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agriculture | farmers | food

’No strong case for RP-US free trade pact’
11-Mar-2006 Manila Times
The conclusion of a Philippines-US free trade agreement (FTA) will drastically impact on the country’s agriculture because it is labor intensive and employs large number of people, according to a recent paper published by De La Salle University experts.
Peruvian farm orgs protest FTA
11-Mar-2006 Prensa Latina
More than 30 agricultural organizations in Peru announced a national strike against possible signing of a free trade agreement with the United States, which they believe would severely affect them.
Malaysia and Australia sign MoU on agriculture
10-Mar-2006
Malaysia and Australia on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at building a new cooperation on agricultural, food processing, livestock and fisheries trade.
"No intention of becoming Third World farmers"
10-Mar-2006
Just one year into the free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, Trade Minister Mark Vaile - who signed the FTA - may agree to dump the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) single desk system. The system was set up in 1939 when growers pooled their wheat to protect their incomes.
Agriculture deal with Malaysia opens door for FTA
10-Mar-2006 The Age
Australia and Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to foster trade in agriculture, food processing, livestock and fisheries. The MoU is separate from the proposed free trade agreement between the two countries, and comes as the United States announced it would begin formal negotiations for a free trade accord with Malaysia.
Vaile briefs officials, defends monopoly
9-Mar-2006
Trade Minister Mark Vaile has briefed senior Bush Administration officials on the Cole inquiry, will today brief members of Congress, and is defending Australia’s monopoly wheat sales system from the attacks of US lobby groups.
Agriculture deal with Malaysia opens door for FTA
9-Mar-2006
AUSTRALIA and Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to foster trade in agriculture, food processing, livestock and fisheries.
Farmers could access China markets
8-Mar-2006
Key rural commodities including wine, milk and wool will be in keen demand from China if a free trade agreement with Australia is struck, a new report has found.
BIO president Jim Greenwood welcomes US FTA negotiations with Malaysia
8-Mar-2006
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded the Bush Administration’s announcement to begin free trade negotiations with Malaysia. "Malaysia is an important market with a strong interest in developing its biotechnology industry," stated Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of BIO. "We look forward to working with US Trade Representative Rob Portman on this important initiative as Malaysia looks to enhance the development of its biotechnology sector.
Colombia playing down FTA rejection
8-Mar-2006
By presenting the Safe Agricultural Earnings bill, the Colombian government hopes to play down the major popular rejection against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) it recently wrapped up with the US.
State growers want to dismantle import barriers - Korea trade talks starting
7-Mar-2006
Washington farmers hope a possible free trade agreement will pry open South Korea’s trade barriers against such produce as apples, pears and potatoes.
Vaile to feel heat over wheat deals
7-Mar-2006
TRADE Minister Mark Vaile is expected to face questions about the Cole inquiry and the future of AWB "single desk" for wheat exports from members of Congress and Government officials during a visit to Washington.
Ottawa urged to make bilateral and regional free trade agreements a priority
7-Mar-2006
A coalition of Canadian agricultural commodity groups and companies is encouraging the federal government to put a higher priority on the establishment of bilateral and regional free trade agreements.
EU widens door for Jordanian farm exports
3-Mar-2006 MENAFN
The Kingdom and the European Union (EU) launched an agricultural trade agreement on Tuesday to increase the Kingdom’s agricultural exports to European markets.
Free trade’s rivals here and there
3-Mar-2006 Dominican Today
Don’t be fooled by the images of street protests against free trade that you often see on TV. In the real world, the most powerful opposition to US-Latin American free-trade agreements does not come from radical leftist workers and students, but from potentially damaged business tycoons.
Nukes and mangoes on Bush’s mind in India
2-Mar-2006 Asia Times
Although US President George W Bush’s India visit that officially started on Thursday is hardly expected to grab headlines in terms of business and economic deals between the two countries, both are looking forward to several new initiatives to boost bilateral commercial ties expected to be announced in the next few days.
UNCTAD talks on trade remain inconclusive
25-Feb-2006 The Hindu
The UNCTAD negotiations held in Kochi to assess the impact of trade as per the WTO regime as well as the ASEAN FTA on the local agricultural and industrial sectors, elicited inadequate response from the stakeholders.
S. Korea to exclude rice, beef pacts from FTA talks with US
23-Feb-2006 Yonhap
South Korea’s agriculture minister said Thursday that the country will not include deals on the liberalization of rice and beef imports in the agenda of upcoming free trade talks with the United States.
US, Colombia close to free trade deal: Portman
23-Feb-2006 Reuters
The United States and Colombia are close to a free trade agreement after nearly two years of talks and a push last week by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a top U.S. trade official said on Wednesday.
US like iron over FTA with Colombia
22-Feb-2006 Prensa Latina
The US inflexibility over Colombia’s most sensitive issues characterizes Tuesday the resumption of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, which could be the last round between the two nations.