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agriculture | farmers | food

US/Korean trade nonsense has to stop
6-Aug-2007 Cattle Network
Korea should continue to reject the occasional box of beef — the containers of boneless meat that accidentally contain bones or spinal material — and let the rest go through. Their buying public can make the decision about the quality of the product. At the same time, American beef packers should continue to work on their quality control procedures and get it right before the KORUS FTA is finalized.
Chile free trade agreement will not cost Aust jobs, Truss says
31-Jul-2007 ABC
The peak stonerfruit body, Summerfruit Australia, says cheap fruit and vegetable imports due to an Australia-Chila free trade agreement could wipe out 5,000 jobs.
Kenya: Govt should be cautious in free trade negotiations
31-Jul-2007 Kenya Times
To many sugarcane-dependent families in western Kenya, January 2008 will come with adverse consequences to livelihoods and life itself as Kenya joins more efficient sugar producers in the free market regimes of COMESA and EPA.
China deal hurting farm sector
29-Jul-2007 Bangkok Post
A new study finds that more than 100,000 Thai farming families cannot compete with cheap Chinese produce dumped in the market under Thailand’s FTA with China.
Orchardists oppose Chile free trade plans
27-Jul-2007 ABC Rural
Australian orchardists say thousands of jobs and millions of dollars could be lost if the Federal Government signs a free trade agreement with Chile.
The Australia-Japan FTA negotiations: What do they really mean?
26-Jul-2007 Japan Focus
Ono Kazuoki, veteran of Japanese and Asian farmer movements, comments on the projected Australia-Japan FTA.
Biofuels FTAs menace CentAm ag
25-Jul-2007 Prensa Latina
The future of Central American agriculture is threatened by developed countries’ demand for biofuels and US-sponsored free trade agreements.
Pachamama goes organic: Bolivia’s quinoa farmers
25-Jul-2007 Naclan News
Bolivia joined the ALBA-TCP pact in 2006, and the government has earmarked $1.5 million for quinoa growers out of the $100 million provided by Chávez for investments benefiting small farmers. This will include credit for at least five quinoa-related projects in the southern altiplano.
FTA with U.S., beef imports to cause sharp drop in local pork prices
23-Jul-2007
The proposed free trade pact between South Korea and the United States as well as high demand for beef is expected to cause a drop in local pork prices, a think tank said Monday.
EU demands greater access to South Korean agri market at FTA talks
23-Jul-2007 Asia Pulse
The EU claims there are considerable gaps between what Seoul is offering Brussels and what was agreed upon with Washington
Taiwan, US hold ’productive’ talks
20-Jul-2007
Taiwan and the United States completed bilateral talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in Washington, DC July 11. They agreed to launch the Consultative Committee on Agriculture, a new mechanism for dealing with bilateral food and agricultural issues.
Can biofuels become sustainable?
20-Jul-2007 European Voice
Sustainability and trade barriers in biofuels could be addressed through new economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which are currently being negotiated with countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific bloc. “New EPAs and the EDF will provide a framework for action on trade in biofuels,” a spokesman for the European development commissioner said. “From 2008 onwards this issue will become much more visible.”
Why they migrate
20-Jul-2007 PWW
In 2002 alone, 600 Mexican farmers per day were forced off the land due to NAFTA, by US agribusiness dumping subsidized food exports on Mexico. And in the past five years, more than 1,600 Mexican migrants have lost their lives in their attempts to find jobs in the US.
EPA threatens the Human Right to Food of peasant farmers in Ghana
20-Jul-2007
Import surges of tomato paste and chicken parts already have severe impact on the ability of Ghanaian peasant farmers to feed their families. Cuts in the levels of import tariffs on these products, through an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU, are likely to cause further violations of their Human Right to adequate Food.
SA faces R80m claim for Zimbabwe farm loss
18-Jul-2007
A Free State farmer who had farms in Zimbabwe repossessed is taking SA’s government to court to try to force it to ratify a treaty designed to protect South African investments abroad.
Lotte Mart stops selling American beef
17-Jul-2007 Donga-A Ilbo
Among 53 Lotte Marts nationwide, six of the stores have already suspended sales of American beef due to demonstrations opposing the Korea-US FTA.
Korea removes rice from EU FTA talks
16-Jul-2007 Chosun Ilbo
South Korea has sent a draft proposal on free trade talks to the EU, promising to remove or phase out import tariffs on cars over seven years. Seoul has also decided to exclude rice from its list of markets subject to opening, but it may agree to open up its agricultural market, including beef.
Peruvian trade union protests and strikes continue
14-Jul-2007 Granma
Despite threats of military repression by the government, activists said today they would continue the general strike called by the General Federation of Peruvian Workers, which is demanding a better distribution of wealth. Likewise, the National Agrarian Federation will continue its protest against a free trade agreement with the United States.
India should not reduce farm import duties for FTAs: Jairam Ramesh
11-Jul-2007
India should not allow reductions in import duties on agriculture under its free trade agreements (FTAs), Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday.
Japan keeps rice out of free trade proposals
6-Jul-2007
Japan’s trade supremo Akira Amari has ruled out opening up the country’s rice market in a free trade agreement with Australia, saying Japan’s aim is to secure a deal that covers "90 per cent" of trade between the two countries.