Agriculture

Trade Talks Reach Crunch Point As Developing Countries Trade Talks Reach Crunch Point As Developing Countries

World Development Movement | September 14, 2003 The World Development Movement today condemned the EU for pursuing a Cancun ?grab what you can? Agenda in 'stiched up' negotiations as trade talks in Mexico entered their final day. Developing countries last night rejected the revised draft of the ministerial declaration.

Proposal at WTO Meeting Rejects Changes in Subsidies

The New York Times | By ELIZABETH BECKER and GINGER THOMPSON | September 13, 2003 A compromise proposal issued at the meeting of the World Trade Organization here today rejects most of the pleas for change in agriculture from the developing world, including African cotton producers, and generally allows the United States to maintain its billions in annual subsidies.

WTO Issues Measure to Cut Farm Subsidies

Associated Press | By Naomi Koppel | Sept. 13, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico - The World Trade Organization issued a draft resolution Saturday to force member countries to cut farm subsidies, but it didn't go as far as many developing nations have demanded and some called it unacceptable.

Nasty Nine Dig In On Farm Trade Reform

Australian Financial Review | By Mark Davis | Sept. 13, 2003 Nine countries form a wall against Australia's desire for freer world farm trade, writes Mark Davis in Cancun. Liechtenstein has only 150 farmers left most of them herding cattle in the Alps. But the tiny principality between Austria and Switzerland is determined that those farmers stay in business.

Nations Dig in Their Heels at WTO Face-off

Miami Herald | By Jane Bussey | Sept. 12, 2003 Fissures in the world trade consensus threatened to widen into a chasm at the world trade talks here Thursday as developing countries and industrialized ones hardened their positions on farm subsidies.

Trade Talks Enter Crucial Phase

BBC News | Sept. 12, 2003 World trade talks are hanging in the balance as negotiators attempt to break the deadlock on farm subsidies. As a third day of discussions gets underway in Cancun, Mexico, the United States and Europe is again expected to clash with a bloc of developing nations bent on re-writing world trade rules.

Southern Senators Weigh in on WTO Cotton Talks

Associated Press | By Jeffrey McMurray | Sept. 12, 2003 WASHINGTON - Three Southern senators have endorsed a proposal by the United States to broaden the scope of this week's World Trade Organization talks, a move they hope will take the focus off subsidies for American cotton growers.

Villagers Caught in GM Food Battle

Reuters | Sept. 12, 2003 VALLE VERDE, Mexico (Reuters) -- Mexican villagers were caught in the cross-fire of the global battle over biotech food on Friday when rival pressure groups at world trade talks scuffled with each other over how best to feed the poor.

"End Cotton Subsidies" Demands Africa

BBC News | Sept. 11, 2003 Several African nations have joined forces to put the issue of cotton onto the agenda of the World Trade Organisation meeting in Cancun. Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali are demanding wealthier countries end subsidies to farmers which they say results in them losing $250m a year in exports.

Agriculture on the Table At Trade Talks in Mexico

Washington Post | By Kevin Sullivan | Sept. 10, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico, Sept. 9 -- Trade officials from 146 countries -- along with rock stars, a flotilla of warships offshore and demonstrators -- have gathered at this beach resort for a five-day round of global trade negotiations that could shape the future for farmers from Iowa to Burkina Faso.