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agriculture | farmers | food

US Fruit exports to South Korea surged 140% since FTA effectutation
4-Apr-2018 KBS World Radio
A new report finds that US fruit exports to South Korea surged 140 percent since the 2012 effectuation of the two nations’ bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
Feeding obesity in Trump’s new NAFTA
3-Apr-2018 Bangor Daily News
This anti-labeling policy is unnecessary and inappropriate in a trade agreement, and it’s downright dangerous for our nation’s health.
Progress made on biotech during seventh NAFTA round
3-Apr-2018 Iowa Farmer Today
Negotiators closed the chapter on good regulatory practices, the sixth chapter to be completed. They have also finished on the sanitary-phytosanitary measures chapter. All three countries also agreed to establish a formal energy chapter.
Moon says revised KORUS FTA will benefit both countries
2-Apr-2018 Yonhap News Agency
South Korean President Moon Jae-in welcomed the recently concluded negotiations between his country and the United States to revise their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) Monday, saying it will benefit both countries.
Japan may be forced into bilateral trade deal with US: ex-IMF exec
2-Apr-2018 Japan Today
Japan will have little choice but to enter into a bilateral trade deal with the United States similar to one President Donald Trump clinched with South Korea, a former top Japanese currency diplomat said.
Canada rejects US food packaging proposals in NAFTA talks
29-Mar-2018 Tele Trader
Canada’s chief representative stated that the proposals regarding food packaging brought up by the United States are not acceptable to his country, which wants to retain the ability to put warning labels on junk food to combat obesity.
Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA) increased caloric intake in Canada
27-Mar-2018 Eurekalert
New study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates these changes corresponded with increased US exports and investment in the Canadian food and beverage sector.
Across China: Chinese agricultural firms expand along Belt and Road
24-Mar-2018 Xinhua
As the Belt and Road Initiative pushes ahead, China is encouraging its agricultural firms to expand overseas and promote agricultural trade with countries and regions along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.
Europeans say significant obstacles remain to Mercosur trade deal
21-Mar-2018 Reuters
An EU diplomat said Mercosur resistance to European proposals on automobile exports and geographic product indicators were also sticking points.
In Nafta talks, US tries to limit junk food warning labels
21-Mar-2018 The New York Times
The contentious negotiations over the fate of the North American Free Trade Agreement have veered into one of the world’s most pressing health issues: fighting obesity.
Geographical indications: EU digs in on FTA until label issue resolved
19-Mar-2018 Weekly Times
There will be no Australia-­European Union free-trade deal unless Europe wins exclusive use of key food and wine names, a top European official has warned.
Narendra Modi may decide on course of RCEP trade talks
14-Mar-2018 Narendra Modi may decide on course of RCEP trade talks
The development comes after a meeting convened by the prime minister’s office saw growing opposition to RCEP FTA from the secretaries of various government departments
UK defies EU over Indonesian palm oil trade, leaked papers show
12-Mar-2018 The Guardian
UK is pushing for a deal that would boost imports linked to deforestation despite EU moves to ban unsustainable palm oil, diplomatic papers reveal.
Palm oil issue must be resolved ahead of Asean-EU FTA, says Mah
7-Mar-2018 The Edge Markets
Palm oil would be at the top of Malaysia’s agenda on its free trade talks under the Asean with the European Union (EU).
USDA trade undersecretary bullish on Central America
5-Mar-2018 Feedstuffs
Trade mission to Guatemala yields fruitful meetings with conservative estimates of $30 million in new sales.
No free trade agreement if EU bans palm oil: Mah
5-Mar-2018 The Straits Times
Malaysia’s free trade agreement talks with the European Union (EU) must address trade barriers that discriminate palm oil because this is a priority, a Cabinet minister said.
USDA is pursuing trade agreements of all sizes as NAFTA negotiations continue
28-Feb-2018 Food Navigator
While NAFTA’s status remains in limbo, the US Department of Agriculture is “leaving no stone unturned” in its efforts to strike trade agreements with countries outside of North America that will benefit US farmers, ranchers and manufacturers of finished goods
Cargill executive stresses importance of NAFTA, TPP to US agriculture
27-Feb-2018 World Grain
The world is fed on trade and the United States must secure its place at the table with fair and sound trade policies, most notably NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), said a Cargill executive.
"Trade agreements do not build us" an interview with Justus Lavi
26-Feb-2018 GRAIN
Under EPAs, small-scale farmers are disadvantaged.
The battle over TiSA: when everything is a service, a Trade in Services Agreement affects everyone
26-Feb-2018 IUF
A new report reveals the scope of the corporate power grab through a close examination of TiSA’s potential impact on workers across the IUF sectors and TiSA’s broader implications for the labour movement, society and democratic governance.