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agriculture | farmers | food

Can biofuels become sustainable?
20-Jul-2007 European Voice
Sustainability and trade barriers in biofuels could be addressed through new economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which are currently being negotiated with countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific bloc. “New EPAs and the EDF will provide a framework for action on trade in biofuels,” a spokesman for the European development commissioner said. “From 2008 onwards this issue will become much more visible.”
Why they migrate
20-Jul-2007 PWW
In 2002 alone, 600 Mexican farmers per day were forced off the land due to NAFTA, by US agribusiness dumping subsidized food exports on Mexico. And in the past five years, more than 1,600 Mexican migrants have lost their lives in their attempts to find jobs in the US.
EPA threatens the Human Right to Food of peasant farmers in Ghana
20-Jul-2007
Import surges of tomato paste and chicken parts already have severe impact on the ability of Ghanaian peasant farmers to feed their families. Cuts in the levels of import tariffs on these products, through an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU, are likely to cause further violations of their Human Right to adequate Food.
SA faces R80m claim for Zimbabwe farm loss
18-Jul-2007
A Free State farmer who had farms in Zimbabwe repossessed is taking SA’s government to court to try to force it to ratify a treaty designed to protect South African investments abroad.
Lotte Mart stops selling American beef
17-Jul-2007 Donga-A Ilbo
Among 53 Lotte Marts nationwide, six of the stores have already suspended sales of American beef due to demonstrations opposing the Korea-US FTA.
Korea removes rice from EU FTA talks
16-Jul-2007 Chosun Ilbo
South Korea has sent a draft proposal on free trade talks to the EU, promising to remove or phase out import tariffs on cars over seven years. Seoul has also decided to exclude rice from its list of markets subject to opening, but it may agree to open up its agricultural market, including beef.
Peruvian trade union protests and strikes continue
14-Jul-2007 Granma
Despite threats of military repression by the government, activists said today they would continue the general strike called by the General Federation of Peruvian Workers, which is demanding a better distribution of wealth. Likewise, the National Agrarian Federation will continue its protest against a free trade agreement with the United States.
India should not reduce farm import duties for FTAs: Jairam Ramesh
11-Jul-2007
India should not allow reductions in import duties on agriculture under its free trade agreements (FTAs), Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday.
Japan keeps rice out of free trade proposals
6-Jul-2007
Japan’s trade supremo Akira Amari has ruled out opening up the country’s rice market in a free trade agreement with Australia, saying Japan’s aim is to secure a deal that covers "90 per cent" of trade between the two countries.
South Korea to spend $140 bln for US trade deal
28-Jun-2007
South Korea will spend more than 130 trillion won ($140.3 billion) through 2013 to compensate for losses to farms and fisheries stemming from a free trade deal with the United States, the government said on Thursday.
FTAs uncorking big changes in Korea’s wine market
28-Jun-2007 Chosun Ilbo
The Korean wine industry expects the Korea-EU free trade agreement will cause a third seismic shift in Korea’s imported wine market.
Meat group pushes for free trade agreement
25-Jun-2007
Meat and Livestock Australia is pushing the Federal Government for a free trade agreement with Korea and Japan to protect our lucrative export market.
SKorean farmers rally against US free trade pact
22-Jun-2007 The Raw Story
8,000 South Korean farmers rallied Wednesday against a free trade agreement with the United States as US officials arrived for re-negotiations.
S Korean farmers denounce FTA with US
20-Jun-2007
Thousands of South Korean farmers rallied Wednesday to denounce a free trade agreement with the United States, as officials from the two sides prepared to discuss amending the hard fought deal ahead of its expected signing later this month.
Falling into a spaghetti bowl: A review of the impact of FTAs on Thailand
18-Jun-2007
This paper is an attempt to bring together and review the few pieces of information on the effect of FTAs in Thailand with a particular emphasis on the agricultural sector.
Open Letter To Meatco
15-Jun-2007
The undersigned organisations would like to express their serious concern with regard to Mr Wallie Roux, internationally renowned economic analyst with Meatco Namibia, who has been suspended and faces a disciplinary hearing (with the possible result of his dismissal) for publishing articles critical of the negotiations with the European Union (EU) over the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA’s).
The TCP and small soy producers of Santa Cruz
15-Jun-2007 Movimiento Boliviano por la Soberanía y la Integración solidaria de los pueblos: Contra el TLC y el ALCA
After one year of the TCP, a preliminary study done by CIPCA Santa Cruz shows that 108 million tonnes of Bolivian soybean have been sold at the preferential price of US$217 per tonne. The going market price is US$160 per tonne. This means that a net benefit of US$57 million has been generated through the programme as an alternative to the conventional market.
SK cattle prices fall in anticipation of US beef imports
14-Jun-2007
The price of Korean cattle fell for the first time in eight years below that of bulls. The drop is largely attributable to concerns that the cattle market will likely be hard-hit by a recently signed free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the United States.
Fear not farmers in Australia, Asia told
13-Jun-2007
Trade Minister Warren Truss has accused China and its neighbours of "unrealistic" fears that 140,000 farmers in Australia could wipe out a billion farmers in Asia if there were free trade in agriculture.
Japanese farmers protests Australia FTA
13-Jun-2007 Radio Australia
More than 1,000 Japanese farmers have held a protest rally in the centre of Tokyo over a proposed free trade agreement with Australia.