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Growing sense that Caribbean-EC negotiations may be in trouble
29-Apr-2007
A few days ago an influential political friend of the region asked about the current state of the negotiations between the Caribbean and the Europe for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU concessions to African farmers suspect
29-Apr-2007
The recent trade concessions by the European Union to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries mean little in real terms, says an international non-governmental organisation.
South Korea accepts U.S. beef
27-Apr-2007
For the first time in over three years, South Korea accepted a shipment of U.S. beef Friday. South Korea had rejected three previous shipments of U.S. beef since officially re-opening its market in September of 2006.
Free trade agreements come in for criticism
25-Apr-2007
Bahrain yesterday said it was a “shame” to allow agricultural issues to upstage the WTO negotiations, while Iran held that the increasing free trade pacts have undermined inter-regional dialogues and called for a regional economic and security council.
NZ wants FTA talks with Japan
25-Apr-2007 Japan Today
New Zealand farm minister Jim Anderton expressed hope Tuesday that Japan will start talks to conclude a free trade agreement with the country after completing its recently commenced FTA negotiations with Australia.
JPEPA: The Philippine fall into the IPR bilateral trap
25-Apr-2007 SEARICE
The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement poses serious questionable intellectual property provisions which ultimately undermine the rights of Filipino farmers, communities and the public in general.
S.K.-Canada FTA talks set to cover similar ground as those with U.S.
23-Apr-2007
During Korea-Canada free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, set to resume in their 10th round on April 23, Canada is reportedly going to bring to the table proposals on sensitive issues, such as its access to the South Korean beef market. The same issue brought controversy to the FTA between South Korea and the U.S., a deal agreed upon on April 2.
A juicy deal
21-Apr-2007
Sunny prospects for the state’s citrus industry are among many good reasons for Florida’s members of Congress to get behind a proposed free-trade agreement between the United States and South Korea.
S. Korea, Canada to hold FTA talks next week
19-Apr-2007
The South Korean government said Thursday it will hold its 10th round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks with Canada next week in Seoul.
Bilateral free trade agreements critical for Canadian pork industry competitiveness
19-Apr-2007 ThePigSite
Canada Pork International is urging Ottawa to put a high priority on establishing bilateral free trade agreements to ensure Canadian agriculture is able to remain competitive with its international counterparts
India: China seeks market economy status
18-Apr-2007 The Hindu
India and China together represent the "new global economic architecture" Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said on Tuesday. But India and China themselves are often embroiled in fractious trade disputes.
BIO commends USTR for successfully concluding US-Korea free trade agreement
17-Apr-2007 BIO
BIO congratulates US Chief Agricultural Negotiator Richard Crowder and his staff for negotiating a separate understanding on several agricultural biotechnology issues. The FTA will go a long way in providing additional market access opportunities in Korea for US biotechnology companies.
US slow to talk free trade if Japan keeps rice off table
13-Apr-2007 Financial Express
The United States said yesterday it was reluctant to negotiate a free trade deal with Japan unless the Asian nation opened up its agriculture sector. Although Washington agreed to exclude rice from its free trade agreement with South Korea, it would not offer a similar concession to Japan, Assistant US Trade Representative Wendy Cutler told reporters.
Caricom wants ’special provisions’ for sugar, bananas
12-Apr-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
The EU concession announced last week to remove all remaining quota and tariff restrictions on ACP products includes a phase-out period for rice and sugar, but does not mention bananas.
With FTA ink still drying, cow farmers feel change already
11-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
With US beef import tariffs to be relaxed, Korean beef farmers watch prices drop
Sunkist Growers pleased with success of US-Korea FTA negotiations
10-Apr-2007 FreshPlaza
Sunkist has long urged the United States government to undertake an FTA with Korea to reduce its tariffs on US citrus. Mike Wootton, Sunkist senior vice president of corporate relations, was in Seoul, in constant consultations with US negotiators, during the final two-week session as citrus issues were tabled.
Scientist warns of US FTA used to push GE rice
10-Apr-2007 TWN
Dr. Michael K Hansen, from US Centre of Consumer Policy, advises a cautious attitude towards an FTA with the US as the US has a hidden agenda in seeking to protect its farmers who now face more than RM4.6 billion in losses due to the lack of demand for GE rice.
Rural Catholic diocese criticizes Korea-US Free Trade Agreement
9-Apr-2007
Catholics in a rural South Korean diocese have protested their government’s "unpardonable" free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, warning that an influx of US imports would destroy local farming communities.
Lawmaker raises FTA suspicions
9-Apr-2007
A lawmaker of the pro-government Uri Party Monday raised various suspicions over the landmark free trade agreement (FTA) deal struck between South Korea and the United States on April 2.
South-south trade can lift rural farm fortunes
8-Apr-2007
Developments over the past few days have re-confirmed that the developing countries are more eager than developed countries to break the deadlock in multilateral trade. The developing countries have shown ample flexibility, without waiting for a response from the developed world.