Australia

EU capitalizing on free-trade interest amid gloom over Trump policies

12-Mar-2017 Reuters

The European Union is seeing increased impetus around the world to move forward with Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the bloc, which will make the most of uncertainty over the outlook for U.S. trade policy.

Govt costs for tobacco case still secret

2-Mar-2017 The Australian

Taxpayers are still in the dark about how much of their money has been spent on fighting tobacco giant Philip Morris over plain packaging laws.

Art of the trade deal: China-championed pact faces tricky talks

1-Mar-2017 Bloomberg

Some nations are uneasy about rushing to get the RCEP done, even with the failure of the TPP.

Australia, Indonesia make headway on free trade deal

1-Mar-2017 Tax-news

Trade ministers from Australia and Indonesia have said that strong progress was made during the sixth round of free trade negotiations.

Business groups seek progress on Australia-Indonesia FTA

28-Feb-2017 Tax-news

Businesses from Australia and Indonesia have urged officials to reach an agreement on a new trade deal by August (2017), the target date set by ministers.

Turnbull and Widodo to seal free trade

24-Feb-2017 International Business Times

Sealing a free trade between the two countries is reportedly the main agenda of Widodo’s visit to Australia.

Pressure grows on mining giant to pay $8 million to El Salvador

23-Feb-2017 Tele Sur

Over 280 organizations from around the world sent an open letter to Canadian-Australian mining giant OceanaGold demanding that the company adhere to an earlier ruling that ordered the company to pay the government of El Salvador US$8 million

Australia’s march towards corporatocracy

20-Feb-2017 The Conversation

While consultancies, political donations, secondments and staff movements magnify corporate influence over government, an equally sinister trend is playing out in the world of multinational corporations.

NZ and Australia to work together to salvage TPP - English

18-Feb-2017 Radio NZ

Australia and New Zealand have agreed to work together to try to breathe life into the stalled Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

Canada free-trade deal with EU points way for Australia

16-Feb-2017 Australian Financial Review

The European Union hope to launch the negotiation with Australia in the second half of the year, says EU ambassador to Canberra

Senate Committee puts final nail in TPP coffin

8-Feb-2017 Friends of the Earth Australia

The Senate Committee’s majority report highlights major concerns about the trade deal, including the lack of enforceable labour and environmental standards, the draconian intellectual property provisions and the risks associated with ISDS.

Australia: 53 health, church, union, environment and aid organisations call for Labor to reject failed TPP

8-Feb-2017 AFTINET

Fifty-three organisations representing more than two million Australians have endorsed a letter calling on Labor to reject the failed Trans-Pacific Partnership and not vote on implementing legislation for it.

China backs regional partnership after US walks away from TPP

25-Jan-2017 The Hindu

China is hoping to galvanise two regional trade proposals — the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Free-Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), following the formal exit of the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Australia and New Zealand to pursue ’TPP 12 minus one’

24-Jan-2017 BBC

Australia and New Zealand say they are hopeful of pressing ahead with the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, despite America’s formal withdrawal.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): An assessment of the negotiations

10-Jan-2017 Third World Network

Negotiations by 16 Asia-Pacific nations to establish the RCEP - the world’s largest trading bloc - have been proceeding since 2012. Surveying the negotiations, Biswajit Dhar argues that this ASEAN-led initiative can constitute the building block for a truly viable East Asian Community provided the parties break out from the straitjacket of trade liberalisation.

Australia interested in FTA with Peru

3-Jan-2017 Andina

The Australian government said it considers the possibility of negotiating an FTA with Peru, as the Asia-Pacific faces the potential collapse of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Report shows trade agreements have boosted medicine and copyright monopolies

21-Dec-2016 AFTINET

Global pharmaceutical companies have successfully lobbied for longer monopolies in trade agreements which have delayed the availability of cheaper medicines, resulting in higher prices.

Asian allies’ envoys urge Trump to drop opposition to TPP

20-Dec-2016 The Japan Times

U.S.-allied Asian ambassadors are urging President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and keep the U.S. engaged in Asia.