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agriculture | farmers | food

Fear not farmers in Australia, Asia told
13-Jun-2007
Trade Minister Warren Truss has accused China and its neighbours of "unrealistic" fears that 140,000 farmers in Australia could wipe out a billion farmers in Asia if there were free trade in agriculture.
Japanese farmers protests Australia FTA
13-Jun-2007 Radio Australia
More than 1,000 Japanese farmers have held a protest rally in the centre of Tokyo over a proposed free trade agreement with Australia.
Japanese farmers up free trade protest
12-Jun-2007 ABC Online
Japanese farmers have stepped up their campaign against a proposed free trade deal with Australia.
FTA with Pakistan likely to boost tea exports
11-Jun-2007
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan said this week that the potential to expand trade between the two countries will be facilitated by the recently inked Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Washington wants rice included in FTA talks with KL
8-Jun-2007
The US Government said Malaysia must open its rice market to reach a free trade agreement, opposing the protectionist stance of the South-East Asian nation.
Japan, Australia to attend to agriculture in FTA talks
8-Jun-2007
Japan and Australia agreed Thursday to pay close attention to Tokyo’s politically sensitive agricultural issues when they advance talks for a bilateral free-trade agreement, the next round of which is slated for late July.
Secret FTA deal could lower meat safety standards
7-Jun-2007
In a secret deal struck just before the two countries signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in early April, the South Korean government promised the US it would offer a "de facto" relinquishment of its authority to conduct hygiene and quarantine tests on US imported beef.
Nelson Seeks Action in Face of Resumed South Korean Beef Ban
7-Jun-2007
This week, South Korea once again instituted a blanket ban on U.S. beef imports after a paperwork error led to U.S. beef intended for domestic consumption to be sent to South Korea. Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson today announced that he would seek a U.S. response to the South Koreans’ action.
Thai-Korean trade talks hung up on rice
5-Jun-2007 Bangkok Post
Thailand and South Korea will continue to work toward a bilateral free-trade agreement, according to Nitya Pibulsonggram, the minister of foreign affairs. Trade talks between the two countries were now focused on cutting tariffs for rice and fruit, two key Thai exports.
CARICOM agriculture requires new finance, says Guyana’s president
4-Jun-2007
If the agricultural sectors of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are to remain viable amidst reformations to longstanding preferential arrangements and other emerging threats, then the injection of new and added finance into the Region’s agriculture is necessary for it to survive and remain viable.
South Korea re-establishes ban on US beef
4-Jun-2007
South Korea has banned US beef shipments to that country after two recent shipments from Tyson and Cargill contained products that were intended for consumption in the United States.
Thai-Korean trade talks hung up on rice
4-Jun-2007
Thailand and South Korea will continue to work toward a bilateral free-trade agreement, according to Nitya Pibulsonggram, the minister of foreign affairs. Trade talks between the two countries were now focused on cutting tariffs for rice and fruit, two key Thai exports.
Trade agreements would boost state’s pork industry
4-Jun-2007
When it comes to U.S. trade policy, in recent years it has seemed more difficult to gain bipartisan agreement among American policy-makers than to negotiate with foreign governments.
India`s ASEAN offer alive to concerns of plantation sector`
3-Jun-2007
India’s latest offer on duty cuts under the proposed FTA with ASEAN addresses long-term concerns of tea, coffee and pepper producers who are embarking on a major replantation drive, government has said.
US-S Korea FTA means $10 more per pig
26-May-2007 Western Farmer-Stockman
The White House has made details of the US-South Korea Free Trade Agreement available to the public, and according to the National Pork Producers Council, US pork producers have a lot to be happy about: an additional $10 per pig as a result.
Trade future isn’t rosy in Ecuador
20-May-2007 Sun Sentinel
Washington might decide this summer not to renew the trade benefits that allow Ecuador to sell roses and other items duty-free to the United States. As many as 250,000 jobs are at risk in Ecuador’s flower industry alone.
Starving the poor
17-May-2007 The News International
The connection between instability in the Middle East and the cost of feeding a family in the Americas isn’t direct, of course. But as with all international trade, power tilts the balance.
Letter from Lebanon: Farmers risk losing big
13-May-2007 Scoop
As Lebanon heads down the fast track to trade liberalisation, some commentators are predicting a devastating impact on small-holder farmers. Unable even to sell produce on the Lebanese market let alone for export, farmers are painfully unprepared to compete with subsidised imports. Yet little is being done to fortify the agricultural industry as the fruits of major bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and liberalising reforms loom on the near horizon.
NPPC applauds deal to vote on trade agreements
11-May-2007
The National Pork Producers Council has applauded the Bush administration’s House Speaker Pelosi and congressional leadership for reaching a bi-partisan deal to move forward free trade agreements that will enable increased exports of US pork.
Japan to draw up farmland reforms to keep up with global FTA trend
11-May-2007 Kyodo
Japan will draw up a package of farmland reform measures by this fall in a bid to enhance the competitiveness of its ailing agricultural sector and keep up with the global trend of sealing free trade agreements, a key government economic panel said Wednesday.