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Ma contradicts himself on bilateral trade deals
9-Nov-2009
President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday contradicted himself when talking about bilateral trade agreements. While he said bilateral negotiations would put Taiwan in an unfavorable position, his administration is making strenuous efforts to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with Beijing.
Discord Rising in US Over FTA With Korea
9-Nov-2009
U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Korea on Nov. 18, but discord over the ratification of the bilateral free trade agreement with Korea is rising in the U.S.
Korea-India CEPA Ratified by Nat’l Assembly
9-Nov-2009
The National Assembly on Friday ratified a trade deal with India, called the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), that will eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 4,000 Korean goods.
Back to Basics on Asian Trade
9-Nov-2009 Back to Basics on Asian Trade
The proliferation of FTAs has more costs than benefits.
Experts call pacts ‘window dressing’
8-Nov-2009
The four agreements signed by Taipei and Beijing last November were nothing but “window dressing,” experts attending a cross-strait forum said yesterday, urging the government to pressure Beijing to quit blocking other countries from signing free-trade agreements (FTA) with Taiwan as both sides mull an economic pact.
Argentina-Brazil trade tensions rise
8-Nov-2009
Brazil’s ambassador to Buenos Aires was summoned to Argentina’s foreign ministry Tuesday amid rising trade tensions between the two South American economic powers.
Labour pangs likely to hold up India-EU free-trade agreement
8-Nov-2009
The fate of the India-EU trade and investment agreement—which seeks to further open up bilateral markets for goods, investments and services—may hang in balance as India and the EU lock horns over including labour standards in the pact.
US Seeks Wider Access to Korean Auto Market: White House
8-Nov-2009
The United States Friday repeated its call on South Korea to make concessions for a wider opening of its auto market so the U.S. can ratify a pending bilateral free trade agreement, Yonhap News reported..
Jordan, Turkey to sign free trade deal before year end
8-Nov-2009
Jordan and Turkey agreed on Saturday to sign a stalled Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before the end of the year.
Sri Lanka-Pakistan trade: Minor hiccups, major hindrance
8-Nov-2009
Negative trade balance is not always negative. It could be looked in a broader context said the Head of Chancery of the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka Balal Akram. Referring to the negative trade balance between the countries which is favourable to Pakistan Akram said that 35 per cent of Sri Lankan imports from Pakistan are raw material for the apparel industry.
China and Costa Rica move toward free trade agreement
8-Nov-2009 Global Post
China wants ties in the region, Costa Rica wants Chinese goods. But not everyone’s pleased.
Sri Lanka: Gov’t, EU in back-channel talks over fate of trade pact
8-Nov-2009 IPS
Sri Lanka has reacted strongly to a European Commission (EC) probe on its human rights record, saying it is politically motivated.
Congressmen urge Obama to expedite Korea FTA
8-Nov-2009
A bipartisan group of Congressmen has urged U.S. President Barack Obama to expedite the process for the ratification of a free trade deal with Korea pending for more than two years, the Yonhap said.
Japan to feed political will, break rigidity in free trade talks
7-Nov-2009
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Friday that Japan must feed political will to break the country’s rigidity that has been seen in some of its talks with other economies for trade and investment liberalization.
US-Oman FTA Opens up New opportunities
7-Nov-2009
The Free Trade Agreement between Oman and the US will help open up a world of opportunities to the sultanate’s products and services and boost foreign investment into the country, said speakers at a seminar held by the Muscat Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Court keeps records on FTA with U.S. sealed
7-Nov-2009
Accounts of free trade negotiations between Korea and the United States must be kept secret, a Seoul court ruled yesterday.
EU’s Trade Stance ’Very Regrettable’, Says Pohamba
6-Nov-2009
President Hifikepunye Pohamba has likened the European Union’s trade negotiations with Namibia to the days of apartheid, saying the powerhouse is refusing to treat the country as an equal and listen to its concerns about the controversial economic partnership agreement (EPA).
National Assembly to Ratify FTA With India
6-Nov-2009
The governing and opposition parties have agreed to ratify a trade agreement with India at a plenary National Assembly session today, a parliamentary leader said Thursday.
Former US representative: Beef row could delay FTA
6-Nov-2009
A former US representative to Taiwan says the row over US beef could delay possible talks for a US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Former American Institute in Taiwan Director Douglas Paal was speaking in Washington DC on Thursday.
Korea won’t budge on U.S. FTA: official
6-Nov-2009
Korea "will not and cannot accept" any request by the U.S. government to revise the bilateral free trade agreement signed in June 2007, an official at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade in Seoul said yesterday.