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agriculture | farmers | food


BIO letter to USTR on US-Malaysia FTA
Letter from the US Biotechnology Industry Organisation to the US Trade Representative on intellectual property, GM labelling, biosafety, GM contamination and other issues BIO wants addressed under the US-Malaysia FTA talks.
CAFTA threatens small farmers
Three times a week, Julian Mux walks two hours from his small parcel of land in the Guatemalan highlands to the nearest road, carrying just-harvested miniature zucchini that will end up in U.S. supermarkets.
Small farmers wary of CAFTA
Whether the nation is ready or not, the 800-page DR-CAFTA treaty, replete with new rules and regulations, is set to become reality for the country.
US draws distinct lines on what Congress will reject in Korea FTA
A senior US senator drew clear lines Wednesday on what the Congress will not accept in a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, including imports from an industrial complex inside North Korea.
Song of the sirens: Why the US-Andean FTAs undermine sustainable development and regional integration
US free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia, as well as the possible agreement with Ecuador, were negotiated under the promise of great opportunities in the world’s richest market, but the truth is that these agreements will have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of small farmers, public health, and the regulation of investment to protect the public interest.
Peru’s Alan Garcia to revise free trade deal with the US
In a news conference in Lima last week, Garcia suggested one change he might seek would be to add language to discourage Peru’s importing of subsidized US crops.
Korea pledges to protect farmers in FTA talks
South Korea aims to protect sensitive agricultural products even if a free trade agreement (FTA) is signed with the United States, a government negotiator said Tuesday.
Uruguay: ’We are not going to sign the FTA with the US’
“We are not going to sign the TLC [Free Trade Agreement] with the United States”, said Hugo Rodriguez, secretary of the Chamber of Senators and director of the Uruguayan Socialist Party. “But we are in a difficult situation.”
Mercosur-EU Relations - Historical background and perspectives
Despite the promised benefits for both sides, and in particular for Mercosur, there are few chances for significant changes to occur in the EU’s protectionism in its agricultural sector which would favour Mercosur. Considering this, Mercosur countries should be more concerned that the signature of an agreement based on limited market access concessions for few products is not an important step forward.
Govt working to check Lankan pepper imports
Sri Lanka’s pepper exports to the country are a threat to the Indian growers and the Union Government would work out a solution through political and other means, according to Mr Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce.
FTA hurting Thai farmers
A recent study led by Thammasat University academic Rangsan Thanapornpan claims that the Australia-Thailand free trade agreement has benefited only a small group of industrialists, while people in the agricultural sector have been adversely affected.
Peruvians striking against FTA
Peruvian grassroots organizations are beginning Thursday a strike against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US to avoid its ratification by Congress.
Korea, US at odds on two-thirds of free-trade agenda
Seoul and Washington have failed to narrow their differences on some 60 percent of items on the agenda at their first round of free-trade talks in Washington. The talks started Monday.
S. Korea, US far divided over rice, quarantine issues in FTA talks
South Korea and the United States ended the third day of their first round of talks over a free trade accord Wednesday, with both remaining far apart over rice and quarantine issues, Seoul’s chief negotiator said.
Statements from a press conference challenging the US-Korea free trade agreement
"Ever since President Roh Moo Hyun revealed his intent to pursue a FTA with the United States, every aspect of Korean society from labor, agriculture, entertainment, civic groups, and health sectors have voiced their opposition to the proposed deal."
Peru protests could mar FTA debates
Peruvian Congress Agrarian and Foreign Trade Commissions have started to discuss the US-devised free trade agreement.
Economic Partnership Agreement would collapse Ghana’s feeble economy
Nana Akomea, Chairman of Ghana’s Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, called for regional integration between ECOWAS countries as the way forward to economic development. An Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and ECOWAS, as provided for in the Cotonou Agreement, would only cripple Ghana’s feeble agricultural sector and other local industries.
US wants separate FTA talks on farm products
A US demand for separate negotiations on the agricultural sector under a planned free trade agreement with Korea shows how contentious the issue is, the Korean government said Friday.
Bilateral free trade and investment agreements and the US corporate biotech agenda
Bilateral free trade agreements are seen by the agricultural biotechnology industry as an important conduit for spreading genetically modified organisms (GMOs) around the world.
Bush sends 6, 000 soldiers to the Mexican border. Where will Europe send its soldiers when the EPAs are signed?
You may be asking yourself: " what is an EPA? " Well, you are not alone. In fact I have just met with a European Member of Parliament who is no more au courant than you. And that’s worrying!