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agriculture | farmers | food

Mercosur-EU Relations - Historical background and perspectives
12-Jun-2006 Eyes on Europe
Despite the promised benefits for both sides, and in particular for Mercosur, there are few chances for significant changes to occur in the EU’s protectionism in its agricultural sector which would favour Mercosur. Considering this, Mercosur countries should be more concerned that the signature of an agreement based on limited market access concessions for few products is not an important step forward.
Govt working to check Lankan pepper imports
11-Jun-2006 The Hindu
Sri Lanka’s pepper exports to the country are a threat to the Indian growers and the Union Government would work out a solution through political and other means, according to Mr Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce.
FTA hurting Thai farmers
11-Jun-2006 Bangkok Post
A recent study led by Thammasat University academic Rangsan Thanapornpan claims that the Australia-Thailand free trade agreement has benefited only a small group of industrialists, while people in the agricultural sector have been adversely affected.
Peruvians striking against FTA
8-Jun-2006
Peruvian grassroots organizations are beginning Thursday a strike against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US to avoid its ratification by Congress.
Korea, US at odds on two-thirds of free-trade agenda
8-Jun-2006
Seoul and Washington have failed to narrow their differences on some 60 percent of items on the agenda at their first round of free-trade talks in Washington. The talks started Monday.
S. Korea, US far divided over rice, quarantine issues in FTA talks
8-Jun-2006 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States ended the third day of their first round of talks over a free trade accord Wednesday, with both remaining far apart over rice and quarantine issues, Seoul’s chief negotiator said.
Statements from a press conference challenging the US-Korea free trade agreement
8-Jun-2006 Oakland Institute
"Ever since President Roh Moo Hyun revealed his intent to pursue a FTA with the United States, every aspect of Korean society from labor, agriculture, entertainment, civic groups, and health sectors have voiced their opposition to the proposed deal."
Peru protests could mar FTA debates
7-Jun-2006
Peruvian Congress Agrarian and Foreign Trade Commissions have started to discuss the US-devised free trade agreement.
Economic Partnership Agreement would collapse Ghana’s feeble economy
6-Jun-2006 GNA
Nana Akomea, Chairman of Ghana’s Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, called for regional integration between ECOWAS countries as the way forward to economic development. An Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and ECOWAS, as provided for in the Cotonou Agreement, would only cripple Ghana’s feeble agricultural sector and other local industries.
US wants separate FTA talks on farm products
3-Jun-2006
A US demand for separate negotiations on the agricultural sector under a planned free trade agreement with Korea shows how contentious the issue is, the Korean government said Friday.
Bilateral free trade and investment agreements and the US corporate biotech agenda
3-Jun-2006
Bilateral free trade agreements are seen by the agricultural biotechnology industry as an important conduit for spreading genetically modified organisms (GMOs) around the world.
Bush sends 6, 000 soldiers to the Mexican border. Where will Europe send its soldiers when the EPAs are signed?
1-Jun-2006 abc Burkina
You may be asking yourself: " what is an EPA? " Well, you are not alone. In fact I have just met with a European Member of Parliament who is no more au courant than you. And that’s worrying!
Explain benefits of FTA first, govt urged
30-May-2006 The Star
Kedah farmers have asked the government to explain the benefits that they could gain from the USA-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before it proceeds with discussions scheduled to be held on June 12 in Penang.
Rice remains biggest hurdle to trade pact in Korea talks
26-May-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand has reaffirmed that it did not sign the Asean-South Korean free trade agreement on goods because of rice. South Korea insisted on excluding rice under its sensitive list, but Thailand, the world’s largest rice exporter, demanded that it open up its local market.
Arab agricultural engineers review effects of free trade zone
24-May-2006 MENAFN
The Arab Agricultural Engineers Union on Monday convened its 16th technical conference to discuss "Agricultural Integration under the Establishment of Greater Arab Free Trade Zone." The zone, which came into effect in late 2005, includes 18 member states and represents 94 per cent of all Arab trade.
Korean groups vow ’no violence’ in US capital
23-May-2006 Korea Herald
Korean activists will go ahead with their planned rallies in Washington to protest negotiations for a free trade agreement, ignoring the government’s appeal for restraint.
US FTA tricks Colombia farmers
18-May-2006 Prensa Latina
When a Colombian top-level delegation travelled to Washington last week to supposedly resolve the contradictions between the Spanish and English versions of the FTA, they instead agreed to import aged US hens to Colombia. US poultry farmers regard those hens as waste, since they are sterile.
S Korean farm sector to suffer huge damage from US FTA: report
18-May-2006 Asia Pulse
A free trade pact with the United States would deal a hard blow to South Korea’s agricultural sector and cause estimated losses of up to 8.8 trillion won (US$9.39 billion), a Korea University report showed Wednesday.
Protester killed during Colombia protests
17-May-2006 The Guardian
Farmers and members of indigenous tribes clashed on Tuesday with police during protests against a free-trade agreement with the US and the re-election of President Alvaro Uribe, and protest leaders said an Indian farmer was killed.
Asean signs FTA with South Korea after Thailand opts out
16-May-2006 The Nation
South Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday but founding member Thailand was left out due to internal disagreements and objections to Seoul’s barriers on farm products.