The much discussed, and widely criticized, US Farm Bill is about to become law despite being vetoed by US President George Bush last week. President Bush vetoed the Bill on May 21, describing it as ‘inconsistent’ with the US objectives in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The US Congress has now moved to over-ride the President’s veto. The $290 billion Farm Bill has been widely condemned by trading partners and international aid groups alike, with the US Department... ...Read more »

After years of trying to rein in persistent overproduction by European farmers, the European Commission is now seeking to free farmers to respond to the skyrocketing global food prices and low stocks. The Communication document produced by the EU analyses structural and cyclical factors and proposes a three-pronged policy response, including short-term measures in the context of agricultural policy and in the monitoring of the retail sector; initiatives to enhance agricultural supply and ensure food... ...Read more »

The US Congress has passed a $290 billion farm bill, which will increase subsidies to US farmers and cut international aid programs. George Bush has threatened to veto the bill, however, but there is still a good chance it will be passed into law. Interestingly, the presidential candidates response to the bill were contrasting with John McCain critical, Hilary Clinton supportive and Barack Obama labelling it as “far from perfect”. According to an Associated Press tally less than... ...Read more »