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BIO president Jim Greenwood welcomes US FTA negotiations with Malaysia
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded the Bush Administration’s announcement to begin free trade negotiations with Malaysia. "Malaysia is an important market with a strong interest in developing its biotechnology industry," stated Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. "We look forward to working with US Trade Representative Rob Portman on this important initiative as Malaysia looks to enhance the development of its biotechnology sector.
Colombia playing down FTA rejection
By presenting the Safe Agricultural Earnings bill, the Colombian government hopes to play down the major popular rejection against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) it recently wrapped up with the US.
State growers want to dismantle import barriers - Korea trade talks starting
Washington farmers hope a possible free trade agreement will pry open South Korea’s trade barriers against such produce as apples, pears and potatoes.
Vaile to feel heat over wheat deals
TRADE Minister Mark Vaile is expected to face questions about the Cole inquiry and the future of AWB "single desk" for wheat exports from members of Congress and Government officials during a visit to Washington.
Ottawa urged to make bilateral and regional free trade agreements a priority
A coalition of Canadian agricultural commodity groups and companies is encouraging the federal government to put a higher priority on the establishment of bilateral and regional free trade agreements.
EU widens door for Jordanian farm exports
The Kingdom and the European Union (EU) launched an agricultural trade agreement on Tuesday to increase the Kingdom’s agricultural exports to European markets.
Free trade’s rivals here and there
Don’t be fooled by the images of street protests against free trade that you often see on TV. In the real world, the most powerful opposition to US-Latin American free-trade agreements does not come from radical leftist workers and students, but from potentially damaged business tycoons.
Nukes and mangoes on Bush’s mind in India
Although US President George W Bush’s India visit that officially started on Thursday is hardly expected to grab headlines in terms of business and economic deals between the two countries, both are looking forward to several new initiatives to boost bilateral commercial ties expected to be announced in the next few days.
UNCTAD talks on trade remain inconclusive
The UNCTAD negotiations held in Kochi to assess the impact of trade as per the WTO regime as well as the ASEAN FTA on the local agricultural and industrial sectors, elicited inadequate response from the stakeholders.
S. Korea to exclude rice, beef pacts from FTA talks with US
South Korea’s agriculture minister said Thursday that the country will not include deals on the liberalization of rice and beef imports in the agenda of upcoming free trade talks with the United States.
US, Colombia close to free trade deal: Portman
The United States and Colombia are close to a free trade agreement after nearly two years of talks and a push last week by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a top U.S. trade official said on Wednesday.
US like iron over FTA with Colombia
The US inflexibility over Colombia’s most sensitive issues characterizes Tuesday the resumption of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, which could be the last round between the two nations.
S Korean farmers, movie makers rally over US trade talks
Some 2,000 South Korean farmers, movie-makers and anti-US activists staged a candlelight protest Friday against free trade negotiations with the United States.
Exclusion of rice from trade deal ‘possible’
With the government’s recent efforts to sign a free trade agreement with the United States drawing intense opposition from farmers here, a top Korean government official said the trade negotiators would try to exempt rice from the economic pact.
Ecuador-US FTA hinges on farming
Ecuadorian Foreign Affaire Minister Jorge Illingworth asserted that a Free Trade Agreement with the US would basically depend on a favorable agriculture deal.
S. Korea to reflect farmers’ concerns in US free trade talks
"Farmers and ranchers will be invited to take part in negotiations from the outset," a Korean agricultural ministry official said.
S. Korean rice industry to be hit hard by FTA with US: Report
South Korea’s rice industry could suffer a significant drop in earnings and production if the country signs a free trade pact with the United States, even if rice is excluded from the deal, a report said Wednesday.
US sorghum sold to Morocco for the first time in six years
US sorghum has been sold to Morocco for the first time in six years, a testament that the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is working.
Korea wants rice out of FTA
Improving the quality of locally grown agricultural products will be a key government goal this year as more imports are expected to be sold on the South Korean market, the country’s agriculture minister said Monday.
Australia joins queue for trade deal
Canberra hopes to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Seoul, Peter Rowe, Australia’s new ambassador to South Korea, said on Thursday. He also underlined that the bilateral trade deal would not hurt South Korea’s agriculture industry.