6-Nov-2011
With many of its big ideas still await implementation, the eight-member South Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries seem to have gone for a modest agenda this time.
6-Nov-2011
The main opposition Democratic Party stepped up its public campaign against the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement over the weekend, as the ruling Grand National Party mulled pushing a final vote at a plenary session Wednesday.
6-Nov-2011
Confrontation at South Korea’s parliament over a free trade deal with the United States showed no sign of easing Friday, as some opposition lawmakers took to the streets while others continued sit-ins.
5-Nov-2011
Dow Jones
Argentina hopes to start exporting corn to China in a few months but is still finalizing details of a bilateral market access agreement, a senior Argentinian official said Thursday.
5-Nov-2011
The Ghana government is likely to tell ECOWAS of its plans to go solo on the signing of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) when Trade Ministers in the sub-region meet in the country later this month.
5-Nov-2011
European Union Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht took a “conciliatory but firm stance” on economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations when he recently met with Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) countries.
5-Nov-2011
The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has just completed its seventh year. The US Bureau of Census calculated that most marriages that end last for eight years - the itch is supposed to begin in the seventh - so the fundamental issue is whether the relationship has been good for both parties.
5-Nov-2011
Swedish energy giant Vattenfall will take advantage of an "extraordinarily powerful legal tool" now available to the world’s corporations to sue the German government for phasing out nuclear power, it was confirmed this week.
5-Nov-2011
The South Korean government describes the investor-state dispute system (ISD), introduced by the country for 81 bilateral investment treaties (BITs) formed since 1967, as a means of protecting offshore investments by South Koreans. But South Korea has never once sued another country, nor has the government been sued by a foreign investor. The reason was that none of those treaties was with the United States.
5-Nov-2011
President Lee Myung-bak’s recent visit to the United States set a new political record. Prior to the South Korea-U.S. summit meeting, U.S. Congress passed the implementation bill for the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) with unprecedented speed. But does President Lee know that the KORUS FTA has no force in the United States whatsoever?
5-Nov-2011
India is on Canada’s radar screen as it wishes to be a part of a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan to consolidate trade and investment ties with Asia’s third-largest economy, Canadian international trade minister Ed Fast said on Friday.
5-Nov-2011
Pig farmers denounced that thus far this year the Agriculture Ministry has approved the import of nearly 6,000 tons of pork meat beyond the amount approved for the entire 2011, violating the Free Trade Agreement’s (DR-CAFTA) tariff quota.
5-Nov-2011
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) ratcheted up the pressure on the opposition Friday, hinting at the possibility that it will exercise authority to raise the ratification motion for the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
5-Nov-2011
Eyeing to boost its garment and other textile items exports, the Government of Pakistan is exploring the prospects of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with various countries.
5-Nov-2011
One purpose for the federal government’s pursuit of free trade deals with other nations is to protect Canadian investors from mistreatment in foreign countries.
5-Nov-2011
India is particularly displeased with Pakistan, after an early end to a party it was enjoying over Islamabad’s proposed grant of a ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) status in bilateral trade. All eyes are now focused on Pakistan commerce secretary Zafar Mahmood’s upcoming India visit. This is likely to be followed by a sideline meeting between the prime ministers of the neighbouring countries.
5-Nov-2011
Brussels has refused to renew the duty-free agreement with Macedonia. The free export resolution expired in December last year and documents for its renewal have not been prepared yet.
5-Nov-2011
As South Africa moves to bolster industrialisation efforts within its own borders, the planned roll out of a giant free trade area across Africa may hit a snag when it comes to negotiating about trade in manufactured goods between member countries, the Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said yesterday.
5-Nov-2011
African heads of state have ambitious plans to create a free trade zone, encompassing 26 countries and more than 600 million people on the continent. But economic experts warn the project is a bold step that comes with a plethora of legal, administrative and political hurdles. Others suggest the plan might be a pie in the sky.
5-Nov-2011
The US has spoken out about its desire to unite with Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and other nations in a powerful trans-Pacific free trade bloc.
