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JA at crossroads / TPP, agriculture can coexist / But reform of huge farming federation is unavoidable
18-Jan-2011 Yomiuri Shimbun
The success or failure of advancing Japan’s trade liberalization while strengthening the agricultural sector will largely hinge on the prospects for reforming agricultural cooperatives, known as JA.
South Korean farmers protest against free trade agreement with US
9-Dec-2010 NTDTV
South Korean farmers staged a protest on Wednesday, urging their government to abolish the US- South Korea free trade agreement.
Stalled trade pact with Europe leaves exporters exposed
3-Dec-2010
Kenya’s fish and horticultural exporters face another year of uncertain trade relations with Europe, putting billions of shillings at stake.
NFU puts trade, supply management on agenda
3-Dec-2010
Terry Boehm is having a busy week. The president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) just returned on Tuesday from a trip overseas, landing at the forefront of the NFU’s 41st annual convention, which starts today in Saskatoon. About 250 people from across the country are expected to attend the yearly event, which covers a range of issues from free trade to green initiatives.
S. Korea not to discuss beef but to focus on auto trade; Minister Kim
29-Nov-2010
South Korea will focus on autos and is not ready to discuss beef during the upcoming talks with the United States for the ratification of a pending free trade deal, the chief South Korean trade negotiator said Monday.
Farm reform panel eyed for FTAs
28-Nov-2010 Japan Times
The Japanese government said Friday it will set up a task force to discuss agricultural reforms as it seeks out more free-trade agreements with other economies.
Farm groups renew call for S. Korea trade pact
25-Nov-2010 Capital Press
The Korea FTA would lift live US hog prices by $10 per animal and generate an additional $687 million in US pork exports, the National Pork Producers Council argues.
US pork feeling impact of Mexican trucking dispute
23-Nov-2010 American Agriculturalist
The National Pork Producers Council reports US pork exports to Mexico have fallen 20% as a result of the failure of the US to comply with a provision of NAFTA that allows Mexican trucks to haul goods into America.
Spanish farmers object EU tomato deal in Western Sahara
22-Nov-2010 WSRW
The EU could be signing an Agricultural Agreement with Morocco that also covers the territory of Western Sahara. The Spanish farmers demand that the agreement be stopped.
TPP could expedite farm reforms
16-Nov-2010 Japan Times
Japan’s agriculture industry is in the spotlight as a result of the government’s interest in a US-backed trans-Pacific free-trade agreement that could scrap high tariffs on heavily protected products such as rice.
EU-Morocco agriculture agreement (2009)
16-Nov-2010 PE
Japan’s farmers oppose Pacific free-trade talks
12-Nov-2010 NYT
Atsushi Kono considers it the gravest threat to his family’s farm in a century of rice-growing: a free-trade initiative that could dismantle Japan’s sky-high protective farming tariffs, finally opening up the country to cheap, foreign produce.
Japan farmers protest free trade as APEC meets
10-Nov-2010 Reuters
Thousands of Japanese farmers rallied on Wednesday to demand their government steer clear of a US-led free trade initiative which would open the heavily protected agricultural sector to fierce competition.
Thousands in Japan protest new free trade agreement
10-Nov-2010 CNN
An estimated 3,000 Japanese farmers converged in Tokyo on Wednesday to protest against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which would destroy Japanese agriculture and community
Farmers fear economic fallout from Pacific FTA
10-Nov-2010 Kyodo
Japanese farmers voiced concerns Tuesday about the day’s decision by the Cabinet to begin consultations with the United States and other countries to forge a trans-Pacific free-trade agreement, saying further liberalization of trade would deal them a heavy blow.
Arrêt des négociations sur un accord de libre-échange agricole - maintenant et définitivement
9-Nov-2010 ASSAF
Le Parlement fédéral aura la possibilité de prendre une décision de planification, soumise au référendum, sur l’arrêt des négociations entre la Suisse et l’UE
Tokyo warned of risks from Pacific trade pact
2-Nov-2010 Financial Times
Takashi Shinohara, senior vice minister for agriculture, strongly denies Japanese media reports that Tokyo has already decided to launch talks with the US and others on entry to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Farm leader opposed to Japan participating in trans-pacific FTA
29-Oct-2010 Mainichi
Mamoru Moteki, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives, told a press conference that government subsidies to farming families alone cannot prompt farmers to accept Japan’s participation in the FTA.
Wisconsin cheese makers concerned with trade deal
17-Oct-2010 WPR
Wisconsin cheese makers are reacting to a free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea which may require them to re-name their cheeses.
NFU warns new trade agreement with EU could crush Canadian farmers
15-Oct-2010 NFU
National Farmers Union President, Terry Boehm, warns this agreement will further intensify Canada’s farm income crisis. "The CETA would mean many changes, but none more negative than its effect to extinguish farmers’ rights to save and re-use seeds," states Boehm.