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agriculture | farmers | food


CETA: An attack on health, the environment, consumer protection and democracy
The trade agreement disempowers the European Parliament and strengthens the influence of corporations.
CETA still not fully delivering
The Canadian agriculture sector wants the federal government to make progress on removing technical barriers, five years after the deal was signed.
Corporate concentration: Agri-food giants dominate global food chain more than ever, report warns
Over the past 40 years, the study underscores that the largest agrochemical firms have used intellectual property laws, mergers and new technologies to take control of the seed sector.
Farmers ’big winners’ of UK trade deal
Australia’s agricultural sector would be the big winner of a new free trade deal with the UK, the chief negotiator has declared.
Imposing double standards: Why EFTA should not demand an UPOV clause in FTA with Thailand
As part of free trade negotiations with Thailand, EFTA will most likely demand clauses that oblige the Asian country to introduce strict plant variety protection regulations that are in line with UPOV 91
Agricultural trade and standards within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
Within the trade pillar, it seems very likely that discussions on agriculture will focus on market access and the non-tariff issues, such as Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
10 September 2022 | International day of action against the WTO and FTAs
Every year, on 10 September, all the members and allies of La Via Campesina mobilize against the destructive policies that are forced upon the small-scale food producers through bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements.
EU-NZ trade agreement ’by no means a done deal’
"It is by no means a done deal ... there’s going to be a huge diplomatic effort to push this across the line," - NZ’s chief EU trade negotiator Vangelis Vitalis.
Hogging the gains from trade in Mexico
The multinational pork giant Smithfield, now owned by a Chinese firm, took advantage of trade, investment, labor, environmental, and immigration policies, after NAFTA, to expand its low-wage factory farming model on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
SACU, EU claim poultry victory
This was the first time the EU triggered a bilateral dispute settlement mechanism under one of its EPAs – and as such, the EU challenged the legal basis and compliance of the measure with the EU-SADC EPA on a number of grounds.
Rushed FTA between UK and India may pose big health threat
A newly published report has outlined several recommendations for a safe trade deal with India, which it says if rushed could threatened UK pesticide standards and farming.
Six reasons NOT to ratify the EU-Mexico Global Agreement
Statement of the Mexican, European and international civil society, 4 July 2022
Civil society calls upon EU and Indonesia to respect the rights of Indonesia’s famers
Close to 90 NGOs and farmers’ organisations from Indonesia, the EU and around the world sent open letters to the EU Commission and the Indonesian government today, calling on them to refrain from any clause that restrict farmers’ rights in a future free trade agreement.
False good news for future EU free trade agreements
ECVC is heavily critical of the lack of ambition shown by the European Commission to tackle only future free trade agreements, meaning the pre-existing FTAs can continue their environmental and social devastation.
’Mad rush to sign FTAs not in interests of farmers’
India is inking a series of Free Trade Agreements but there is criticism from various quarters about it. All India Kisan Sabha Joint Secretary Vijoo Krishnan spoke about what is wrong with FTAs and where the government is erring.
NZ/EU trade deal on a knife edge
The only thing standing in the way of an agreement being reached is whether the EU is prepared to offer NZ what is described as ‘meaningful and commercially viable’ quotas for sheep meat and beef.
Cheese names under threat in EU free trade negotiations
New Zealand is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the EU, and cheese makers are worried they’re about to be caught in the crossfire.
New Zealand red meat sector representatives travel to EU ahead of crunch trade talks
New Zealand red meat sector leaders head to Brussels this week as negotiations between the European Union and New Zealand for a Free Trade Agreement enter a critical stage.
EU-Latin America free trade agreements fuel food crises globally
There is a grave misalignment between how the European Union conducts agricultural policy within and outside its borders. This is particularly evident in its trade relations with Latin America.
What would an FTA with New Zealand mean for Irish dairy?
With the EU expected to sign a free trade deal with New Zealand this summer, anxiety is rising in the huge dairy industries in Europe over how the deal will affect them.