Environment

Free Trade 'Won't Boost Rice Exports"

Bilateral free trade will not necessarily lead to an increase in rice-trade volume, the chairman of a committee looking into free-trade agreements told a seminar yesterday.

Wal-Mart's U.S. Expansion Has Benefited From More Than $1 Billion In Economic Development Subsidies

Washington, DC, May 24, 2004--Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, has benefited from more than $1 billion in economic development subsidies from state and local governments across the United States, according to a new study by Good Jobs First, a Washington, DC-based research group (the study, SHOPPING FOR SUBSIDIES, is available online at

Making Fish Healthier to Eat: EPA Proposal Raises Hurdles

Widespread pollution in Minnesota, as in other states, has prompted statewide fish consumption advisories based on mercury. Government agencies acknowledge exposure threatens child development, their response is largely limited to reducing exposure - warning women to watch how much fish they eat - putting the burden on the individual to tackle the problem.

Europe Allows Gm Sweetcorn Amid Fears Of A Us Trade War

GENETICALLY MODIFIED sweetcorn is to be allowed on to Europe's supermarket shelves; the EU lifted a five-year moratorium on new licences yesterday, despite consumer opposition and a split among national capitals.

Kerry Says He'll Toughen Trade Deals

Democrat John Kerry said Sunday that President Bush has turned his back on the American worker by allowing other countries to break trade deals negotiated with the United States and that as president he would put in place a "common-sense" effort to strengthen the bargaining and enforcement of such agreements.

US Says Trade Talks Need Support Of Developping Countries To Succeed

US trade representive Robert Zoellick called Wednesday on big developing countries to play their part in getting stalled global trade liberalisation talks off the ground. "To take on the challenges of global trade, especially in the Doha negociations, we will need the support of the developing economies", Zoellick said at a press conference at the French senate.

Concerned Over Shortage, China Subsidizes Peasants

Declining grain output and mounting concerns over food security seem to alarm Chinese leaders again as central and local governments vow to subsidize the world's greatest number of peasants to grow more grain.

A Flood of U.S. Corn Rips at Mexico

Los Angeles Times | By Michael Pollan | April 23, 2004

One Nation, Underperforming

Grist | By Bill McKibben | April 5, 2004 California unveiled the design on its state quarter last week: a picture of John Muir, an image of Half Dome. It's an apt representation of American environmentalism at the moment -- rich in history, but not worth much at present.

Bird Flu Eu Lifts Blanket Ban On US, Canadian Poultry Imports

AFX European Focus | March 30, 2004 The EU lifted a blanket ban on poultry imports from the US and Canada imposed over bird flu scares. EU health experts agreed to a proposal from the European Commission to limit the bans only to the areas affected by the outbreaks -- Texas for the United States and the western province of British Columbia for Canada.