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There are no free lunches in trade deals
13-Sep-2024 Foreign Policy
How to cut through the PR and understand an agreement.
Japanese firms keen on AfCFTA success
26-Aug-2024 Zimbabwe Independent
JAPANESE private companies are closely monitoring the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a senior official revealing this week that the success of the bloc is crucial to their interests.
Seed wars: how UK trade deals threaten global south farmers
1-Aug-2024 Fair Planet
Seed laws, often influenced by corporate interests, criminalize traditional farming practices and threaten food security. Farmers worldwide are increasingly restricted from saving and exchanging seeds, leading to a decline in agricultural biodiversity. While international agreements like UPOV and trade deals solidify corporate control including UK trade deals.
Dangote, Flour Mills, Tolaram make first AfCFTA exports
19-Jul-2024 Business Day
Dangote Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Tolaram are among nine companies that made first exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Dangote Refinery opens opportunity for shipping business, AfCFTA
25-Jun-2024 Business Day
Dangote Refinery is positioning Nigeria for the AfCFTA, which is also creating new trade opportunities between Nigeria and African countries.
Secretive court system has awarded over $100bn public money to corporations, finds new analysis
6-Jun-2024 The Guardian
More than $100bn of public money has been awarded to private investors in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) courts, according to the most comprehensive analysis yet.
US, Indo-Pacific partners holding talks in Singapore on clean energy
3-Jun-2024 The Jakarta Post
The US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is holding a ministerial meeting this week in Singapore, including major firms joining a "Clean Economy" investor forum to boost infrastructure and climate investments across the region.
Between sovereignty and corporate interests: what is at stake in the Ecuadorian referendum?
21-Apr-2024 Bilaterals.org
On 21 April 2024, the government of Daniel Noboa is holding a referendum in Ecuador to amend the country’s constitution and, in particular, to reactivate the dangerous investor-state dispute settlement mechanism.
After 30 Years of NAFTA, the Working Classes Are Still Losing
1-Mar-2024 The Nation
Thirty years after NAFTA came into effect in 1994, the economic data suggests a somber conclusion: The three countries’ working classes are worse off today than they were before
Swiss trade deal: Is India changing its tune on pharma patents?
27-Feb-2024 SWI
Intellectual property protection for the Swiss pharmaceutical industry has been a key sticking point in negotiations on a free trade agreement with India. Now there seems to be a breakthrough in talks after 16 years. What’s changed?
Cars v cows: German automakers call to split EU-Mercosur deal to bypass French ‘non’
31-Jan-2024 Euractiv
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement should be split into two distinctive parts to circumvent French resistance based on agricultural issues, the German car industry has proposed, in a bid to boost export markets other than China.
EU urged to conclude Mercosur trade talks amid environmental concerns
16-Jan-2024 Dairy Reporter
A total of 23 trade bodies have called for the swift approval of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, which will make it easier to export EU agri-food products including key dairy commodities to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay and vice versa.
Africa Collective in partnership with the AfCFTA secretariat to convene key African & global decision makers in Davos during annual luncheon
11-Jan-2024 Business Insider Africa
Following a successful inaugural Luncheon in 2023, Africa Collective in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat will once again be organizing its annual Closing & Outlook Luncheon in Davos on 18 January 2024 from 12:30 noon to 2:30 pm, during the time of the World Economic Forum.
Free-trade, investment ‘gateway to the EU’
6-Dec-2023 The Australian Financial Review
Australian companies looking for a foothold in both the United Kingdom and European Union markets could take a close look at Northern Ireland, which has unfettered tariff-free access to both.
Most red meat exports go into free trade agreement countries
27-Nov-2023 Beef Central
Almost all Australia’s red meat exports are being realised into countries the nation had free trade agreements with, producers were told.
Fonterra’s profit more than doubles on demand for dairy ingredients, shares rise
22-Sep-2023 Reuters
Increases in prices at recent global dairy trade auctions, the reemergence of Chinese buyers and the upgrade of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement indicated demand for New Zealand milk powders might pick up.
EU industry calls for a swift ratification of the agreement with Mercosur
11-Jul-2023 Premium Beauty
Cosmetics Europe, Cefic and a coalition of 17 other business associations representing different European industrial sectors call for a swift ratification of the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement.
Tech giants play too big a role in US Indo-Pacific trade talks, critics say
10-Jul-2023 Bloomberg
Technology giants are drawing protests as they aggressively try to shape a new US trade deal with Australia, South Korea and other members of the Indo-Pacific region that account for 40% of global economic output.
SEZ is a catalyst for accelerating Africa’s industrialisation agenda – speakers
8-Jun-2023 B&FT online
Speakers at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Industry (UNCTAD) workshop have indicated that Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are crucial for pushing Africa’s industrialisation agenda in the context of the AfCFTA.
Google, Amazon lobbyists helped US shape new Indo-Pacific Trade Framework
9-May-2023 Bloomberg
US trade officials have solicited the advice of lobbyists for Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and other major technology companies to help craft the new Indo-Pacific trade framework.