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agriculture | farmers | food

LDP considering national ’farming MBA’ program as part of TPP policy
12-Nov-2015 The Mainichi
The government may support "MBA in agriculture" programs across Japan as part of domestic agricultural policies to prepare for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact.
TPP set to worsen food insecurity in Mexico
10-Nov-2015 Tele Sur
The TPP’s free trade agenda, described by some as a NAFTA on steroids, would worsen economic, food security, and agricultural challenges in Mexico.
Obama punishes South Africa over chicken row
10-Nov-2015 Global Meat News
US president Barack Obama has suspended agricultural benefits to South Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) after its repeated refusal to resume imports of US chicken.
Japan, U.S. agree to protect alcoholic drinks linked to special areas by banning knock-offs
9-Nov-2015 The Asahi Shimbun
Japan and the United States have struck a deal to ban alcoholic beverages that are not produced in the geographical area included in its brand name under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact.
New Zealand/EU free trade talks criticised
4-Nov-2015 The Irish Examiner
Irish Farmers Association president Eddie Downey has already warned that farmers across Europe would resist any trade deal with New Zealand that could undermine the EU’s valuable domestic markets for beef, sheep, and dairy products.
TPP fishery impact to be ‘limited,’ for now: farm ministry
2-Nov-2015 The Japan Times
The impact on fishery products from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is likely to be “limited,” although tariffs are set to be axed for most of the 300 or so items listed in the free trade pact.
Food giant Metcash targets China’s middle class in online push
26-Oct-2015 The Australian
Australia’s largest food and liquor wholesaler is looking to Chinese middle-class shoppers to boost its fortunes, setting up space in one of China’s largest online shopping malls as part of a broader push into a huge market that is increasingly infatuated with Australia brands and produce.
No cheaper milk despite NZ FTA
26-Oct-2015 The Rakyat Post
Consumer prices of dairy products imported from New Zealand will most likely remain at the current level although the free trade agreement (FTA) between the southern country and Malaysia will fully kick off in 2016.
Trade deals boosting climate change: the food factor
26-Oct-2015 GRAIN
New trade deals like CETA, TPP and TTIP will likely increase the production, trade and consumption of industrial food, with important implications in terms of climate change.
Geographical indications in TTIP: an impossible task
23-Oct-2015 Cato
The protection of geographical indications (GIs) is slated to be one of the more contentious parts of the TTIP negotiations.
Japan mulls extra budget to bolster agricultural sector in wake of TPP pact
22-Oct-2015 The Asahi Shimbun
The government is preparing a supplementary budget to help farmers compete with cheaper imported crops under the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact, which obligates Japan to lift tariffs on many agricultural products.
Gov’t to mull collecting sales promotion funds from farmers
21-Oct-2015 The Mainichi
The government will look into collecting funds from farmers and other producers to be utilized in promotional activities for their products.
Japan to remove tariffs on 95.1% of imports under TPP pact
21-Oct-2015 Japan Today
The Japanese government said that it will eventually remove tariffs on 95.1% of farm, industrial and other imported products in value terms under the recently sealed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
More TPP pork trade details announced
20-Oct-2015 National Hog Farmer
The following is a U.S. Meat Export Federation summary of the preliminary details related to U.S. pork trade.
Japan to lift duties on all vegetables, most fishery products under TPP
20-Oct-2015 The Japan Times
The government said it will lift tariffs on all vegetables and most fishery products under the recently inked Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
Malaysia in talks on FTA with Bosnia and Herzegovina
19-Oct-2015 The Star
The Malaysian Government is in discussions on establishing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Free trade great for corporations, not farmers
13-Oct-2015 WCF Courier
Big Agbiz are global buyers and sellers who, when able to play both sides of any trade-leveled playing field the world over, rarely lose.
No to FTAs!
8-Oct-2015 Ibon
TPP, like other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), is fashioned by industrial countries and their transnational corporations to further intensify the concentration of resources, wealth, and power into their hands leaving developing countries.
The meat industry is licking its chops over Obama’s massive trade deal
7-Oct-2015 Mother Jones
The US meat industry scored a big victory when world leaders hammered out an agreement that would reduce trade barriers across the Pacific.
India-EU FTA: time for a fundamental rethink?
7-Oct-2015 Madhyam
India and EU would soon resume negotiations on the stalled India-EU free trade agreement.