Sin duda una paradoja a corregir, mientras que el país crece a ritmo acelerado con un promedio del 6%, las brechas entre el campo y la zona rural-campesina se agrandan. ¿algo no funciona bien dentro del modelo no les parece?
All comments
oscar hernandez:
6-Jun-2012
6-Jun-2012
1-Jun-2012
I think the way the US (doesn’t) test for Mad Cow is purposeful and terribly detrimental to its people. Instead of providing more focus and more testing after mad cow was discovered, we blamed it on Canada, dramatically reduced the percentage of cattle tested, and started "spinning" the story by going after supposedly "mad" sheep that had no sign of any disease whatsoever, nor was any found upon testing. When slaughterhouses offered to test every single animal, the USDA refused to allow them to purchase the test kits, and threatened them with legal action if they proceeded. Even when they do admit to finding a mad cow that has gotten into the food chain, they refuse to tell us which stores received the tainted beef. So much for giving a crap about your citizens.
tiago:
24-May-2012
24-May-2012
Oh! well done, Republic of South Africa!
Ed Po Kalcz:
29-Mar-2012
29-Mar-2012
...maybe I am naive and do not see what other people sometimes seem to be passionate about....but sincerely, what does the ACP Group (AP after the Caribbeans signed their EPA in 2008) want the EU to do for them?? They are being offered Duty Free Quarter Free (DFQF) for all goods and services to the European market but they still cry that this is not enough..!!..what else is more than this?? Many argue that the devil is in the detail of the DFQF offer by EU. To me it appears the problem is not with the EU but with us in the ACP. We should recall that the we had preferences from the Yaounde, Lome and the Contonuou Conventions since 1975. How many ACP countries managed to take advantage of these agreements to strengthen their trade relations with Europe? How come countries without such preferences manage to negotiate better trade deals that have resulted into real development for their countries? Look at China, India, S.Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong etc...some of these countries were at the same level of development with most African countries in the 1960’s, but now see where they are and where we all are....and we instead of putting our act together we are whining over preferences and special treatment by Europeans. Those people do not owe us a living and they have their people whose interests they have to protect.
Why should we always think that to develop we need to get trade preferences from Europe....we need to rethink our strategies and do away with what has not worked over the last so many decades!! Let us strengthen our regional trading blocks and develop our markets, let there be institutional reforms, let us build the necessary infrastructure and let us stop being corrupt and work on governance issues in our countries. Once some of these issues are sorted out we will see increased FDI and real development in our countries that will enable our economies prosper. We have betrayed ourselves over time and it is high time we woke up!!
Yes, ACP countries should negotiate not from a point of weakness, where they seem to be begging for favours but from a point of strength where they should assert themselves and show their partners that they are relevant in the whole arrangement!
I know some folks will not like it, but really what do we want the Europeans to give us under the EPAs?
mbb:
15-Mar-2012
15-Mar-2012
If the 1% want their own system and have no respect for people in general then so be it. None of these trade deals have ever been dealt with during elections. The politicians who chose to ignore their constituents should resign and align themselves with the multinationals. Short of boycotting and tax movements there doesn’t appear to be any way to clean out the corruption or illegal in-camera theft of any countries resources or national treasuries. Any comments would be appreciated.
Sonja Van Tichelen:
1-Mar-2012
1-Mar-2012
Funny to hear Copa say that the rules in EU are stricter. There are no EU legal standards for beef!!! So Europe is not as advanced as COPA declares. There is still a lot of unresolved suffering in EU farming
Sonja Van Tichelen, Director Eurogroup for Animals
Alwin:
27-Feb-2012
27-Feb-2012
I would like to ask is there any deadline for finallizing the FTA between GCC and ASEAN?
Manzur Ahmed:
23-Feb-2012
23-Feb-2012
FBCCI Suggestions for SCCI Presentation on
“Measures to be taken for enhancing intra SAARC trade flows under SAFTA”
In the SAFTA Committee of Experts Meeting
At Islamabad Feb 14-15, 2012.
Fedeartion of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry: Proposals on Agenda 6 of the SAFTA COE Provisional Agenda: Discussion on products covered in the Sensitive Lists under SAFTA:
20 percent reduction in the sensitive list as proposed by the Committee of Experts is not enough. To promote regional trade gradually nearer to the level of other regional RTAs the SAFTA sensitive lists should be phased out within fixed time frame as follows:
1. 50% percent of the products in the current sensitive list should be eliminated by non-LDCs immediately by 30th June 2012. LDCs should reduce the sensitive list by 25% within the period to.
2. 50 percent of the products of the remaining sensitive list should be phased out by non-LDCs by 30th June 2013. LDCs should reduce the remaining sensitive list by 25% within the period.
3. The remaining products in the sensitive list should be eliminated by non-LDCs by 30th June 2014. LDCs should reduce the remaining products from the sensitive list by 25% within the period and subsequently the remaining products in the sensitive list should be eliminated by them by 10% per annum.
4. LDC Members may safeguard 10 % of their products in the sensitive list.
5. Long term and predictable export and import contracts for public and private sector procurements should be ensured, in compliance with Article 1.2 and 6. d) of the SAFTA Agreement, to expedite and sustain mutual trade support chain. Ban or restriction imposed on export of any product may be applied with flexibility in case of SAFTA members in the form of a reasonable quota.
6. Para tariffs should be phased out by 50% per annum in two years , in compliance with Article 1. 2, 3. 2 d) and 6. b) of the SAFTA Agreement with 5 years longer transition period for LDCs.
FBCCI Proposals on Agenda 7: Consideration of proposal by India to examine the possibility of bringing down tariffs on products in the Sensitive Lists.
1. Preferential tariff of the product agreed by the parties during the SAPTA round negotiations should apply, as prescribed in Article 22.2, if such product is included in the SAFTA Sensitive list.
2. Non-LDCs should reduce Para-tariffs by 50% on products included in the SAFTA Sensitive list. LDCs will comply with measures as suggested in Agenda 6.6 above.
FBCCI Proposals on Agenda 8: Discussion of the following proposals of Bangladesh:
a. Do Articles 7.1 and 7.6 pose any obligation on Members Countries to bring down tariff bellow 5% for at least some tariff at the end of the implementation period as defined in these Articles?
b. Do Article 9 or any other provision of SAFTA allow any flexibility to Member Countries not to extend concessions to all countries within the group?
c. Does any provision of SAFTA stipulate that a Member State may delay the implementation of any provision or TPL?
a. FBCCI: Articles 7.1 and 7.6 are binding on all parties in respect of bringing down tariffs for products not included in the sensitive list bellow 0-5% level and not 5%. The lowest applicable tariff is not fixed at 5%. However parties are allowed to decide the lowest level from 0 to 5%.
b. FBCCI: Article 9 “Concessions agreed to, other than those made exclusively to the Least Developed Contracting States, shall be extended unconditionally to all Contracting States.”, Article 17 “Any of the concessions agreed upon under this Agreement shall not be diminished or nullified, by the application of any measures restricting trade by the Contracting States, except under the provisions of other articles of this Agreement.” And Article 23. “This Agreement shall not be signed with reservations, nor will reservations be admitted at the time of notification to the SAARC Secretariat of the completion of formalities” These provisions of the SAFTA Agreement are binding obligations of the parties to extend concessions to all countries within the group as per terms of the Agreement. The Special provision of WTO MFN Treatment between India and Pakistan apply on a multilateral basis and do not apply in case of RTAs negotiated and enforced on the basis of mutual consensus and ratification.
c. FBCCI: None of the 25 Articles of the SAFTA Agreement contain any provision which stipulate that a Member State may delay the implementation of any provision or TPL? The TPL is binding on all SAFTA Members without exceptions as specified in Articles 7.1 and 7.6 of the SAFTA Agreement.
FBCCI Proposals on Agenda 9: Consideration of matters relating to Trade in Services under SAFTA.
1. Bangladesh and other LDCs already have a unilateral liberal services and investment policy regime open on MFN basis under the respective domestic regulations. LDCs should therefore take the credit and claim on reciprocal basis services sector Mode 1, Mode 3 and 4 access from nonLDCs.
2. The terms of investment in LDCs should be without prejudice to the rights and obligations under the WTO Agreements and SDT provisions including GATS LDC Modalities.
3. LDCs in SAFTA should open their service sector also on MFN basis to attract all investments from around the globe. SAFTA region has very little prospects for exclusive mutual Services trade.
4. Therefore LDC request and offer and responses should be on MFN basis to maximize promotion of the services trade at home and abroad particularly when our services regime is already open on MFN basis under our domestic laws and regulations.
5. LDCs should be granted access in Public Procurements in the region which the LDCs have already kept open on MFN basis.
FBCCI Proposals on Agenda 10: Confederation of matters relating to Non-Tariff Measures/Para-Tariff Measures.
Trade facilitation and elimination of trade barriers.
• Introduce SAARC business visa to ensure freer travel in the region and from the rest of the world to the entire region.
• Harmonization of cross-border trade regulations, documents and daily /weekly schedules of working hours (minimum 12 hours all 7 days of the Week) by an end date.
• Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature at 8 digit level should be created based on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Systems (HS) by an end date
• Simplification of Customs procedures aimed at cutting the time taken and cost of transactions at each customs point. Regional customs action plan should be implemented by an end date.
• Transport and communications infrastructures, port and warehousing facilities should be developed to benchmark levels within specified time frames.
• On-line publication in designated focal points respective Tariff schedules, NTMs and regulations on Rules of origin, labeling requirements, Customs clearance and Appeal procedures by an end date (In compliance of Articles V, VIII and X of the GATT 1994) .
• Online publication in the designated focal point website of relevant trade regulations and procedures, including packaging & labeling requirements, fees and charges, in English. by an end date
• Customs clearance procedure: Value of imported products should be assessed only on the basis of WTO Customs Valuation Agreement.
• Long term export and import contracts for public and private sector procurements should be encouraged and facilitated to expedite and sustain mutual trade support chain in the region. Ban or restriction imposed on export of any product should be applied with flexibility in case of SAFTA Members in the form of a reasonable quota.
• Accredited Bodies Agencies of India may set up, like BSTI-NABL cooperation, Accredited laboratories and certification bodies in collaboration with the Designated National Agencies of LDCs.
• Acceptance of certificates issued by respective pre-selected designated national institutions should be ensured in all ports of entry as an interim measure.
• MFN and National treatment: MFN and in addition S & D treatment should be accorded to all products, including Drugs, Cement, Ceramics, Food items Jute and Leather products, Cosmetics & Toiletries and other priorities, in respect of registration, packaging & labeling and testing requirements along with charges and fees thereof.
• Fees levied should only be on the cost of services rendered and shall not be used for fiscal purposes or as protection to domestic products.
• Import licensing: Liberal import licensing and banking services should also be ensured to make import and export transactions simpler and easier. SAFTA members should adopt and notify non-restrictive, locally administered, automatic and transparent import licensing procedures for mutual trade s by an end date.
• Ensure exchange of information on the prevention and repression of smuggling, trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances, and other customs frauds.
• Rights of transit and movement of vehicles through the territory of the second country to a third country, as per GATT Article V, should be ensured to facilitate intra regional and global trade.
• Appropriate transport and transit protocol with regulations on fees and charges with harmonized and simplified customs procedures, as prescribed in WCO Annex E, should be operationalized to expedite third country transit facilitating movement of goods and vehicles to and from SAFTA Member countries and beyond.
• To ensure free, and timely movement of goods at competitive cost the SAARC regional transit transport protocol should allow pre-qualified Transit Transport Operators and Transit Transport Vehicles from each of the Contracting Parties to carry transit and transshipment cargoes The provisions of Protocol 5 of ASEAN Framework on transit and transshipment may be followed in this regard.
• Transport and communications infrastructures, port and warehousing facilities should be developed to benchmark levels within specified time frames. SAARC trade infrastructure development fund should be created for the purpose.
• A joint fund should be established for the development of communications infrastructure, warehousing facilities, ICT facilities, customs procedures and other trade facilitating services. So that the trade volume between the two countries could be enhanced to its full potential.
• SAARC connectivity through tourism cultural exchange and Media should be intensified in areas such as investment policy, tourism development planning, human resources development, environmental and cultural preservation to achieve continued and long-term viability of the SAARC fraternity.
• Governments should take, on an urgent basis, effective steps to conclude a regional energy trade agreement among SAFTA members specially Bangladesh-India-Nepal-Bhutan (and Myanmar) to foster and facilitate regional energy trade including, among others, setting up of joint venture projects on hydro-electricity and renewable energy, regional connectivity and energy trade.
FBCCI Proposals on Agenda 11: Confederation of matters relating to Intra-SAARC trade flows:
a) Intra-SAARC trade flows under SAFTA based on SAFTA Certificate of Origin.
b) Intra-SAARC trade flows outside SAFTA.
FBCCI : Short, medium and long term targets for Intra-SAARC trade should set and attained leading to establishement of SAARC Customs Union by an end date.
FBCCI Proposals on Agenda 12: Confederation of matters relating to LDCs
As suggested in Agenda 6 to 9 above.
Manzur Ahmed
Adviser, FBCCI
Bangladesh
Aleksandra Rajkovic:
30-Jan-2012
30-Jan-2012
Está mas claro que el agua que los EE.UU. seguirán destruyendo a todos los países que se oponen a "sus interesses" aunque sus intereses siempre están en el territorio de otros países. Es muy largo el listín de crimenes que han perpetrado contra la raza humana y nadie, pero nadie ha sido capaz de pararles los pies. No hay ser humano de cualquier nacionalidad, de cualquier punto geografico del Planeta que no ha sufrudo las consequencias de su agresividad política, económica, militar, científica.... y todo sigue gual o peor en este instante. La avaricia de un elegido número de norteamericanos ha roto los sacos de todo el mundo incluidas las clases medias y bajas de su país.
Se sabe que imrimen tantos dólares que necesitan.
Deben una cifras astronómicacs a China.
Todo el mundo calla y calla y calla... mientrastanto los jinetes de apokalipsis avanzan y avanza y avanzan.
Quien no ha muerto bajo sus bombardeos, suicidios por culpa de las deudas y las roballeras bancarias, morirá de enfermedades cacusadas por los transgénicos.
Me pregunto: ¿Porque no se hacen nuevas alianzas, entre amigos, entre las víctimas, entre los similares, entre los que piensan ir en la misma dirección constructiva comprometiendose a crear entre ellos un estado de confianza, para defenderse todos simultaneamente de la política norteamericana tan agresiva y deshumanizada?
Hacerles ver que la soberanía de los países existe, que todo el mundo ya ha comprendido que la avaricia es la única fuerza móvil de los poderosos norteamericanos que se ocultan tras las corporaciones transnacionales bajo los lemas de "ayudas, donaciones, tecnologias progresivas".
Sabemos de sobra de sus guerras, de sus mentiras,
bloqueos y derrotas de tantos gobiernos y países, tecnologías y ciencias transgénicas siempre movidas por la avaricia y el saqueo.
Es un momento clave, para no aceptar estos tratados que ya sabemos antemano y sin leerlos, serán una nueva
trampa, como siempre.
12-Jan-2012
It looks like a one sided agreement
nancho:
17-Dec-2011
17-Dec-2011
Realmente el Senador Robledo sostiene que va vamos en contravia y le recononosco ampliamente su preocupacion y mucho mas ahora donde la ENERGIA PLUVIAL a demostrado que no estamos preparados para afrontar fenomenos ciclicos de esta talla,
veo con preocupacion cada dia la agricultura y sus agricultores del valle del cauca desaparecen ,y aparecen los cultivos de cana de azucar masivamente que van desde La Virginia hasta Jamundi generando una ola de exclusion de la sociedad campesina ,con cultivos que en su producion de corte inceneran miles de hectareas virtiendo a la atmosfera la pavesa que los vientos las llevan hasta algunos sectores del Quindio y la depositan en la floracion del cafe con su sucesivos impactos ’,como la contaminacion de la atmosfera .
En Cartago Valle donde se promueve el areopuerto internacional de carga e preguntado que pueden exportar hacia otros paises la respuesta se queda en silencio y asi una serie de desvaivenes que nos llevan a un avismo principalmente el sector rural el minifundio campesino que va en via de exincion y no hay un relevo generacional mas grave los campesinos van en via de extincion .
En el sector rural avanza la asimetria social donde en algunas regiones predomina la Hambruna y las dificultades para el sostenimiento ,lo que vemos es que estos acuerdos bilaterales aporrean la sociedad civil y la marginan de unas esperanzas positivas sobre todo a la poblacion joven ,ya las empresas que estan en el estado PLUTOCRATICO inician el desprestigio de algunos servicios que se prestan con el unico fin de privatizar lo poco que queda y presionando la equidad de genero y violando deredchos humanos de todos modos veremos la sorpresa que nos biene /saludos
adil:
15-Dec-2011
15-Dec-2011
c’est normal a cause de la politique du EU qui semble voire que ces intérets.
hernan:
17-Nov-2011
17-Nov-2011
EL derecho de opinion y la propuesta de los representantes del agro ven en el TLC un acuerdo bilateral que borra y excluye sus derchos ,se sospecha que sus descendientes tendran que migrar de sus territorios ,Colombia como estado soberano no preparo el sector rural para este tratado ,los grupos que no estan en el campo pero su economia depende del sector rural se estan preparando seria importante conocer el compromiso de Colombia con el tratado y compromiso con el PNUD Y LA META DE DAR CUMPLIMIENTO AL ODM (objetivos del desarrollo del milenio) que se cumple en el 2015 .donde se debe fortalecer al sector rural con programas serios de equidad social e administrativa , a pesar de que faltan 26 programas para darle punto final a la aprobacion de el TLC ,seria importante que todo el gremio del sector rural ,donde con todo respeto no veo FEDECAFE y a los representantes de las 519.275 familias cafeteras que estan aborde de un avismo dodne el valor del precio por arroba de cafe es infimo ,nos muestra claramente que los caficultores desconocen cuanto vale su cafe ,maxime si las 4 multinacionales lo negocean con 36 paises en el mundo y su futuro pude se incierto por una serie de factores tanto fitopatologicos ,economicos ,mercados ,fitogenetica etc a este gremio como a todos se le debe inciar la redistribucin del ingreso y devolverles una deuda historica ,el sector rural atravieza la gran crisis del siglo XXI,seria importante que este sector inicie la costrucion de un movimiento nacional que los represente en el parlamento de la nacion y que sus productos sean mas materias primas para la elboracion de productos nacionales y no sea entregada a comercios exteriores que se lucran del esfuerzo y trabajo del sector rural donde hoy el futuro de la juventud rural campesina es incierto, la productibidad debe ser nacional saludos
Juan Carlos Bossio Rotondo:
8-Nov-2011
8-Nov-2011
¿El recuento comprende las obligaciones ambientales y laborales que se derivan del Acuerdo Bipartito sobre el Comercio aprobado por los congresistas demócratas y republicanos en mayo de 2007?
hervimes:
4-Nov-2011
4-Nov-2011
Muy importante la publicacion de BILATERALES .ORG:Es una voz de allerta la cual comparto cuando nuestra soberania y derechos humanos estara en la esquina del cuadrilatero me preocupa el futuro de nuestros descendientes ,del sector rural donde hoy trabajamos para conseguir nuestro sustento ,el precio del cafe que nos pagan a los caficultores es infimo donde las cuatro multinacionales se quedan con nuestro trabajo y nuestros descendientes reciben una educacion para que abandonen el campo ,si duda el gran botin es apoderarse de las mejores territorios creando hoy una serie de astusias como lo que sucede en el eje cafetero PATRIMONIO DE LA HUMANIDAD SEGUN LA UNESCO pero desconocemos que se pretende es una gran incognita en este territorio la pobreza pide permiso en los minifundios cafeteros y la mujer campesina solo siente sus lagrimas en la mejilla cuando le pide a nuestro Dios una misericordia porque lhoy atravezamos la violencia del silencio y el futuro de nuestros hijos es incierto
saludos
Ulysse:
28-Oct-2011
28-Oct-2011
Maintenant, il faudrait encore que le cheval pénètre dans la Chambre des Communes et que l’opposition officielle se batte.
Malheureusement, elle reste plus près des carroussels de cirque, tout comme le gouvernement, que des lieux de combat épique. Quelle misère que cette politique-là d’hypocrite.
Juan Carlos Bossio Rotondo:
28-Oct-2011
28-Oct-2011
De acuerdo con la evaluación y la renegociación. Son urgentes. Me he pronunciado sobre el particular en el texto : "Es hora de renegociar las cláusulas laborales de los Acuerdos Comerciales" que trataré de enviar a vuestro portal. Por otro lado, subrayo las posibilidades a) de queja por explotación e incumplimiento laboral, conforme sucede actualmente con la queja de sindicatos americanos y guatemaltecos contra el gobierno de Guatemala que ha sido aceptada y es tramitada por la Oficina del Representante Comercial de EEUU; y, b) de ampliación de las obligaciones de los Estados, conforme indica el Plan de Acción sobre Derechos Laborales suscrito por los gobiernos de EEUU y Colombia. Este plan es muy incompleto y no está siendo aplicado debidamente. Pero da margen a una queja que involucraría a los dos gobiernos.
hervimes:
25-Oct-2011
25-Oct-2011
Un buen documento el expuesto por el honorable senador Jorge Robledo muy bien sustentado ,el TLC transforma la legislacion ambiental y lo acomada a sus propositos economicos en terminos muy generales el pais se ha vendido y los colombianos deben prestar atencion a lo que va suceder en el sector agropecuario-ambiental va ser golpeado a nosotros los productores de cafe que hemos generado parte del desarrollo del pais participando en el PIB vemos muy serio el futuro y mas cuando vemos cafes asiaticos en Colombia hoy a 70.000$/libra
18-Oct-2011
Luego que experiencia nos ha dejado en los ultimos 50 años la operacion de las multinacionales que ensamblan vehiculos Chevrolet-Colmotores, Renault-Safasa, Mazda-CCA? Ya es hora que estas multinacionales retibuyan al pueblo Colombiano todo lo que le han saqueado por medio del proteccionismo y hacer las inversiones que no han hecho para modernizar sus obsoletas plantas.
7-Jun-2012
There is lack of understanding on the subject. It is not sound to say Kenya needs to consider concentrating with EAC, COMESA where intra regional trade is more is lack of understanding or regionalism and multilateral ism. The products traded between the EAC and EU are not trade able across the borders of the EAC; not now and even for more than a century to come, i dont expect Kenya for example to sale its flowers, tea, coffee, fresh vegetables, etc to Uganda, Burundi ,Rwanda and Tanzania or Zimbabwe.It is not possible within the time frame of the EPAs.
The observation that EPAs would forever condemn Kenya to export raw materials instead of finished goods is an indication of self condemnation. We have accepted to remain in slumber for the last 50 or so years massively supporting and electing leaders with no passion and vision as to where our countries should direct their energies to, to value addition and massive processing of all our raw materials , patenting etc for them to effectively and efficiently compete at the international markets and fetch premium prices.
Our visions of 2025, 2030,etc are a mirage as long as we dont address the main pillar, political leadership, that is our problem and not EPAs.EPAs are good for our poor workers and families being supported by the jobs in the sectors utilizing the EPA window that is the fisheries, horticultural sector in which we have massive investments , frankly speaking, let us negotiate for a supportive deal but not demonize the EPAs.