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India FTAs & agriculture

CPI(M) concerned over ASEAN FTA
7-Sep-2009
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday expressed concern at the free trade agreement with the ASEAN countries and termed as “intriguing” the move by India to break the so-called deadlock in the World Trade Organisation’s talks.
Farmer’s body slams signing of FTA with ASEAN
15-Aug-2009 Rediff
The All India Kisan Sabha has issued a statement criticising the centre for signing a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN nations.
India-ASEAN pact detrimental to farmers, claims Achuthanandan
14-Aug-2009 IANS
Hours after the free trade agreement was signed with the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations in Bangkok, Kerala’s Chief Minister told reporters that it would lead farmers in the state to commit suicide.
Kerala fights clock in ASEAN free-trade deal
11-Aug-2009 Asia Times
"If this FTA goes through, pepper may cease to be produced in Kerala, the land where it originated," says Thomas Verghese, a distinguished agricultural scientist and chairman of the Kerala State Prices Board
Asean FTA gives coffee growers sleepless nights
10-Aug-2009 DNAIndia
Leaders from Kerala have vociferously opposed the Asean free trade agreement that could impact its farmers in future. The same cannot be said about many coffee growers who have little political muscle. Karnataka produces 70% of coffee in India.
India to protect farmers in goods agreement with ASEAN: PM
4-Aug-2009 Xinhua
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ensured that the India-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement would protect the interests of Indian farmers by yielding no tariff concession to ASEAN countries, said a senior Indian government official on Monday.
FTA with ASEAN will affect farm sector: Kisan Sabha
31-Jul-2009 Indopia
Maintaining that the agriculture sector would be hit hard if the country implemented the Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN, All India Kisan Sabha today urged the Opposition Congress in Kerala to oppose the proposed treaty in the interest of state farmers.
FICCI pushes for FTA with US sans agriculture
30-Jun-2009 The Hindu
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry is pushing for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States without agriculture to bypass differences over farm subsidies.
“India and Eu’s combined strategy for the free-trade pact worsen its position at WTO”
24-Jun-2009 Institute of International Trade
The most affected from the EU-India FTA will be India’s dairy farming sector, where regularly five million women and 15 million men work to meet their daily needs.
India seeks ADB funding to help FTA-hit firms
29-Sep-2008 Financial Express
India has asked the Asian Development Bank to contribute to a fund to help compensate industries in the country, such as pepper growers in Kerala, that are adversely hit by the market-opening free trade agreements with several Asian countries.
Korea, India aim to find middle ground on farm goods at Cepa talks
22-Sep-2008 Yonhap
"The aim of the talks will be to ensure the greatest possible protection for sensitive items, so that if a CEPA pact is signed, the fallout for local farmers can be minimized," a Korean ministry official said. He added that talks are entering the home stretch.
India-ASEAN FTA not to hit southern farmers, says Nath
30-Aug-2008 PTI
Allaying fears of the Left-ruled Kerala that an FTA with ASEAN could harm farmers’ interest in the southern states, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today said India cannot get isolated in the growing economies of east Asia. "They don’t even know what the agreement is," Nath said when asked to comment on Kerala’s opposition to the FTA.
Kamal Nath calls for greater Indian access to Japanese agriculture market
5-Aug-2008 PIB
Shri Kamal Nath, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry has expressed hope that the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) could be concluded during the next round of talks which are scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September 2008.
Pawar urges SAARC countries to strengthen SAFTA
5-Mar-2008
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday urged the SAARC countries to strengthen the regional trade and pointed out that the region does not correspond to the so-called natural trading partner hypothesis and "SAFTA’s economic relevance is being questioned".
GM trials in India threaten trade ties
13-Feb-2008 Times of India
India finds itself increasingly on the defensive in agricultural trade for permitting field trials across the country in a host of genetically modified food crops — rice, brinjal, okra, potato, tomato and groundnuts — and thereby exposing conventional crops to the risk of transgenic contamination. A case in point is a rather dodgy no-contamination certificate that the regulator, Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, was forced to give two months ago in response to a restriction imposed by Russia on import of rice, groundnuts and sesame seeds from India.
Seoul, New Delhi to resume trade talks in April
24-Dec-2007 Korea Times
South Korea is holding back on farm products
Sowing a bitter harvest
12-Dec-2007 DNA
One outcome of the Indo-US deal on Agriculture appears to be the deregulation of the GM foods sector.
India mulls FTA with China
6-Dec-2007 Times of India
India is considering a Free Trade Agreement with China but a decision will be based on sensitivities of domestic industry. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh categorically stated that agriculture will not be included in FTAs.
Asean FTA: Time to introspect on domestic oilseed cultivation
28-Nov-2007 Hindu Business Line
In the absence of a clear strategy to put our own house in order, the India-ASEAN FTA negotiations appear to be farcical. Negotiations are conducted between equals and in a level playing field. But here is a situation where everyone knows India is vulnerable.
`Body blow to Kerala farmers`
23-Nov-2007
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remark that India will show the necessary flexibility on talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) is worrying farmers in Kerala.