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India-EU FTA: Grave implications of unrestrained investments
1-Feb-2011 Madhyam
The EC recommendations contain several alarming policy provisions and therefore should receive public attention both in Europe and India. If implemented, these provisions would seriously undermine development priorities and restrict policy space to regulate investments in the public interest.
Don’t swallow this pill
1-Feb-2011 Indian Express
Troubling news reports indicate that a newly-minted Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India would permit companies to circumvent visionary safeguards built into India’s 2005 Patents Act, widely seen as one of the most progressive patent laws in the world.
Business as usual - How free trade agreements jeopardise financial sector reform
31-Jan-2011 SOMO
In contrast with the current wide-ranging financial reform agenda in the European Union, the EU continues to liberalise a wide range of risky and non-risky financial services in the General Agreement on Trade in Services and other Free Trade Agreements as if the financial crisis never happened. This SOMO briefing paper gives specific examples on how new EU regulations are in contrast with the pre-crisis model that is still being applied in the GATS negotiations, the Cariforum-EU Economic Partnership Agreement and the EU-South Korea FTA.
Deepening Canada-US security and military ties‏
31-Jan-2011 Be Your Own Leader
Recent Canada-U.S. bilateral talks further deepened security and military ties.
US: More than 250 economists call for trade reforms to allow capital controls
31-Jan-2011 IPS
In a letter delivered January 31, more than 250 economists urged the Obama administration to reform US trade rules that restrict the use of capital controls.
Pakistan, US to resume, broaden investment treaty talks
31-Jan-2011
Pakistan and the United States have agreed to resume negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) through broad inclusion of stakeholders from both sides, said an official announcement.
’Vexed issues’ delaying free trade talks
31-Jan-2011 LiveMint
Concerns over attacks on Indian students in Australia and Australia’s refusal to supply uranium to India have delayed free trade talks between the two countries.
Malaysia and Gulf nations boost ties towards FTA
31-Jan-2011 The Star
Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council signed a landmark framework agreement to boost economic, commercial, investment and technical cooperation between them.
COAG criticizes French Azura for selling Saharawi tomatoes
31-Jan-2011 WSRW
The Spanish agrarian organisation COAG is convinced that the impending EU-Moroccan agricultural trade liberalisation agreement could be illegal for implicitly including Western Sahara. COAG has now condemned French company Azura’s presence in the occupied territories.
Spate of trade deals move toward passage
30-Jan-2011 IPS
On the heels of US President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday in which he focused squarely on resuscitating the economy, pressure is mounting in the nation’s capital to move forward with free trade agreements (FTAs) whose passage would promote exports and create jobs.
CETA.mov
29-Jan-2011 YouTube
Maude Barlow explains why Canadians should oppose the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement otherwise known as CETA
Canada in for $12B windfall with EU deal: Van Loan
28-Jan-2011 Vancouver Sun
The Canadian government’s assertion that a Canada-European Union trade deal will add $12 billion to Canada’s annual wealth by 2014 is coming under criticism from analysts, with one describing it as a "sales pitch" that doesn’t take into account the impact of Europe’s debt crisis and the slide since 2008 in the euro currency.
Canada-Morocco trade talks key to durum sales: CWB
28-Jan-2011 Reuters
Canada and Morocco said on Thursday they will start talks on a free-trade agreement, a deal that the Canadian Wheat Board says is vital to maintaining its sales of durum wheat.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest defends setting conditions in EU free-trade talks
27-Jan-2011 The Canadian Press
Jean Charest fended off accusations of being a fairweather free-trader in talks with the European Union — particularly when it comes to lucrative Hydro-Quebec contracts.
IPA concerned over PMO’s efforts to destabilize India’s IPR regime at the behest of EU
27-Jan-2011 PharmaBiz
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, an association of leading Indian pharma companies, has raised alarm over the recent media reports that efforts are going on in the Prime Ministers Office to destabilize India’s IPR regime at the behest of European Union which, the IPA cautioned the government, will have serious implications on the public health, access to medicines and the domestic generic industry.
South Korea, US to ink final FTA text in mid-February
27-Jan-2011 Bernama
South Korea and the United States have finalised the text of their free trade agreement (FTA) and plan to officially sign the document in the middle of next month, Yonhap News Agency quoted Seoul’s trade ministry as saying Thursday.
Data exclusivity still key hurdle to India-EU FTA
27-Jan-2011 Business Standard
Despite all official assurances, the path towards a free trade agreement between India and the European Union this year remains ambiguous, as both sides are unwilling to relax their stand on the biggest stumbling block — the issue of “data exclusivity”.
New EU envoy cagey on FTA pact
27-Jan-2011 Japan Times
Newly appointed EU Ambassador to Japan Hans Dietmar Schweisgut said Wednesday various issues need to be dealt with before Japan and the EU can conclude a free-trade accord.
Time for EU-Syria deal to be signed: commissioner
27-Jan-2011 AFP
Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, said in Damascus on Tuesday it is time for the long-dormant EU-Syria association agreement to be signed.
Top Canadian official says FTA deal with the EU is imminent
25-Jan-2011 The Parliament
The two sides concluded the latest FTA talks, the sixth round of discussions, in Brussels last week. The next round of negotiations are due to take place in Canada in April.