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Editorial: Time to renegotiate the KORUS FTA
7-Feb-2013 Hankyoreh
It has finally been revealed in Korea that the biggest reason that the implementation of the low-carbon vehicle incentive system has been delayed to 2015 was the South Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). Concerns that the KORUS FTA would endanger not only legal but also legislative sovereignty and jeopardize Korea’s ability to create and enforce public policies are being realized.
Canada, India conclude seventh round of CEPA talks
7-Feb-2013 IB Times
The seventh round of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) talks between Canada and India, which was held in New Delhi, concluded Wednesday.
Think-tank says trade deal between Canada, Europe could kill Manitoba jobs
7-Feb-2013
A left-leaning think-tank has issued another warning that a free trade deal between Canada and Europe could kill jobs rather than create them.
’Steel should be excluded from FTA ambit with Japan, Korea’
7-Feb-2013
Steel products should be excluded from the ambit of FTA with Japan and Korea as these countries are flooding the Indian market, taking advantage of concessional duty rates at the cost of domestic firms, industry body Assocham said today.
India should review FTAs to boost farm exports: CACP chief
6-Feb-2013
India should review Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that it has entered into with ASEAN, Japan and Korea to boost farm exports, according to a discussion paper co-authored by CACP chief Ashok Gulati.
FTA with South Korea is ‘a car bomb’ for Colombia’s industrial sector: Senator
6-Feb-2013
One of the most popular and outspoken Colombian senators on Tuesday rebuked the pending free trade agreement (FTA) between Colombia and South Korea on the grounds that it undermines industrial potential.
Canadian seafood industry eyes UK market as free trade deal moves closer
6-Feb-2013
The European Union and Canada are close to signing a free trade agreement which will almost certainly open the way for more Canadian fish and seafood imports into Britain.
Thailand to go ahead with Thai-EU FTA
6-Feb-2013 Pattaya Mail
The Thai parliament has given a green light to the government to continue talks on the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement aimed at increasing Thailand’s competitiveness in trade and investment in the EU market.
The future of AGOA and US-Africa trade
6-Feb-2013 The Africa Report
At a time when the US was struggling to stay on its two feet in the heat of a looming economic meltdown in 2008, were hopes of better trade deals with Africa unrealistic when President Barack Obama was elected into office?
Excessive corporate rights in Canada-EU trade deal are unacceptable to broad section of European, Canadian and Quebec society
6-Feb-2013 Market Wire
Labour, environmental, Indigenous, women’s, academic, health sector and fair trade organizations from Europe, Canada and Quebec representing more than 65 million people are demanding that Canada and the EU stop negotiating an excessive and controversial investor rights chapter in the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
EU and Canada to continue free-trade negotiations in Ottawa
5-Feb-2013
The Canadian government is prepared to knock holes in the hefty tariff walls shielding dairy producers from foreign competition and admit more European cheese into this country in return for greater access to EU markets for Canada’s beef and pork.
Reko Diq: the other side
5-Feb-2013
Earlier last month, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry declared null and void the Reko Diq gold and copper mine agreement, the Chagai Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement (CHEJVA), with Tethyan Copper Company (TCC).
The Reko Diq Saga
5-Feb-2013
The Supreme Court recently declared void and illegal a mining deal for the Reko Diq copper project signed 20 years ago between the Balochistan government and international mining companies.
In move towards trade talks, EU to lift ban on some US meats
5-Feb-2013 Euractiv
Brussels and Washington want to deepen a relationship that accounts for a third of global trade, and ending the EU import ban on live pigs and beef washed in lactic acid is meant to show the Europeans are serious about a deal.
Costa Rica resumes free-trade negotiations with Colombia
5-Feb-2013
Officials from Costa Rica and Colombia on Monday began a fourth round of free-trade negotiations that are expected to address the most sensitive issues of market access, officials said.
Push for EU-US FTA could restart discussions about IPRs
5-Feb-2013 IP Watch
The buzz around possible negotiations of a Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) keeps growing, with European politicians pointing to agriculture and intellectual property as controversial topics.
Thailand: FTA imperils public interest
1-Feb-2013 Bangkok Post
Now that parliament has approved the draft framework of the Thai-EU FTA, all eyes are now on the Commerce ministry as to how it will protect the national interest amid concerns raised by public health authorities and civic groups that big business interests will prevail over the common good.
Korea-Belgium investment agreement, a hole for investor lawsuits
1-Feb-2013 Kyunghyang Shimun
The Korean government is fighting a ISD suit by US based private equity fund Lone Star. The ISD suit was established through Lone Star’s paper company in Belgium and initiated through an investment treaty between Belgium and South Korea.
Lone Star’s arbitration claim was possible because of a deficient agreement
1-Feb-2013 Kyunghyang Shimun
The article discusses a blunder in the Korean government in failing to include an anti-paper company clause that is now allowing companies to use the Belgium investment treaty as a backdoor for ISD suits.
ICSID: Ruling favours Venezuela and raises doubts for Costa Rica
31-Jan-2013
A few days ago, ICSID published an award rendered last December 12, 2012 ruling on a claim filed by a Canadian mining company, Vanessa Ventures against Venezuela in 2004.