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agriculture | farmers | food

S. Korea issues free trade deal warning
26-Mar-2007
South Korea warned Monday that negotiations to reach a free trade agreement with the United States under a deadline just days away could fail if Washington pushes to include rice in the deal.
Thousands denounce South Korea-US free trade plans as negotiations intensify
25-Mar-2007 AP
Thousands of South Koreans took to the streets Sunday to denounce a proposed free trade agreement between their country and the United States just days ahead of a deadline for negotiators to strike a deal.
Roh says opening of beef market inevitable
23-Mar-2007
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Tuesday that South Korea will have no choice but to open its beef market to U.S. products and hasten preparations for a free trade agreement (FTA) deal with China.
Korea-Chile FTA marks third anniversary
23-Mar-2007 Chosun Ilbo
Korea’s first free trade agreement with Chile, right on the other side of the globe, went into effect on April 1, 2004, bringing significant changes. We enjoy good, cheap Chilean wine and samgyeopsal (fresh bacon), while in Chile, Korean-made mobile phones are a big hit. But our trade deficit increased due to greater raw material imports and over 13,000 Korean farmers sustained harm. So what have been the most significant effects?
S. Korea will not automatically accept OIE ruling on US beef: minister
22-Mar-2007
South Korea is not obliged to automatically accept a planned ruling by a world animal health body that may make it easier for the United States to export beef, a senior policymaker said Wednesday.
US trade rep pushes for removal of beef ban, auto tariff
22-Mar-2007
Pressure is mounting on South Korea to open several of its markets to the US as free trade negotiations between the two nations are nearing an end.
EU: APEB wants boycott of banana imports in FTA talks with Latin America
22-Mar-2007 FreshPlaza
The association of European banana producers APEB has announced that it will request the EU to leave any discussion of the banana import tariff out of the negotiations on economic collaboration or free trade agreements with the Andean countries in South America and with the countries in Central America.
US auto industry, agriculture lobby face off over Korea FTA
20-Mar-2007 The Hill
More than a dozen farm groups are lobbying the US administration in Korea this week to ensure it only concludes a deal that significantly increases US agriculture exports. But agriculture’s interests are somewhat complicated by those of the auto industry, which has warned it could oppose the deal unless it ensures that US exports to Korea will increase. Still, some sources say that support from agriculture could trump opposition from the auto industry if a deal is reached.
S. Korea, US remain divided in FTA agriculture talks
19-Mar-2007
Agriculture free trade talks between South Korea and the United States remained in a stalemate on Monday as neither side made any concessions on critical issues, South Korean negotiators said.
Key sticking points in talks for South Korea-US free trade deal
19-Mar-2007 Yonhap
Chief trade negotiators from South Korea and the United States are set to meet in Washington on March 19-21 to settle their differences over sensitive issues as they are eager to conclude a free trade deal by the end of this month.
Goff pushes Mexican trade deal
18-Mar-2007
Trade Minister Phil Goff leaves for Mexico this morning to push for a trade deal that could boost exports to New Zealand’s fourth largest market dairy market.
Agriculture sticking point in Japan, Australia free trade deal
17-Mar-2007 AHN
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has come under increasing pressure from Japan’s farming sector not to sign a free trade deal involving agriculture with Australia.
Agriculture minister expresses opposition to US bone-in beef imports
16-Mar-2007
In talks with a farmers’ group in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Park Hong-soo said beef must not be sacrificed for the sake of a possible free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
Mexico, US presidents promise to extend free trade
15-Mar-2007 People’s Daily
Presidents Felipe Calderon of Mexico and George W Bush of the United States held a series of meetings on Wednesday, promising to extend the free trade agreement between the two nations.
S Korea will not give up key farm goods at FTA talks with US: official
14-Mar-2007
South Korea’s chief agriculture negotiator for free trade talks with the United States reiterated Wednesday that key agricultural goods must be excluded from a bilateral trade deal.
S Korea, US at odds over key agriculture issues at FTA talks: official
13-Mar-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States have not been able to close the gap on key issues at the latest free trade agreement (FTA) talks in Seoul, a government official said Tuesday.
Beef heading overseas
10-Mar-2007 KGWN
South Korea announced Thursday that it will lower its quarantine standards for US beef imports and resume imports of American beef that do not contain bone fragments.
US pears and apples first beneficiaries of the FTA US-Dominican Republic
9-Mar-2007 Fresh Plaza
The US export of 25 MT of pears and apples to the Dominican Republic was the first transaction following the application of the free trade agreement between both countries.
S. Korea, U.S. make no headway at agriculture FTA talks
6-Mar-2007
South Korea and the United States made no headway in high-level talks to resolve outstanding agricultural issues that have been a sticking point in bilateral free trade negotiations, the government said Tuesday.
Cabinet to state its stand on M’sia-US FTA issue
5-Mar-2007
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry would be presenting to the Cabinet this Wednesday the stand taken by all the respective ministries and agencies involved in the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations.