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This week, the Citizens Trade Campaign — a U.S. coalition of environmental, labor, consumer, family farm, religious and other civil society groups — reported that farmers and labour groups across the Pacific region are demanding that dairy be taken out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement altogether. Removing all barriers to trade in milk and milk products is a major demand of New Zealand and the United States in the TPP negotiations. But U.S., Canadian and Japanese dairy farmers and workers agree this is not in the interests of family farmers in any of the participating countries.
James P. Hoffa, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, added that, “Without a strong Labor Chapter and protections for dairy workers throughout the supply chain, the TPP should not be signed.” He said the Teamsters “join the dairy farmers of North America and Japan and throughout the region, and demand that dairy be taken ‘off the table’ in the TPP talks.”
More at the Council of Canadians’ blog
The Associated Press has reported:
A Portland longshoreman sustained minor injuries after getting hit by a truck while picketing at the Port of Portland.
Jennifer Sargent, a spokeswoman for the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, says the worker is recovering at home after injuring his knee, elbow and back. She declined to release his identity.
The union says the incident occurred Thursday when a truck driver got into an argument with workers while trying to cross a picket line and his vehicle moved forward.
The operator of a Columbia River grain terminal locked out union dock workers two weeks ago amid an escalating contract dispute.
Published at KOIN TV
Excerpted from Wolfe Research:
On Friday, the USDA released its initial grain production and grain export forecasts for the upcoming 2013-14 crop year. Total corn, wheat and soybean (the 3 major crops moved by the rails) production is expected to increase 22% y/y after dropping 8% last year and 14% in total the past 3 years. The USDA also expects total exports for these 3 crops to increase 18% y/y, a major reversal from a 30%+ decline the past 2 years.
This Would Be Positive for Grain Volumes Starting in Late 3Q
Total grain vols for the U.S. rails are tracking down 6% YTD and have been weak for the past 8 qtrs. following last year’s terrible drought. Initial crop forecasts are extremely sensitive to weather conditions (last year’s crop finished 21% below last May’s initial forecast), but assuming more normal weather this year, grain vols seem likely to inflect strongly positive y/y by late 3Q and to remain positive through 1H:14. Note that the USDA’s yield assumptions for this year’s crop already assume at least some negative impact from the delayed start to this year’s planting season.
Greater Grain Exposure in the West
Among the public U.S. Class...
Source: AFT
Source: Occupy Democrats
Source: Los Angeles Times
Source: NYTimes
Source: Business Week
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