Reformist Japan Farmers Urge Free Trade To Spur Change

Like other farmers on this fertile, coastal plain in northeast Japan, where patchwork rice fields stretch to the mountains beyond, Kazushi Saito knows first hand that the nation s shrinking agricultural sector is in dire straits. But unlike many, the 54-year-old rice farmer backs a controversial free trade deal that could remove a near 800

Japan Needs Steps To Soothe Farmers’ Trade Fears

A man burns a rice field in preparation for planting near Fukushima, northern Japan.RE UTERS /Carlos Barria tokyo/reuters / Japan must craft steps to soothe farmers fears about the impact of a U.S.-led free trade initiative that manufacturers advocate joining to help them compete with Asian rivals, a senior ruling party lawmaker said Oct. 18.


Kiwi Mischief Behind Trade Pact Claim

Trade experts wonder if there’s some Kiwi mischief behind claims that objections from dairy farmers kept Canada out of the initial round of negotiations on a pan Pacific trade agreement. A slew of stories appeared in the mainstream media in mid-April, citing no one in particular, about how Canada was excluded from 2006 talks involving