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agriculture | farmers | food

ECVC demands from Place du Luxembourg, Brussels: End free trade agreements and ensure fair prices for farmers
2-Feb-2024 European Coordination Via Campesina
Hundreds of farmers from European Coordination Via Campesina have assembled with their tractors in Place du Luxembourg, Brussels, alongside more than 30 civil society organisations to call for an end to the EU-Mercosur deal and other free trade agreements.
The time is right to finally drop the EU-Mercosur deal
2-Feb-2024 Friends of the Earth Europe
Friends of the Earth Europe, Eurogroup for Animals and the European Trade Justice Coalition (ETJC) share European farmers’ frustration over having to compete with imported products exempt from the EU environmental, labour and animal welfare standards.
France says EU Commission to end trade deal talks with Mercosur countries
30-Jan-2024 Reuters
French President has told the European Commission that it was impossible to conclude trade deal negotiations with South America’s Mercosur bloc and understands the EU has put an end to the talks, his office said.
EU foreign policy chief warns agricultural crisis may block Mercosur trade deal
29-Jan-2024 Buenos Aires Times
The crisis affecting the agricultural sector in many countries of the European Union could be an “obstacle” to the approval of the free trade agreement with Mercosur, as suggested by the EU head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
Rejection of free trade agreements and the demand for a decent income at the heart of farmers’ mobilizations in Europe
26-Jan-2024 La Via Campesina
We demand an immediate end to negotiations on the FTA with MERCOSUR countries and a moratorium on all other FTAs currently being negotiated.
UK walks away from trade talks with Canada
26-Jan-2024 CBC
Sticking points include how much access UK producers should have to the Canadian cheese market and harmonisation of food standards.
FTA between China, New Zealand now in full implementation: Chinese Embassy
12-Jan-2024 Ecns
All dairy products exported from New Zealand to China are now able to enter China duty-free and quota-free.
Canada and US governments shut down ability of Canadian NGOs to comment in trade dispute over Mexico’s GM corn ban
10-Jan-2024 CBAN
A trade dispute panel has rescinded an invitation to Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to submit official comments in the dispute under the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (CUSMA) over Mexico’s phase-out of genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) corn.
Daya Laxmi: “Free Trade Agreements affect and victimize peasant groups”
19-Dec-2023 Capire
Women from all around the world organize the struggle against capitalism and neoliberalism. In the South Asia region, these forces—in the form of free trade agreements (FTA)—play a huge role in the impoverishment of peasants and women in rural and urban areas.
Mexico must stand up to agribusiness oligopolies on GM corn ban
13-Dec-2023 Inequality.org
US and Canadian civil society groups are denouncing their own governments’ efforts, driven by the agribusiness industry, to repeal Mexico’s proposed ban on genetically modified corn.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework chats expected to continue in 2024
13-Dec-2023 Brownfield
The chief ag negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative says discussions on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework are expected to resume in the New Year.
The US push for GMO corn is out to lunch
4-Dec-2023 Common Dreams
So-called “Free trade” promises lower prices and more supply, but it derails food security. Mexico has been fighting this since the United States began a dispute over genetically modified corn.
"Free trade agreements are an engine of poverty and inequality." Interview with José María Oviedo
28-Nov-2023 bilaterals.org
In a context where free trade policies have had a significant impact on peasant and farming communities around the world, La Via Campesina has declared that it is time to take strong action.
EU-New Zealand trade pact gets Brussels’ final green light
28-Nov-2023 Euractiv
Brussels gave the final green light for an EU-New Zealand trade deal that, while mutually lowering barriers for both markets, highlights the recent failure of EU-Australia negotiations.
Malaysia, Indonesia seek allies in EU deforestation row
28-Nov-2023 DW
Malaysia and Indonesia want to bring other Southeast Asian countries on their side amid ongoing disputes with the European Union over environmental and deforestation regulations that are set to take effect in late 2024, with the two nations worried about the regulations’ impact on the region’s agriculture exports.
Most red meat exports go into free trade agreement countries
27-Nov-2023 Beef Central
Almost all Australia’s red meat exports are being realised into countries the nation had free trade agreements with, producers were told.
Trudeau government claims victory in latest trade dispute with US over dairy
27-Nov-2023 CBC
Americans argued Canada’s allocation of tariff-free dairy import permits is unfair.
Kenya’s hurdles in trade negotiations with United States
21-Nov-2023 The Standard
American President Joe Biden recently pledged to make Nairobi the investment magnet in Africa. For this to happen, Kenya and the United States must make considerable progress towards a bilateral trade deal under the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) framework.
Farmer and peasant organisations from Europe and South America unite against the “modernisation” of the EU-Chile Free Trade Agreement
20-Nov-2023 European Coordination Via Campesina
The following analysis outlines some of the main reasons why the signatory organisations reject both the modernisation of the EU-Chile agreement and the European Commission’s attempt to propose an interim agreement in order to accelerate the conclusion of this FTA.
Free trade and debt: the two sides of neocolonialism
16-Nov-2023 bilaterals.org
Highlights from the workshop organised in Marrakesh by Attac Maroc, bilaterals.org, CADTM Africa, GRAIN and the Tunisian Observatory of Economy.