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agriculture | farmers | food


Tobacco, rice excluded in FTA negotiations with US
Tobacco and rice are listed in Malaysia’s exclusion list in its negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
S Korea won’t include rice in FTA with US: minister
South Korea’s agriculture minister confirmed Friday that his government will not open its rice market under a proposed free trade agreement with the United States.
Open letter from Peruvian agricultural producers
To the People of the United States of America, to the Members of the US Congress: We are sending this letter on behalf of the nine million farmers and rural workers of the coast, highlands, and tropical forests of Peru, who are concerned about the final results of the Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) completed in December 2005 between the trade representatives of Peru and the United States.
Panama: US business supports FTA
The US-Panama free trade agreement, signed just before Christmas, is set to be debated by U.S. lawmakers before July. But US business organizations widely support the agreement.
Free trade: Losing the right to grow food
This second of two installments on Korea focuses on the perceived impact to Korea’s agricultural sector posed by a looming free trade agreement with the United States. Mark Winne explores food sovereignty and the culture of food in Korea and the priveleged role that rice has in the society. Should cost and price be the sole determinants of trade policy or should other variables such as the culture of food be considered in trade policy formulation?
Midterm Review of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs): Independent contribution of the regional networks of farmers’ organizations
The networks of farmers’ organizations of five ACP sub-regions (Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa and the Caribbean) have carried out their own mid-term assessment of the state of progress in the negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in order to contribute to the formal review foreseen in article 37,4 of the Cotonou Agreement.
“Is it possible to negotiate development agreements between the EU and the ACP regions ?”
The ACP farmer networks present their contributions to the Comprehensive Review of EPA Preparations and Negotiation for All ACP Regions
Benguet’s vegetable farmers wary of free trade
The Philippine government’s move to liberalize imports, including vegetables, is expected to meet fierce resistance from farmers in the province, who all fear that the policy will spell doom for the local vegetable industry.
Edible oils made India-ASEAN FTA out of reach in 2006
In a country where oil diplomacy usually relates to petroleum resources, the year 2006 must have come as a lesson for top trade and foreign policy makers.
Free trade’s kimchee food fight
South Korea’s countryside is steeped in peasant traditions that could be swallowed by US trade pact
Industry lobbies for changes to environmental, trade policies
Examines the food industry’s strategy in lobbying EU legislators during 2007 on environmental policies and international trade issues.
Dairy groups pleased with US-Panama FTA negotiations
The National Milk Producers Federation and the US Dairy Export Council expressed support for the recently negotiated Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Panama. The FTA will help the US build on its export presence in Panama, once the agreement is approved by Congress.
Korea claims US cancels FTA talks over beef dispute
The United States canceled scheduled free trade talks today and tomorrow after Seoul refused to discuss the ongoing beef dispute during the talks, Korean officials told Agence France Presse.
US senators: Will oppose S. Korea trade pact without beef trade
Seven US senators pledged Wednesday that they will work to block a free trade agreement being negotiated between the US and South Korea if South Korea refuses to pull back restriction on US beef exports.
Washington wishes to hold high-level FTA agriculture talks
Washington hopes to hold high-level talks — above the ministerial level — on freeing up the agricultural markets in Korea and the US before holding the sixth round of free trade agreement negotiations.
Farmers plead with govt over Japan FTA
Australian farmers have pleaded with the federal government not to forget them when it meets with Japan for negotiations on a free trade agreement next year.
Aust, Japan free trade agreement likely worth billions
Despite growing concern in Japan over the impact a free trade agreement could have on local farmers, Prime Minister John Howard and his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe have agreed to begin formal negotiations in the new year. Mr Howard says agriculture will be included.
Farmers demand EU deal
Flower exporters have asked the Kenyan government to ensure that it signs an agreement with the European Union (EU) before the General Elections next year.
US bilateral free trade agreements in Asia
In an effort to create more informed actions among groups working on food sovereignty and fairer trade rules in the region, the Asia Pacific Network for Food Sovereignty launched a research on US FTAs that looked at the common features of existing US FTAs and those that are being negotiated in the region like the US-Thailand FTA and analyzed their implications on developing countries’ agriculture particularly on small-scale farmers’ livelihoods; food security; farmers’ access to and control of their land, seed and productive resources; and rural development.