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agriculture | farmers | food


European Commission announces composition of TTIP expert group
Last Monday the Commission launched a special Advisory Group of experts representing a broad range of interests, from environmental, health, consumer and workers’ interests to different business sectors to provide EU trade negotiators with high quality advice in the areas being negotiated in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks.
John Kinsman: Why we should oppose the Trans Pacific Partnership
John Kinsman, the author of this op-ed first published in The Capital Times in 2012, passed away on January 20, 2014. He was a leader of the global food sovereignty movement who many of us knew.
Auto industry fights Canada-Korea free-trade deal
A Canada-Korea trade deal looks like a winner for Canadian agribusiness, but the auto industry is making a last-ditch push to head off the agreement.
Free trade for ’high-risk biotech’?
New report from Testbiotech on the potential influence of the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the authorisation of new genetically engineered organisms for use in agriculture and food production.
German farmers fear for Europe’s bacon with US trade deal
When German farmers and activists descended upon Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office building Wednesday morning, they brought along some special guests — 17 pigs. The stunt was the latest European backlash against a proposed free trade deal with the U.S. that could lift restrictions on American meat sold in Europe.
Australia: Questions linger over FTAs
While the federal government and farm leaders are pushing hard for Australian Free Trade Agreements to be finalised speedily with big customers such as Japan, China, Indonesia and India, southern Queensland beef producer Liam O’Dea said there was good reason to be cautious, even sceptical, about just what FTAs actually delivered in farmgate returns.
La Via Campesina appelle à la cohérence des politiques agricoles de l’Union européenne
La Via Campesina rappelle les liens très forts entre l’agriculture familiale et les accords de libre échange : l’un et l’autre sont en parfaite contradiction, alors que les défis sociaux et environnementaux qui sont ceux de notre temps doivent pris au sérieux.
Mexico farmers warn of year of protests
Mexican peasant organizations have warned of a year of protests unless the federal government fulfills its promise to end the disastrous effects generated by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
No free trade until cheese deal, Marois says
Premier Pauline Marois says the Quebec legislature will not endorse the Canada-Europe free-trade agreement until Ottawa explains how it will compensate the province’s cheese producers.
Ag the lynchpin for TPP
"We are in a position to hold up the whole TPP to advance agriculture," says Alan Oxley, Australian APEC Study Centre chairman.
Webinar: The promises and perils of proposed US-EU trade deal for food and agriculture
On the occasion the third round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) invite you to join them for a webinar on the agreement’s potential impacts on agriculture in the US and EU.
Farming boss: TTIP must not rock the boat
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership the EU and the US are trying to establish is being called the "mother of all bilateral trade agreements", but negotiators must jump the potentially damaging hurdles of GMOs and hormone-raised meat and avoid rocking consumer confidence in either market, says Pekka Pesonen.
Japan: A shift in rice production policy
The Japanese government has announced plans to end its policy of limiting rice production and to phase out related subsidies by 2018 in a major shift from the decades-long program aimed at keeping up rice prices but which has been criticized for overprotecting farmers from competition.
Possible FTA with EU raises fears for agriculture
Further opening up the Philippine’s agriculture industry to competition with the European Union through a free trade agreement may put the sector at risk, according to the head of the non-government organization IBON Foundation, Inc.
Korea-China FTA: Latest round of talks includes liberalization of some farm products, noted controversies
The Korean government revealed its intention to open the agricultural sector during the first round of the so-called “second phase negotiations” for a free trade agreement between South Korea and China, showing its will to accelerate the FTA negotiation.
FTA increases export of US produce to S Korea
In March 2012, the South Korea- US KORUS FTA eliminated a 24 per cent tariffs on US cherries. By the end of 2012, 5,897 tonnes of US cherries had been exported to South Korea, almost double the quantity the previous year.
European food industry backs ‘comprehensive free trade’ between EU and Japan
Representatives of European food industry organisations have come out in support of a strong free trade agreement between the EU and Japan, ahead of talks in Tokyo next Tuesday.
FTA needs sweetener
Local farmers need better access to sell sugar to American businesses and consumers for Australia to quickly accept a regional free trade agreement, Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has told his US counterpart.
Honduras accepts Canadian pork, beef, signs FTA
Honduras has granted full market access to Canada’s pork and beef as the two countries move to sign a new free trade pact.
Peru, Israel foster agriculture cooperation, eyeing for FTA
Peru and Israel have signed a declaration aimed at increasing agriculture cooperation and optimization of water resources, striving towards a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Peru’s Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry (Minagri) has reported.