne serait donc théoriquement plus possible de manger du pain à base de farine suisse.
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.
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.
Timing isn’t everything in free trade deals
22-Jan-2010 ABC Rural
A former Australian trade negotiator says farmers should not be concerned that trade deals have not been signed with three key Australian export markets.
An ECFA would be bad news for farmers
21-Jan-2010 Taipei Times
About 280,000 Taiwanese farmers who grow rice, vegetables and other crops could lose their jobs. This does not account for mushrooms, sugar, flowers, fisheries and forestry, therefore the total number of food producers affected will be much higher.
Free trade proposal worries dairy allies
13-Jan-2010 WDT
The last time the United States and New Zealand opened up their agricultural markets to each other, New Zealand’s dairy farmers won greater access to a coveted piece of the US dairy industry. The United States settled for cat food.
ASEAN trade deal under fire
8-Jan-2010 Fruitnet.com
Australia’s free trade agreement with ASEAN is in effect, but Nationals leader Warren Truss sees the deal as a one-way street