Listen to an interview with Japanese activist Yasuo Kondo, who speaks critically on the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.

Kondo works with People’s Action Against TPP, describing the agreement as an “initiative by global corporations to maximize their rights and interests at the cost of ordinary peoples, marginalized communities. This is why we are fighting TPP, for the benefit of our future,” outlines Kondo.

Also in this interview specifics on neo-liberal economic reforms currently taking place in Japan, in relation to the TPP agreement and beyond, are outlined, including corporate-driven reforms to the agricultural and medical sector.

This interview was recorded and produced for bilaterals.org in May 2013 by Stefan Christoff.

Listen to an interview with John Hilary from the London-based anti-poverty organization War on Want. In this interview, we hear critical reflections on the E.U. push to establish bilateral trade agreements as part of the 'Global Europe' trade and investment plan.

Highlighted in this discussion is the importance of building global solidarity networks and strategies for action, inspired by past international resistance to the World Trade Organization (WTO), to undercut the major push for bilateral trade agreements from the halls of power at the E.U. and beyond. For more information on War on Want's work to challenge Global Europe visit http://www.waronwant.org/past-campaigns/trade-justice/global-europe

This interview was recorded and produced in May 2013 for bilaterals.org by Stefan Christoff.

Interview with Indu Vashist for bilaterals.org 24:48 min / June 2012

Listen to an interview with Indu Vashist, a queer feminist, community activist, and an independent scholar, speaking on current negotiations toward an India-Canada bilateral trade agreement. In this interview for bilaterals.org, the moves toward a Canada-India FTA is put into context, examining the push by Canada's Conservative government to establish support for an FTA agreement via cultural events in Canada labeled 'A Year of India in Canada'.

Also in this interview Vashist outlines already established India-Canada cooperation agreements, on nuclear power, on mining practices and on education. What are the impacts of Canadian mining corporations, such as Rio Tinto Alcan operating a massive bauxite mine in India, on the environment and human rights of adivasi (indigenous) people living in the mining area?

Additionally in this interview Vashist reflects on the ways that a bilateral trade agreement with Canada would boost economic injustice in India and enforce a neo-liberal model of economic growth and 'development' that has lead to major waves of repression against social movements in the country.

For alternative and grassroots perspectives from India visit http://kafila.org/

This interview was produced for bilaterals.org by Stefan Christoff who is at http://www.twitter.com/spirodon/

Fighting FTAs | Perspectives on E.U. Israel trade and apartheid

Interview conducted between Montreal, Quebec & Brussels, Belgium / 19:09 min / June 2012

Listen to an interview with activist and writer David Cronin speaking on E.U./Israel trade policy and agreements. This interview specially addresses activists campaigns across the E.U. to challenge the E.U.-Israel association agreement, that provides the framework for many Israeli products, including materials produced in Israeli colonies in the Palestinian, West Bank, to enter the E.U. market without paying import taxes.

A critical provision within the economic agreement stipulates that both the E.U. and Israel respect human rights, a provision that is clearly being ignored in the continuation of the agreement, despite wide-spread abuses of Palestinian human rights by Israel.

Also this interview puts a critique toward the E.U.-Israel association agreement within the context of a larger critique toward bilateral trade accords as having an inability to focus on anything beyond profits, bilateral agreements so often undermining environmental regulations and human rights across the world.

For more information on David Cronin research, activist and author of Europe's Alliance with Israel Aiding the Occupation visit http://dvcronin.blogspot.ca/

Interview conducted for bilaterals.org by activist and writer Stefan Christoff who is at http://www.twitter.com/spirodon/