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’Caution required for cross-border services’
28-Aug-2006
A financial research institute urged Korea to take a cautious approach in allowing cross-border insurance brokerage services as it would be harder to protect local consumers from potential damages.
SADC investment protocol welcomed
24-Aug-2006
The association of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chambers of Commerce and Industry cautiously welcome the signing of the finance and investment protocol by leaders of the 14-member regional trading bloc in Lesotho’s capital Maseru last week Friday.
Seoul reveals a lack of experience in FTA negotiations
9-Aug-2006
"We are learning new things while we’re negotiating with the American representatives," said a Korean official who was part of the labor section negotiation team during the first round of the Korea-U.S. FTA talks, held in Washington last June. "The U.S. is demanding the introduction of a so-called ’public communication system,’ which was a term that we heard for the first time," the negotiator told Hankyoreh.
U.S. FTA will batter banking sector: study
23-Jul-2006
The much-touted benefits of a free trade agreement with the United States will be confined to commercial enterprises, while other sectors of the Korean economy, particularly the banking industry, will take a battering, a think thank warned yesterday.
’Banks need to prepare for FTA’
18-Jul-2006 Korea Herald
A free trade agreement with the United States could have a profound impact on the regulatory environment of the Korean banking sector and reshape the industry’s landscape, a think tank said yesterday.
Undaunted, Citigroup has eye on Korea
30-Jun-2006
The CEO of the world’s largest financial services company, Citigroup’s Charles Prince, announced that he is not too concerned with the Korean sentiment against foreign assets in Korea, June 29.
TSX CEO urges PM to discuss adding securities trading to free trade agreement
14-Jun-2006 Canadian Business Online
The head of Canada’s largest stock exchange wants Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss the possibility of adding securities trading to the North American Free Trade Agreement when he meets with US President George W Bush next month.
Malaysia not bound to finalise FTA with US by 2007
11-May-2006 Bernama
Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz cited the financial sector as one area that Malaysia cannot open up at a faster pace. She noted that it was the US — not Malaysia — which made the approach on the FTA.
Nesac urges caution over US FTA talks
17-Apr-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Advisory Council has urged the government to delay free trade negotiations with the US on financial services and take intellectual property rights and agriculture liberalisation off the agenda.
Some European countries call for endorsing Association Agreement with Syria
23-Mar-2006 SANA
A source of the Higher Committee Specialized in Following up Issues of Partnership Association between Syria and EU has said that the EU has started to issue positive signals regarding agreement with Syria, particularly that some EU countries consider that there is no excuse for delaying signing the agreement after two years of initialing it.
China’s largest bank plans India foray
22-Mar-2006 Business Standard
After almost two years since Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation exited India, the biggest Chinese bank-Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)-has evinced interest in setting up operations in India.
Singapore wants Mauritius-like tax agreement with India
15-Mar-2006 Business Standard
Singapore is likely to ask India to re-visit the provisions of the bilateral Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement to bring it on a par with a similar agreement between India and Mauritius.
US calls for more flexible currency regime in Malaysia
24-Feb-2006 Business Times
The US would like to see greater exchange rate flexibility in Malaysia, US Treasury Under Secretary Timothy Adams said yesterday.
Thailand-US FTA talks likely to extend beyond April
19-Feb-2006 MCOT
Although the local political situation has become heated, with rumours on dissolving the parliament prevaling in the country, the Thai-US negotiations will continue, Naris Chaiyasoot, Director General of the Ministry of Finance’s Fiscal Policy Office, said.
US meets resistance on full access to finance
18-Feb-2006
A seminar heard yesterday that although US negotiators had asked Thailand to fully deregulate its financial services and allow US investors unrestricted stakes in the brokering and banking sectors, Bangkok was insisting that the sector was not ready to face direct competition.
US wants more concessions on beef imports: Official
9-Feb-2006 Chosunilbo
The US will push Korea for further negotiations on resuming imports of US beef with parts attached to the bone included, an official with the US Embassy in Korea said Wednesday. This January, the Korean government partly lifted the ban to ease the way for free-trade talks.
GCC-India FTA to be signed in near future
6-Feb-2006 Bahrein Tribune
The GCC-India free trade agreement (FTA) will open over a billion consumers’ market for the Gulf countries.
Thailand and US equally tough on insurance talks in FTA
13-Jan-2006
Talks to open up market access for the insurance sector within the framework of the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement ended here today with the only agreement - that each side would scrutinise the other’s list of demand for further consultations.
FTA finance talks with US: BOT baulks at three-year time frame
13-Jan-2006
After the sixth round of free-trade negotiations with the United States drew to a close yesterday, the Bank of Thailand said that Bangkok would continue to push for a gradual opening of its financial sector rather than within three years as the US has proposed.
Government urged to build financial architecture before opening up FTA with US
9-Jan-2006
The government should build a financial architecture before establishing a free trade area (FTA) between Thailand and the United States, according to leading financiers.