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In for messy litigation
3-Mar-2014
Several local newspapers misread the recent decision by the Washington-based International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) as a verdict forcing the Indonesian government to pay over US$1 billion in compensation to the plaintiff, London-listed Churchill Mining Plc, in regard to its coal mining concessions in East Kalimantan.
US welcomes Taiwan membership in TPP if island fulfills criteria: diplomat
3-Mar-2014 China Post
The United States would welcome Taiwan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership as long as it meets the high standards set by TPP members, Taipei’s diplomat to Washington was cited as saying yesterday.
Russia FTA could be delayed - Key
3-Mar-2014 3 News
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says a free-trade agreement with Russia could be delayed because of the escalating situation between the superpower and Ukraine.
Uganda: EU sets EPA deadline signing for October
3-Mar-2014 New Vision
“The EAC states wont access European markets if we don’t sign EPA by October 1 but how prepared are we when some clauses are still not agreed upon?” Jane Nalunga, SEATINI Uganda country director, asks.
Trade deals a closely held secret, shared by more than 500 advisers
1-Mar-2014 Washington Post
The details of the Obama administration’s proposals for a massive 12-nation trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region are off limits to most Americans, held close by negotiators who worry that too much openness would make it impossible to reach a deal. But a chosen few have been allowed to peek behind the curtain and share some of the most sensitive documents.
Rough trade: the new corporate power grab
1-Mar-2014 Red Pepper
Trade and investment agreements currently being negotiated will mean the biggest corporate power grab in a decade. We need a new global movement to confront them, writes Nick Dearden
USTR rejecting EU bids for more transparency in TTIP
1-Mar-2014 Infojustice
USTR demands for hyper-secrecy in the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) continue to be a major block to continuing negotiations, writes Sean Flynn
Canadians to see Canada-EU free trade pact legal text soon, says Fast
1-Mar-2014 Canadian Press
The legal text of the Canada-European Union free trade agreement will be ready for Canadians to examine soon, possibly in the next month or two, federal Trade Minister Ed Fast said Friday.
EU-US trade talks face growing hostility, ministers warn
28-Feb-2014 Reuters
Free-trade talks between the United States and the European Union are in danger of being derailed by populist groups opposing everything from globalization to multinationals, EU ministers and business leaders said on Friday.
Ukraine ready to sign association agreement during March EU summit
28-Feb-2014 EurActiv
Ukraine’s new government wants to sign its Association Agreement with the EU at the 20-21 March summit of EU leaders, a high-ranking diplomat told EurActiv today (27 February).
TTIP ‘challenged’ by environmental critics, EU says
27-Feb-2014 EurActiv
Plans for a sweeping EU-US free trade deal known as TTIP risk being blown off course by civil society fears about the damage it could wreak on environmental and social protections, according to a leaked EU document seen by EurActiv.
EU-US FTA (TTIP) - EU draft proposal on trade in services, investment and e-commerce (summer 2013)
27-Feb-2014 Die Zeit
As leaked by Die Zeit on 27 February 2014
Repsol in $5 billion settlement with Argentina
25-Feb-2014 New York Times
Repsol, the Spanish oil company agreed to a $5 billion compensation deal with Argentina for the seizure of the company’s operations in that country, ending a bitter two-year dispute.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership: No end in sight
25-Feb-2014 The Economist
“Significant gaps” remain after the Singapore talk, no date or place has been chosen for their next meeting, and it is hard to avoid the conclusion that any agreement is months or years away, writes The Economist.
De Gucht comments on TTIP ’stocktaking’ talks
25-Feb-2014 Tax News
Karel De Gucht has said that while good progress is being made on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), negotiators must now "step up a gear" if they hope to find common solutions to the problems facing them.
Senegal: Regional ministers endorse compromises for EPA negotiations
25-Feb-2014 African Manager
West Africa’s ministers of finance and trade have adopted the compromise proposals for concluding the decade-long negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union for a free trade area of the two regions.
Churchill Mining announces tribunal rejection of Indonesia challenge
25-Feb-2014 Alliance News
The thermal coal producer said the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes rejected Indonesia’s jurisdictional challenges and it can now pursue claims for damages under the respective Bilateral Investment Treaties Indonesia entered into with the United Kingdom and Australia.
India reviewing its 83 bilateral investment pacts: Anand Sharma
25-Feb-2014 PTI
The government today said it is reviewing all its bilateral investment promotion and protection pacts amid global firms raising concerns about India’s investment policies.
Australia looks to conclude FTA with Japan in April
25-Feb-2014 Kyodo
Australia’s trade minister said he’s ready to strike a free trade deal with Japan in April when Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to visit Tokyo, according to a Liberal Democratic Party member active in trade matters.
No end in sight yet for Trans-Pacific trade pact
25-Feb-2014 Reuters
Ministers in 12-nation Trans-Pacific trade talks said on Tuesday they had yet to reach agreement on tariffs and other market access issues, with the timing of a completed deal looking increasingly unclear.