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agriculture | farmers | food


EU allows Romania to pay EUR 200 mln compensation to Romanian-Swedish investors
The European Court of Justice on June 18 canceled a European Commission decision dating 2015, which established that Romania’s payment of compensation to Romanian-Swedish investors Ioan and Viorel Micula constituted illegal state aid. The European Commission also ordered the Romanian Government to recover the money already paid to the investors following an international court’s decision.
Indian dairy under threat from new trade deals
Several new trade pacts that cater to transnational corporations, like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or the proposed deals pending with Europe, threaten to radically change the map and wipe out India’s small dairy producers.
Connecting the dots: Insane trade and climate chaos
The connection between global trade and the climate crisis is clear. Much of global trade is unnecessary and wasteful - and yet, somehow, it continues to be profitable.
The impact of Thailand’s FTAs on US agri-food exports
US govt says Thailand’s FTAs - with China, Australia, NZ, Japan, India, ASEAN, Chile and Peru - have hurt US agri-food exports to Thailand.
How Ukrainian poultry becomes EU produce
The export procedures of Ukrainian poultry producer MHP have proved controversial. The EU has responded by changing its quotas for duty-free imports of chicken meat from Ukraine — but there may be further consequences.
NAFTA demolition better for PBI
USMCA, a modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement, includes several positive changes for the seed industry.
Trade swap proposal: Tariff cuts on PHL fruits and South Korea industrial goods
Seoul has responded positively to Manila’s long-standing request to eliminate tariffs on agricultural products, in exchange for reduced import duties on South Korean industrial goods.
Part 2 EU-Mercosur trade deal | A road to nowhere for farmers?
EU-Mercosur talks continue despite increasing concerns for farmers and the environment. Are farming interests and consumer standards being sacrificed for the benefit of the motor industry?
Part 1 EU-Mercosur trade deal | the Bolsonaro era
Unrestricted import of Argentinian beef or Brazilian soya could prove to be not only a major environmental risk, but also politically risky in poor, rural areas of Poland or East Germany.
‘Take beef off the table in Mercosur negotiations’ – IFA
Ireland must stand and insist that Europe rejects beef imports which fail to meet key standards on traceability, food safety and the environment.
Agribusiness leaders anxious for trade ratification
The Agricultural Leaders of Michigan voiced concern after the three countries announced the agreement eight months ago, but they’ve yet to ratify it. The group is made up of a coalition of agricultural, commodity and agribusiness leaders.
Japanese and US food and farm organizations urge halt to trade talks that undermine rural livelihoods and food sovereignty
We urge the complete halt of US-Japan trade negotiations that undermine the livelihoods of family farmers and the sovereignty of rural communities in our two countries.
’Beef and pork for cheese deal’ sours as strict EU health rules hinder Canadian exports under CETA
But as exports to the EU lag, shipments of pork and beef to Japan have spiked under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Positive progress on NZ-EU trade talks
Negotiators leading trade talks between New Zealand and the European Union are hopeful a deal can be concluded by the end of 2019, although agriculture still looms as a potential stumbling block.
EU and Mercosur make progress on trade agreement, but…
Meat sector in France expressed concern in an open letter to the European Commission regarding the possibility of Brussels reaching a trade agreement with the four countries.
24 farmers injured as UT police use sticks, water cannons to break stir
Hundreds of farmers from Punjab, under the banner of the Kisan-Mazdoor Sangharsh committee, were lathi-charged and faced water cannons by UT police.
PepsiCo controversy: Globally, India has always refused to give in on IPR on plant varieties
The struggle for farmers’ rights over their seeds and planting materials is not playing out only in India – it’s a global phenomena.
Sharon Treat: Mainers right to be skeptical that USMCA will fix farmers’ woes
The new NAFTA checks in at nearly 2,000 pages, with corporate giveaways larded throughout that directly impinge on state and federal authority to protect the public.
Why the new US-EU trade talks may be doomed before they even start
That’s in part because of a long-running catch 22: the US won’t contemplate a deal that doesn’t include agricultural goods, and the EU, keen to protect its own farmers and maintain food standards, refuses to allow a deal that does include them.
European companies quick to seize opportunities of new trade deal with Canada
Canadians have complained that European barriers to trade, especially in the areas of agriculture, have impeded Canada’s ability to take advantage of the new markets.