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APEC

Roh wants APEC to become bloc
7-Sep-2005 Korea Times
Korean President Roh Moo-hyun Tuesday stressed the need for Asian and Pacific Rim countries to pursue economic integration like that of the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He said it would be more effective on a long-term basis to build a regional economic bloc, rather than to continue signing bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs).
Preferential trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region
1-Sep-2005
This IMF working paper of July 2005 describes the proliferation of PTAs in the Asia-Pacific region, discusses their characteristics and implementation, and assesses their potential effects.
APEC & free trade agreements in the Asia Pacific
22-Jul-2005
This conference provides a useful opportunity to reflect on the present and possible future role of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation). In recent years, veteran APEC-watchers have rather complacently dismissed the grouping as irrelevant. But we may have under-estimated its contribution to the new matrix of economic alliances that are emerging within the region.
APEC trade ministers agree to promote trade facilitation in RTA/FTAs
5-Jun-2005
APEC Trade Ministers have agreed to develop possible model measures on trade facilitation for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Regional Trading Agreements (RTAs) for endorsement by APEC Leaders in November.
High price to host, protect APEC ’07
11-May-2005 The Age
Hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in 2007 will cost Australia $216.3 million.
Labour: The spread of bilateral trade agreements
14-Dec-2004 GURN (135kb PDF)
This report looks at major Customs Unions, Free Trade Areas, and economic association agreements around the world, with particular attention to any clauses covering social issues, core labour standards and trade union participation.
EIU: Free-trade free-for-all
7-Dec-2004 EIU ViewsWire
If proof were needed that an Asian free-trade "arms race" has begun in earnest, then the 10th ASEAN summit in Vientiane on November 29th-30th provided it in abundance. The highlight of the summit was the signing of an FTA between China and ASEAN, but equally striking was the number of other trade pacts that were, variously, agreed, worked on or proposed during the meeting in the Lao capital.
A serendipitous exception in FTAs
26-Nov-2004
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Chile last weekend, leaders discussed economic issues, especially trade. Singapore and Peru, for example, agreed to initiate talks for a free trade agreement.
APEC leaders duck free-trade plan
22-Nov-2004 Channel News Asia
Asia-Pacific leaders have ducked a call from business advisors to study an ambitious FTA among APEC members.
Apec FTA proposal raising interest
17-Nov-2004 NZPA
A proposal for an Asia-Pacific free trade agreement is attracting significant interest at a ministerial-level meeting of member countries in Santiago, Chile, NZ Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said today.
Chile wants study of RTAs and FTAs within Asia-Pacific
14-Nov-2004 Malaysia Star
Chile wants a study of regional trading arrangements (RTAs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) within the Asia Pacific region, and this is likely to be discussed by the leaders at the forthcoming APEC Summit in Santiago.
ABAC: Assessment of the Proposal for an FTAAP
12-Nov-2004 ABAC
An Issues Paper for the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
Taiwan: FTA push moves into high gear
8-Nov-2004 Taipei Times
Taiwan is struggling to find ways of making free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners, even as China and ASEAN are set to sign two landmark agreements this month establishing the world’s largest Free Trade Area, which is scheduled to come into being by 2010.
APEC might form unilateral FTA: Official
2-Nov-2004 Jakarta Post
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation member countries are displaying a growing tendency in favor of establishing a unilateral free trade agreement in the vast region, according to a senior official at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade.
Trade deals must embrace APEC
13-Sep-2004
Asia-Pacific free trade has to be front and centre of any bilateral trade deals struck in the region, a key American business leader says.
APEC meet urges FTA
6-Sep-2004 NDTV.com
Finance Ministers from the 21 members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) explored a wide free trade agreement on Thursday at a conference in Chile.
FTA with US: Thai investors ’set to reap big benefits’
23-May-2004
The upcoming Thai-US free-trade agreement will benefit Thai investors as further business opportunities open up in a vast market which imports goods and services worth about US$1.5 trillion (Bt60 trillion) annually.
Analysis: U.S. Seizing Initiative in Pushing Trade Liberalization
24-Mar-2004 Bulatlat.com
Writing in the Financial Times (Sept. 22, 2003) after the collapse of the fifth WTO Ministerial Conference, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick lamented the “broader culture of protest” that characterized negotiations at Cancun, correctly (if sarcastically) noting that “countries that feel victimized are unlikely to agree to anything.”