Trade wars, spats, renegotiations, deals, offers… it’s one wild ride – news for weeks of Apr 16 & 23

News items related to ag tech, biotech, વેપાર ? and perhaps some other interesting topics out there related to agriculture ? will be posted on this page throughout the week (as the week progresses newest items will be in?green?at bottom of sections). Check the page during the week for updates.

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As this week’s title suggests, it’s a wild ride out there on trade issues and news.? The initial list of stories below is only a short sample of what’s out there at the moment covering all the continents and virtually every part of planet.? It seems as though everyone is talking to someone.

It poses the question to think about, whether President Trump’s Administration has thrown a wrench into the gears of world trade that has slowed things down, or perhaps ultimately kick-started a renewed interest in the importance of international trade, markets and access.? It seems a number of different arguments can be made, and time will tell.

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TRADE, TRADE RELATED, INFRASTRUCTURE:

US tightens pressure on Japan for bilateral trade deal – Nikkei Asian Review – By Takeshi Kawanami (એપ્રિલ 16)

“Trump eager to appease American farmers ahead of midterm elections” – લિંક

Trump suggests return to TPP as farmers fear trade war with China – Nikkei Asian Review – By Ariana King and Ken Moriya Su (એપ્રિલ 13)

“Trade pact would offer alternative markets in Japan and Asia-Pacific” – લિંક

Australian farm exports to lose advantages if US re-joins TPP – FarmOnline – By Colin Bettles (એપ્રિલ 16)

?Like anything, there are pros and cons – we?ve got to work our way through it – but let?s just see what the Americans do.? – લિંક

TRUMP?S TRADE WAR WITH CHINA IS JUST HIS OPENING GAMBIT – South China Morning Post – Opinion by Wang Xiangwei (એપ્રિલ 14)

“With Sinophobic elements in the White House seemingly intent on containing China?s economic rise, the next moves to throw Beijing off balance are likely to involve Taiwan and the South China Sea” – લિંક

Vice-President Pence says NAFTA deal possible in several weeks – CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (એપ્રિલ 14)

‘We think we are close, we are encouraged at the progress of our negotiations,’ Pence says” – લિંક

Brussels mulls offer of trade deal to Trump, if he drops tariff threat – Politico Europe Edition – By Hans Von der Burchard (એપ્રિલ 15)

“The aim is to use the prospect of a trade deal as a bargaining chip to exclude the EU from punitive tariffs of?25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum…” – લિંક

Mexico Pushes to Finish Trade Deal With EU This Month – બ્લૂમબર્ગ – By Eric Martin (એપ્રિલ 12) – લિંક

In Paris, Trudeau Defends Benefits of EU-Canada Trade Deal – US News & World Report (એપ્રિલ 16)

“Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron said they discussed a renewed economic partnership to boost growth, jobs and investments in their two countries.” – લિંક

Japan and China pledge to accelerate free trade talks – Nikkei Asian Review – By Saki Haya Shi (એપ્રિલ 16)

“Both agree to work more closely at first high-level economic meeting in eight years” – લિંક

Free Trade Gets a Boost in Africa – Marketplace — by Andy Uhler (એપ્રિલ 13)

?Developing economies tend to benefit even more from free trade agreements than the developed world…” – લિંક

China fans trade dispute with hefty deposit on U.S. sorghum imports – રોઇટર્સ – By Dominque Patton (એપ્રિલ 17)

?આજે?s decision in China reflects a broader trade fight in which U.S. sorghum farmers are the victim, not the cause…” – લિંક

Beijing Forges Ahead With ‘Made In China’ નીતિ, Targeted By Proposed U.S. Tariffs – NPR – By Anthony Kuhn (એપ્રિલ 17)

“The Trump administration sees the policy as another effort to steal U.S. technology and push American firms out of the Chinese market.” – લિંક

Meet the Chinese farmers delighted by the prospect of a US trade war – South China Morning Post / AP (એપ્રિલ 13) – લિંક

Rejoin the TPP – National Review – By The Editors (એપ્રિલ 18)

“The simplest reason why is that it would boost the American economy…?There are compelling diplomatic reasons to rejoin the agreement as well.” – લિંક

CGTN America (એપ્રિલ 28)

“CGTN’s Mike Walter spoke to Marc Ross about what many believe is a looming U.S.-China trade war. Ross is the Co-Founder and a Partner with Caracal Global, an int’l communications and management company.” – લિંક

Mexican president says optimistic about reworking NAFTA trade deal – રોઇટર્સ (એપ્રિલ 22) – લિંક

એમ.ઇ., Mexico reach ?agreement in principle? on free trade deal -?EURACTIV.com with AFP and Reuters (એપ્રિલ 22)

“Under the updated terms of the 2000 deal, ?practically all bilateral trade in goods will now be duty-free, including in the agricultural sector…” – લિંક

“Very good chance” of a U.S.-China trade deal: Trump – રોઇટર્સ (એપ્રિલ 24)

“?ચીન?s very serious, and we?re very serious,? Trump told reporters…” – લિંક

Paraguay soy farmers hopeful newly elected Senate will not slap levy on exports – MercoPress (એપ્રિલ 25) – લિંક

India may face pressure to cut duties on 90% of goods traded with China – The Economic Times (ભારત) – By Kirtika Suneja (એપ્રિલ 25)

“Beijing?s sudden interest in the closure of the RCEP is fuelled by Washington?s renewed interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, another mega regional trade partnership.” – લિંક?

AG, AG TECH, RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, PROTECTION, RELATED ISSUES:

Ghana loses about US$64 million through armyworm infestation – Ghana News Agency – By Stephen Asante (એપ્રિલ 12)

“…studies had shown that genetically-modified maize with in-built disease-resistent genes had the potential to withstand the harmful effects of the pests.” – લિંક

One million smallholder farmers to get discounted seeds, cropping technology ? NIRSAL – Premium Times (નાઇજીરીયા) (એપ્રિલ 12)

“…would grant farmers including women and youth, access to quality discounted inputs, modern technology, and training on best use of farm inputs to achieve high yields.” – લિંક

Shipping container farms bring food source closer to city dwellers – ABC News (.સ્ટ્રેલિયા) – By Jessica Schremmer (એપ્રિલ 16)

“We yet have to see if it all works but for us it’s about getting the consistency.” – લિંક

Study shows why gluten-free is preferred by some consumers – જમીન (.સ્ટ્રેલિયા) (એપ્રિલ 15)

?The results suggest that non-coeliac gluten avoiders don?t just steer away from gluten but also avoid other food types, such as dairy or eggs…” – લિંક

Scientists Want to Replace Pesticides With Bacteria – Bloomberg Businessweek – By Elizabeth G Dunn (એપ્રિલ 16)

“… dozen or so agricultural technology startups trying to take advantage…” – લિંક

A Grass-Roots Movement For Healthy Soil Spreads Among Farmers – NPR – By Dan Charles (એપ્રિલ 9) – લિંક

POLICY, REGULATORY, ACTIVISM, OTHER:

Is This Tomato Engineered? Inside the Coming Battle Over Gene-Edited Food – Wall Street Journal – By Jacob Bunge and Amy Dockser Marcus (એપ્રિલ 15)

“The agriculture industry, which hopes Crispr technology will transform the business, faces opponents who call it ?જી.એમ.ઓ. 2.0?” – લિંક (subscription-based)

DIRTY DOZEN LIST PUTS UNNECESSARY FEAR IN CONSUMERS OVER HEALTHY FOODS, FOOD SCIENTIST WARNS – Newsweek – By Dana Dovey (એપ્રિલ 10) – લિંક

The Inconvenient Truth About The Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen List -?ફોર્બ્સ.કોમ – By Steven Savage (એપ્રિલ 11)

What that data actually demonstrates is the outstanding safety profile of the U.S. food supply, but EWG twists it – લિંક

‘WELL FED’ DOCUMENTARY WIPES AWAY FEAR OF GMOS – Crop Biotech Update, ISAAA (એપ્રિલ 11)

“Two friends from Amsterdam, Netherlands with opposing views on?genetically modified organisms(જીએમઓ) investigated the truth behind biotechnology…” – લિંક

Without its GM cotton patents, Monsanto may stop doing business in India – વ્યાપાર આંતરિક – By Dilsher Dhillon (એપ્રિલ 12)

“An arm of India?ઓ?કૃષિ?ministry will now determine the royalty rate for Monsanto?s seeds- a move that could scare off other foreign companies.” – લિંક

Indian, MNC seed firms form new association – The Times of India / PTI (એપ્રિલ 16)

“Global and domestic seed companies…formed a new association ‘Alliance for Agri Innovation’ to take up the policy issues related to the sector and promote new farm technologies.” – લિંક

Would the Green Revolution have survived fearmongering social media? – Farm Press – By John Hart (એપ્રિલ 17)