bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

agriculture | farmers | food


South Korea, Asean to cut ag tarrifs for FTA
Under the deal, South Korea designated 200 agricultural products that will be exempt from tariff reductions due to their effect on local farmers
EPAs are a slap in the faces of poor countries, CSOs warn
The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), currently negotiated being between African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACPs) and the European Union are set to further reduce incomes of farmers and agric-related employees by 50-60%, anti-EPAs campaigners have said.
Seoul to exclude products from trade deal
South Korea’s chief negotiator to free trade talks with the United States said Thursday that Seoul will try to exclude "super-sensitive products" from the deal, an apparent appeasement to farmers vehemently opposed to the pact.
US ag groups mount support for Peru TPA
The Agricultural Coalition for US-Peru Trade, comprised of 58 agricultural organizations, sent a letter last week to every member of US Congress urging support of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The letter states that "PTPA sets a new and higher standard for future free trade agreements."
Korea pledges to protect rice market in FTA talks
The Ministry of Finance and Economy said that it would exert all-out efforts to shelter the Korean rice market from an influx of US agricultural imports after the enforcement of the proposed Korea-US Free Trade Agreement.
Why farmers may block US-Korea FTA
Those outside Korea tend to assume that negotiations for a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States are the perfect tool to weaken the South Korean addiction to agricultural protection.
US-Peru free trade deal a step back for development
International aid organization Oxfam criticized today’s signing of the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Washington, an agreement it says would do more harm than good for millions of Peruvians who live in poverty.
Sri Lanka FTA gives traders oily woes
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka is costing Indian vanaspati-makers a fortune. With the Sri Lankan vanaspati flooding the Indian market, factories are shutting down, rendering hundreds of people jobless.
Seoul attempts to appease farmers
The South Korean government may offer more incentives for farmers and their families in an attempt to curb protests over its negotiations with the United States for a free-trade agreement, South Korea’s chief negotiator said Monday.
Nesac urges caution over US FTA talks
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Advisory Council has urged the government to delay free trade negotiations with the US on financial services and take intellectual property rights and agriculture liberalisation off the agenda.
Poorest farmers will need more help
A failure to manage trade liberalisation and agricultural policy could make the financial plight of Thai farmers worse, warns Prapat Panyachatraksa, a former agriculture minister.
Peru farmers unite vs. FTA with US
Peruvian farmers are organizing a march from Cusco to Lima to protest the free trade agreement with the US, the president of Peru’s National Agrarian Confederation, Antolin Huascar, stated Thursday.
First FTA victims in El Salvador
With just 40 days in force, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US already has negative effects for the Salvadoran people, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) has denounced Thursday.
Rice market opening is must for FTA: US
A key US negotiator reaffirmed Wednesday that a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea means opening up its rice market.
Campesinos marchan contra TLC
"El Sr. Toledo debe irse a su casa y no firmar cosas para las que ya no tiene autoridad."
Oxfam warns of FTA blow to Thai farmers
The livelihoods of Thai farmers might be put into jeopardy if the free trade area agreement (FTA) between the US and Thailand is put in place, warned Oxfam America, a humanitarian organisation.
Indo-ASEAN free trade deal in trouble
A proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the ten-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has hit a major roadblock with India’s agriculture ministry objecting to the inclusion of commodities like pepper, rubber, palm oil, coffee and tea in an ambitious tariff liberalisation programme.
Change or risk losing market share, New Zealand told
Asean has told New Zealand, whose big dairy and meat product trade to the regional grouping has slowed in recent years, that it risks losing market share to newer competitors muscling their way into the area unless its exporters turn more creative and move quickly to meet changing regional consumer needs.
Jairam Ramesh cautions on free trade pacts
’A free trade agreement with China will be suicidal,’ Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said Monday.
S. Korea seeks exception for rice in US FTA
It is Korea’s livestock industries, not the rice market, which are feared would be hit the hardest by the FTA.