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agriculture | farmers | food

Ill-timed beef duty looms over Japan’s talks with Trump
18-Mar-2019 Nikkei Asian Review
Japanese imports of beef are nearing the point of triggering an automatic tariff increase, which would affect only the US, a nonmember of the TPP-11.
US wheat and Brazilian fresh beef included in agriculture talks in Washington
18-Mar-2019 MercoPress
Brazil is considering granting an import quota of 750,000 metric tons of US wheat per year without tariffs in exchange for other trade concessions, according to Brazilian officials.
US-EU trade talks unacceptable without agriculture, US House members say
15-Mar-2019 US House of Representatives
A bipartisan group of 114 US House members sent a letter to the US Trade Representative, urging him to “insist on the inclusion of agricultural products" in trade talks with the European Union.
Farmer unions demand scrapping of RCEP pact
15-Mar-2019 Business Standard
About 40 farmer unions demanded the government walk out of the negotiations over the RCEP free trade agreement, saying it would be disastrous for the domestic agriculture sector if the pact comes through.
Korea’s agriculture deficit grows under FTAs
15-Mar-2019 Korea Herald
South Korea has actively promoted its agricultural products in overseas markets over the past few years by holding K-food fairs. Nonetheless, data show that Korea has yet to resolve its chronic trade deficit in farm products.
US trade chief to prioritize farm sector in talks with Japan
14-Mar-2019 Kyodo News
U.S. Trade Representative will prioritize the agriculture sector once the two countries start negotiations.
Why free trade is bad for you (or most of you at any rate)
13-Mar-2019 Common Dreams
Free trade is simply a euphemism for the corporate capture of international trade.
Brazil, US to discuss meat, sugar, ethanol trade -farm minister
13-Mar-2019 Reuters
Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias said that she will discuss US-Brazil trade in meat, sugar and ethanol in talks next week between officials of the two countries.
Sugarcane, livestock farmers worried over impact of IA-CEPA deal
12-Mar-2019 The Jakarta Post
Indonesian sugarcane and cattle farmers are expressing worry over a possible high inflow of sugar and livestock from Australia following the signing of the IA CEPA.
Brazil cane industry group wants tariff-free access to US sugar market
12-Mar-2019 Reuters
Bolsonaro will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington and the two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral trade.
Uprooted episode 60: The regulatory cooperation council
12-Mar-2019 IATP
Sharon Treat exposes another backdoor to deregulation, the Regulatory Cooperation Council, that exists through NAFTA and is being used by corporate livestock lobbyists to undermine food safety and consumers right to know.
Even Israel is getting the Trump treatment on trade
11-Mar-2019 Bloomberg
US trade negotiators are traveling to Israel for advanced talks to upgrade their agricultural trade pact and reduce barriers for American farm exports to the Middle Eastern country.
Indonesian free trade deal a big win for Aussie farmers
11-Mar-2019 Australian Farmers
IA-CEPA will help ensure that Australia, and its horticulture producers, will be able to benefit from the country’s expected economic growth.
India: Peasant movements to scrutinise and expose the dangers of RCEP trade agreement
8-Mar-2019 Via Campesina
Several prominent peasant movements in India are holding a ‘National level consultation on the Impact of RCEP and other tree trade agreements on farmers and farming in India’ on 13th March in New Delhi.
Saving Japan’s seed heritage from “free trade”
7-Mar-2019 Local Futures
Former Japanese minister Yamada joined forces with 150 lawyers that have challenged as unconstitutional both the TPP agreement and the government’s decision to abolish the seed protection law.
US ambassador defends farming record on chicken and beef
7-Mar-2019 BBC
The UK should accept American meat as part of a post-Brexit trade deal, says US ambassador to the UK .
It’s more than a free trade agreement. But what exactly have Australia and Indonesia signed?
6-Mar-2019 The Conversation
Indonesia – Australia CEPA signed without prior released text to assess its costs and benefits.
RCEP talks: Farmers, civil society bodies warn against obligations on patenting seeds, plant varieties
4-Mar-2019 The Hindu Business Line
Farmer and CSOs stressing that India should not agree to obligations with respect to IP on seed and planting materials at the RCEP negotiations as it hurt the livelihood of poor farmers.
Philippine civil society letter on RCEP & plant variety protection
27-Feb-2019
The undersigned signatories are writing to strongly stress that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations must not place any obligation on the Philippines or any other developing country to join or implement UPOV systems
Malaysian civil society & farmer groups’ memorandum on RCEP & plant variety protection
27-Feb-2019
RCEP negotiations must not include obligation to join or implement UPOV systems and in anyway undermine farmers’ rights