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Mexico farmers sow NAFTA dissent
22-Jan-2008 Prensa Latina
The Mexican farmers heading to the capital in rejection of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are growing along their way.
Ecowas EPA - the facts and the falacies
22-Jan-2008 AllAfrica.com
From Ken Ukaoha, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)
EU keen to renegotiate Mauritania fish deal
22-Jan-2008 Reuters
European Commission experts will head to Mauritania later this week to renegotiate the EU’s most valuable fishing deal with another country. The European Union has signed more than 20 bilateral fishing agreements, nearly all with developing countries and mostly in Africa, that give the EU a substantial extra supply of fish. The deal with Mauritania is the largest and most valuable.
EU eyes new bilateral pact with Vietnam by next year
22-Jan-2008 Thanh Nien
EU members are keen to press ahead with the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Vietnam. Replacing a 1995 pact, the proposed new agreement will cover areas ranging from trade and investment to science and technology, education, culture, justice, the environment and security.
Don’t pursue ’free trade’ policies: PANG
22-Jan-2008 FBCL
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) says Pacific governments should not pursue foreign imposed ‘free trade’ policies that will lead to business closures and more job losses. This follows news that Flour Mills of Fiji has closed down two milling factories and put on hold $30 million worth of projects that would have created 120 new jobs.
Gulf lacks coordination on key issues in free trade talks
22-Jan-2008 Gulf News
GCC countries need to have a strong coordinated stance in the free trade talks with the European Union, top Arab officials demanded on Sunday. "The Europeans get the lion’s share out of any deal they break in the GCC, while we incur the losses and burdens," said Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry.
US cool to RP’s proposal for free trade agreement
22-Jan-2008 ABS-CBN
The United States remains lukewarm to the Philippines’ push for a free trade agreement. While the US is seeking Philippine support in the WTO talks, the Philippines is asking the US government to move forward on an FTA or at least craft a new trade and investment framework agreement.
Little benefit for China in NZ free trade arrangement, says Chinese Association
22-Jan-2008 NZ Herald
Kai Luey, president of the New Zealand Chinese Association, says China is using its first free trade agreement as a "guinea pig" to deals with other countries while New Zealand’s dairy industry will be the big winner from the pact.
US heels duty-free Honduran socks
22-Jan-2008 Marketplace
A trade war has erupted between the US and Honduras. The two countries are fighting over...socks. Bush says Honduran socks are causing serious damage to American sock-makers, so he wants to impose a hefty import tax on socks from Honduras.
Mexico anti-NAFTA march moves to capital
21-Jan-2008 Prensa Latina
The Mexican farmer march against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will enter Sunday the city of Chihuahua on its way to this capital.
NZ: Formal talks end on free trade with China
21-Jan-2008 Radio New Zealand
New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff says formal talks have now ended on a free trade deal with China. He says all outstanding issues have been resolved after 15 rounds of negotiations. Negotiators will now work their way through about 1000 pages of text before the deal goes to Cabinet for approval.
Corn growers riled by policy
20-Jan-2008 Daily Advertiser
US and Mexican sugar growers have agreed on a plan to control sugar trade between the two countries, now that duties on corn, sugar and other farm commodities have ended
China signs new FTA agreement
20-Jan-2008 Xinhua
China has signed a new free trade area (FTA) agreement, sources with the Ministry of Commerce disclosed but declined to elaborate.
India asks Indonesia to remove trade barriers for pharma items
20-Jan-2008 The Hindu
India has asked Indonesia to remove non-tariff barriers on imports of pharmaceutical products as part of a larger set of measures to boost two-way commerce.
Norwegian medicine for Vedanta
20-Jan-2008 Civil Society
On 19 November 2007, the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi received some unusual visitors...
Canada-Europe free trade touted by Charest
19-Jan-2008 Canwest News Service
A Canada-Europe free trade agreement is a win-win proposition, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Friday while dismissing a former senior Canadian trade negotiator’s assertion that a transatlantic accord is "silly" and potentially destructive. Charest, after a meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, said he wants to get the Canada-Europe free trade ball rolling by striking a Quebec-France labour mobility agreement.
Proposed ‘conditional concurrence’ on JPEPA hit
18-Jan-2008 Inquirer
The proposal for a “conditional concurrence” of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) only means that as it stands, the treaty violates the Philippines Constitution, a coalition against the agreement said Friday.
EPA means economic enslavement
18-Jan-2008 Pambazuka News
Many free trade agreements have been signed and enacted into law by capitalist governments at the back of the working people. This is because the working people in Africa and other third world countries do not have political platform of their own.
US aims to conclude FTA by summer, insists on govt procurement
18-Jan-2008 Bernama
Malaysian and US trade officials are working towards concluding a strong US-Malaysia free trade agreement by this summer ahead of the US election on Nov 4.
EU, Ukraine agree on final terms for Kiev’s WTO accession
17-Jan-2008 Xinhua
As a result, the European Union will now begin negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement with Ukraine