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agriculture | farmers | food

Summary report of the public seminar "Supermarkets: today’s food source - Trends and impact"
11-Dec-2018 GRAIN
The vast expansion of the supermarket sector has been supported by free trade agreements that have promoted the industrial system of food production and processing, regional and international “supply chains”.
US beef gains new market access in Morocco
7-Dec-2018 Fence Post
Morocco has agreed to allow imports of US beef and beef products into Morocco, under the terms of the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.
US companies want Japan trade deal to cover services
28-Nov-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
US businesses are seeking a comprehensive trade deal with Japan that also includes services and investments even as Tokyo tries to limit the scope of upcoming bilateral talks to goods only.
US meat body outlines Japanese trade priorities
28-Nov-2018 Food Navigator
The North American Meat Institute called for US beef and pork exports to receive the same tariff benefits that have been granted to competitors under the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Dairy push for Peru FTA to be signed
27-Nov-2018 Northqueens Land Register
Failure to ratify the Peru-Australia free trade agreement this year will cause major agricultural industries to miss out on improved market access and tariff cuts, says the country’s peak dairy group.
Indonesia to ratify Pakistan trade deal to protect palm oil exports
8-Nov-2018 Reuters
The Indonesian government will push ahead and ratify a trade deal with Pakistan to protect $1.5 billion in annual palm oil exports to the South Asia nation, a cabinet minister said.
UPOV 91 and trade agreements: Compromising farmers’ right to save and sell seeds
7-Nov-2018 Both Ends
Increased effort to include references to UPOV 91 in EU trade agreements impose intellectual property rights on seeds, which can restrict the farmers’ right to save and re-use seeds and undermine local seed systems
Dairy farmers ’very disappointed’ with USMCA
5-Nov-2018 South Western Ontario
Dairy Farmers of Ontario spokesperson said the agreement by Canada to end the Class 7 pricing on some Canadian-produced milk ingredients, like protein concentrates, skim milk and whole milk powder, is a concern.
Japan seeking wider coverage of trade agreement
5-Nov-2018 Manila Standard
Japan plans to expand the coverage of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement to include the e-commerce sector and more concessions in agriculture.
Japanese farmers worried over effects of trans-Pacific trade pact
31-Oct-2018 Japan Today
Japanese farmers expressed concern about an expected influx of imports and other effects of a trans-Pacific free trade agreement led by Japan that is set to enter into force on Dec 30.
Hog farmers oppose pork free trade deal with US
30-Oct-2018 Business World
The National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. said it opposes free trade in pork products between the Philippines and the US after the US hog industry expressed interest in expanding its footprint in the Philippines.
US pork industry backs free trade deal with PHL
29-Oct-2018 Business World
The US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) said that it hopes Washington will conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines, which it views as a priority market.
As if the USMCA dairy concessions were not bad enough…
28-Oct-2018 NFU
It is deeply concerning, though not surprising, that the proposed United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has at least three chapters that formally entrench corporate influence on government decision-making.
NZ red meat sector reacts to CPTPP ratification
25-Oct-2018 Global Meat News
The New Zealand red meat sector is urging other member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership to complete their ratifications so the treaty can come into force.
Food safety and GMOs in the “new NAFTA”
17-Oct-2018 IATP
The proposed new NAFTA, dubbed the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), would expedite exports and imports of food and agricultural products, purportedly based on “scientific principles” and “science-based decision making.”
CARICOM to ‘make agriculture great again’
12-Oct-2018 Barbados Today
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat is actively working with agriculture to help the industry regain its importance to the region which has been in decline over the years, Secretary General Ambassador Irwin Larocque has said.
New briefing note – agricultural investments under international investment law
11-Oct-2018 IISD
The number of known investment treaty claims concerning agricultural investments has grown rapidly in recent years. This new briefing note from IIED, IISD and CCSI helps policy makers navigate the challenges.
NZ plays down threat to European agri interests in FTA talks
10-Oct-2018 NZ Herald
New Zealand trade negotiators are trying to get their European counterparts to recognise that the nation’s agricultural exports are small-fry in comparison to the regional bloc’s farming sector.
US farm chief wants ‘TPP-plus trade deal’
8-Oct-2018 Japan News
US Agriculture Secretary indicated his desire to demand Japan open its markets more than the extent agreed under the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its economic partnership agreement with the European Union.
’New NAFTA’ falls flat for farmers, food advocates
3-Oct-2018 IATP
The reworked agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada neglects the demands of farm groups.