14-May-2006
ABC
Australia’s Treasury has dismissed the Australian Government’s quest for bilateral free trade deals in Asia, saying that there are no clear benefits.
12-May-2006
A further round of New Zealand-China FTA negotiations will take place in Queenstown next week (15-19 May).
8-May-2006
Jakarta Post
Energy resource-poor Japan is turning to a free-trade agreement, or FTA, with oil and gas-rich trading partners to secure stable supplies to fuel the world’s second largest economy.
6-May-2006
Having concluded free trade agreements with SAARC, Singapore and Thailand, India is pursuing similar arrangements with several other Asian countries, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said here on Friday.
6-May-2006
ABC
Federal Trade Minister Mark Vaile says wheat and beef must be included in any Australian free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
26-Apr-2006
YONHAP
A free trade pact between South Korea, China and Japan could damage South Korea’s fisheries industry, a report said Wednesday.
24-Apr-2006
Australia’s service providers - including the big banks, universities and construction and transport companies - yesterday received the strongest indication yet that they may be among the winners from the free trade agreement being negotiated with China.
24-Apr-2006
Businesspeople naturally admire decisiveness. This is one reason why China is so widely sought by corporate Australia as a trade and investment partner.
20-Apr-2006
TCS Daily
A large set of strategic economic and security questions will challenge both US and Chinese leaders over the next decade. These relate directly to the growth of Asian regionalism, with attendant political institutions, decisions regarding new regional trade and investment agreements, as well as a potential new security architecture for at least East and South Asia.
18-Apr-2006
Japan Times
Trade minister Toshihiro Nikai’s announcement earlier this month that Japan plans to start talks with 15 other nations in 2008 to create an Asia-Oceania free-trade zone took many by surprise — not only experts but also those within government — sparking speculation about the ministry’s true intentions.
13-Apr-2006
SABC News
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has warned government that thousands of textile workers, especially women, will soon join the unemployment queue.
10-Apr-2006
Reuters
Japan’s farm minister expressed scepticism toward the idea of a free trade pact with China, while its foreign minister said on Friday the two economic giants should avoid jockeying for power in the region.
8-Apr-2006
TMCnet
A government policy-setting panel on Friday welcomed a proposal by the trade minister to launch negotiations between Japan and its 15 Asian neighbors to create a free trade zone, and discussed whether to accept more foreign workers amid the aging of society, economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano said.
6-Apr-2006
NBR
New Zealand is on track to become the first Western country to clinch a free trade agreement with China after the leaders of both countries set a goal to secure such a deal within one to two years.
4-Apr-2006
AFX
The Japanese government plans to propose the formation of an Asian free-trade zone which could include half the world’s population and rival the EU and NAFTA, an official of the trade ministry said.
3-Apr-2006
The proposed free-trade agreement with China is intended to better position South African business to gain access to China’s economy. But will it?
3-Apr-2006
ABC
Australian farmers are warning the Federal Government to take its time negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, after a push by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to accelerate talks.
3-Apr-2006
China wants a breakthrough on a free trade deal with Australia within two years, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says.
30-Mar-2006
ABC
Australia is to break the link between key economic sectors, to start formal negotiations with China on a free trade agreement (FTA). The offers on goods and agriculture will start before work on services and investment.
27-Mar-2006
With President Hu Jintao due to visit the United States, there is an urgent need for a cease-fire in the war of words between China and the United States over trade.
