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agriculture | farmers | food


Explain benefits of FTA first, govt urged
Kedah farmers have asked the government to explain the benefits that they could gain from the USA-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before it proceeds with discussions scheduled to be held on June 12 in Penang.
Rice remains biggest hurdle to trade pact in Korea talks
Thailand has reaffirmed that it did not sign the Asean-South Korean free trade agreement on goods because of rice. South Korea insisted on excluding rice under its sensitive list, but Thailand, the world’s largest rice exporter, demanded that it open up its local market.
Arab agricultural engineers review effects of free trade zone
The Arab Agricultural Engineers Union on Monday convened its 16th technical conference to discuss "Agricultural Integration under the Establishment of Greater Arab Free Trade Zone." The zone, which came into effect in late 2005, includes 18 member states and represents 94 per cent of all Arab trade.
Korean groups vow ’no violence’ in US capital
Korean activists will go ahead with their planned rallies in Washington to protest negotiations for a free trade agreement, ignoring the government’s appeal for restraint.
US FTA tricks Colombia farmers
When a Colombian top-level delegation travelled to Washington last week to supposedly resolve the contradictions between the Spanish and English versions of the FTA, they instead agreed to import aged US hens to Colombia. US poultry farmers regard those hens as waste, since they are sterile.
S Korean farm sector to suffer huge damage from US FTA: report
A free trade pact with the United States would deal a hard blow to South Korea’s agricultural sector and cause estimated losses of up to 8.8 trillion won (US$9.39 billion), a Korea University report showed Wednesday.
Protester killed during Colombia protests
Farmers and members of indigenous tribes clashed on Tuesday with police during protests against a free-trade agreement with the US and the re-election of President Alvaro Uribe, and protest leaders said an Indian farmer was killed.
Asean signs FTA with South Korea after Thailand opts out
South Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday but founding member Thailand was left out due to internal disagreements and objections to Seoul’s barriers on farm products.
Korea completes draft for FTA with US
Reducing or scrapping the 40 percent tariff on beef imports will be on the agenda at FTA negotiations with the US scheduled to start on June 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Monday, under first drafts Korea and the US have completed.
Integrate Indian farm sector globally? It would have disastrous consequences
Presently, the ever growing number of FTAs without adequate protection for the agricultural sector is a matter of serious concern. This would jeopardise the food security of our country.
Imports of rice at issue in US trade negotiations with Korea
Rice, the staple food for much of Asia, will doubtless be a tough issue in negotiations on a US-South Korea free-trade agreement (FTA) and could be an issue in US-Malaysia FTA talks, US experts say.
Free trade pact not to hurt farmers
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Congress president Sonia Gandhi that the proposed Indo-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) would not affect Indian farmers.
Free-trade agreement: Thailand rejects deal with South Korea
Thailand is the only Asean member not planning to sign the free-trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea and will thus lose export competitiveness, due to higher import tariffs.
Sonia’s ire on Indo-ASEAN free trade moves
The Indian Government’s move to go in for more Free Trade Agreements with Asian countries has run into difficulties with Congress President Sonia Gandhi asking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to "very carefully scrutinise" India-ASEAN FTA to safeguard interests of domestic farmers.
Vaile pushes for broad Chinese FTA
Federal Trade Minister Mark Vaile says wheat and beef must be included in any Australian free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
South Korea, Asean to cut ag tarrifs for FTA
Under the deal, South Korea designated 200 agricultural products that will be exempt from tariff reductions due to their effect on local farmers
EPAs are a slap in the faces of poor countries, CSOs warn
The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), currently negotiated being between African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACPs) and the European Union are set to further reduce incomes of farmers and agric-related employees by 50-60%, anti-EPAs campaigners have said.
Seoul to exclude products from trade deal
South Korea’s chief negotiator to free trade talks with the United States said Thursday that Seoul will try to exclude "super-sensitive products" from the deal, an apparent appeasement to farmers vehemently opposed to the pact.
US ag groups mount support for Peru TPA
The Agricultural Coalition for US-Peru Trade, comprised of 58 agricultural organizations, sent a letter last week to every member of US Congress urging support of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The letter states that "PTPA sets a new and higher standard for future free trade agreements."
Korea pledges to protect rice market in FTA talks
The Ministry of Finance and Economy said that it would exert all-out efforts to shelter the Korean rice market from an influx of US agricultural imports after the enforcement of the proposed Korea-US Free Trade Agreement.