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fisheries | fisherfolk


Europe and Japan near trade deal as U.S. takes protectionist path
The partial draft of the deal was obtained by Greenpeace. The environmental groups worry that the deal falls short on a number of issues, including curbing the illegal timber trade and tackling overfishing.
Citra Mina workers
The Philippine government is hoping the EU-Philippines FTA wil facilitate more tuna exports to the EU, but the industry is riddled with issues of low wages, unfair labor practices, poor and slave-like working conditions.
China elbowing US out of Pacific tuna trade
A political battle is brewing in the Pacific over tuna as rising competition from Chinese vessels sours long-standing fishing arrangements between the US and Pacific island nations.
Thai seafood products could be banned, warns MEP
A prominent lawmaker from the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries told EurActiv he would support giving a “red card” to Thailand, meaning banning the import of its fisheries products, if illegal fishing isn’t curbed, and if the practice of using slave labour is not abandoned.
Pacific Ministers call for EU’s commitment to the EPA
The Ministers highlighted that the interim EPA in its current form is not the preferable option for most parties as it has no development benefits
PH wants agri products included in European free trade pact
The Philippines is negotiating for the inclusion of processed tropical fruits and durable fresh products as part of the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association. EFTA, in turn, wants zero tariff market access for fish.
Processing requirements ’off the table’ in CETA spat with Ottawa: Darin King
A dispute between the Newfoundland and Labrador government and Ottawa surrounding the Canadian European Union Comprehensive Trade Agreement (CETA) was reignited Tuesday, with the province saying it will not relinquish authority over minimum fish processing requirements.
Pacific: EU proposes to stop EPA negotiations for 3 years
The European Union have proposed a 3 year pause in negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreement, according to Fiji media.
CETA negotiations suspended over fisheries fund, N.L. says
Newfoundland and Labrador is suspending support for CETA and all trade agreements currently being negotiated with the federal government.
Province to take CETA arguments to EU reps
The provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador is on the hunt for like-minded members of parliament, senators and European Union leaders as it continues to demand $280 million from the federal government.
Faroes ready to take on Norway, Iceland, UK with new FTA with Turkey
The Faroe Islands and Turkey have signed a free trade agreement, culminating 15 years of negotiations. The island nation can now compete “on equal terms” with Norway, Scotland (UK) and Iceland to supply seafood to Turkey.
ECJ finds Swedish fisheries in Western Sahara illegal
The European Court of Justice has in an answer to a question from a Swedish court of appeal informed that private fisheries agreements with Moroccan authorities are not allowed outside of the context of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.
Namibia narrowly avoids missing EU trade deadline
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that have not ratified Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU will shortly lose their free EU market access. Namibia was one of the last to say it would sign up.
Dutch first to fish under unethical EU-Morocco fish deal
For the first time in almost three years, an EU member state fishing vessel has been detected in the waters of occupied Western Sahara.
Indonesia fishermen to suffer more under Asean Economic Community
Indonesian fishermen will suffer more when the ASEAN Economic Community is implemented in 2015, the environmentalist organization Walhi said.
Illegal EU fish agreement with Morocco now ratified by King
The King of Morocco has ratified its dirty fisheries agreement with EU, allowing EU vessels to fish in Western Sahara waters under Moroccan occupation. The European Commission fails in geography regarding the location of the fisheries in communiqué.
Norway ratified free trade agreement with Costa Rica and Panama
Free trade agreement with Costa Rica and Panama has been ratified by the Norwegian Parliament, granting Norwegian fish exporters the same terms and conditions as their competitors in the region, which implies they will operate on equal footing with countries such as Chile.
Fisheries minister promises efforts to minimize loss for fishermen from China FTA
South Korea’s fisheries minister pledged full government efforts to limit losses by local fishermen from a free trade agreement with China and take compensatory measures for businesses inevitably hurt by the pact, reports state news agency Yonhap.
S. Korea, China divided over illegal fishing in FTA talks
Seoul is pressing the issue but China maintains that it will not discuss it.
Philexport urges competition ‘safety nets’ for small fishers
While the Philippine fisheries sector is generally seen as competitive under the proposed free trade agreement with the European Union, exporters said the government should still provide small fishermen with “safety nets” from stiffer competition.