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geopolitics

Abe, Trump seek Indian-Pacific strategy to counter China
14-Nov-2017 Asahi
Japan and the United States are sailing toward a joint strategy focused on the Indian-Pacific region as one way of containing the maritime advances being made by China into the East China Sea and South China Sea.
China vigilant about revival of TPP
6-Nov-2017 Japan News
China is becoming increasingly wary about negotiations over the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, which includes Japan but not the United States following the latter’s withdrawal.
India-Mauritius to restart FTA talks soon
13-Oct-2017 Business Standard
Agreement of strategic importance to counter Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean.
RCEP ushers transition to China’s order in East Asia
3-Oct-2017 Asia Times
A new split East Asian order is emerging led by China through the RCEP negotiations and Belt and Road Initiative.
THAAD reprisals undermine China FTA
11-Sep-2017 Korea Herald
China has shown no hesitation in disregarding its obligations under the free trade agreement with South Korea to take retaliatory measures against the deployment of a US missile defense system in the peninsula, say Korean media
Sri Lanka signs deal on Hambantota port with China
31-Jul-2017 BBC
Sri Lanka has signed a $1.1bn (£837m) deal with China for the control and development of the southern deep-sea port of Hambantota.
ANALYSIS—Europe seeks to set global trade rules after Trump steps back
27-Jul-2017 Reuters
The EU now has much of Asia and Latin America in its sights for trade treaties, while a far-reaching pact with Canada will already enter force in September.
Nigeria says Ecowas studying ramifications of Morocco membership
25-Jul-2017 Bloomberg
Several Nigerian lobby groups, including an organization of retired ambassadors, are putting pressure on the Nigerian government to reject the application because of the decades-old dispute over Western Sahara and Morocco’s geographical distance.
Wine and the Canada-Israel free trade agreement
24-Jul-2017 Dissident Voice
Two weeks ago the worst fear of Canadian opponents of neoliberal ‘free trade’ agreements came true. Surprisingly, there has been almost no reaction from the political parties, unions, and other organizations that warned these agreements would be used to undermine Canadian law, even though this is exactly what happened.
Think the RCEP is about free trade? Think again
28-Apr-2017 Nikkei Asian Review
RCEP is aimed at saving China’s own economy via the Belt and Road
The political motivations of the United States’ bilateral investment treaty program
26-Apr-2017 SSRN
The United States has largely used BITs as a foreign policy tool to improve relationships with strategically important countries in the developing world.
EU and UK soon to be in a post-Brexit rush over free trade agreement with Australia
11-Apr-2017 European Sting
The European Union is eyeing to exclude the UK from trade talks with Australia amid concerns that “sensitive information” may be used by an almost ex-member, reports European Sting.
India, Russia to step up geopolitical and economic cooperation in 2017
27-Jan-2017 RBTH
At the bilateral level, Moscow and New Delhi are poised to make a trajectory shift, especially in the realms of two-way mutually beneficial economic linkages.
EU pushes for Dutch deal on Ukraine to fend off Russia
15-Dec-2016 Reuters
European Union leaders expressed confidence that they would clinch an agreement that addresses Dutch concerns over a deal establishing closer ties with Ukraine, mindful that any failure to do so would hand a victory to Russia.
Post-Brexit dreams of empire: arms, free trade and corporate conquest
14-Dec-2016 The Ecologist
A new era of corporate ’free trade’ colonialism looms, spearheaded by aid spending, with ramped-up arms exports to the world’s most corrupt and repressive regimes
Taiwan to seek US support for investment, trade agreements
13-Dec-2016 Economy Lead
Taiwan will seek the support of the United States for signing bilateral and multilateral investment and free trade agreements, the Taiwanese President has said.
First season in Switzerland without occupation tomatoes?
9-Dec-2016 WSRW
From this winter on, Swiss supermarkets will probably, for the first time, no longer sell tomatoes from occupied Western Sahara.
Vietnam’s reluctance to ratify the TPP is bad news for Washington
28-Oct-2016 Nikkei Asian Review
Vietnam’s decision to hold off ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a further blow to the beleaguered trade pact and a setback for American economic ambitions in Asia.
Why Russia and China want to limit US economic influence in Asia-Pacific
2-Sep-2016 Russia Direct
Given new attempts by the U.S. to create economic integration structures that will restrain Chinese dominance in the region, Beijing is working on building deeper economic cooperation with other Asia-Pacific countries – including Russia.
Asean told to refocus on RCEP
27-Jun-2016 The Nation
Thailand and other Asean nations should review their stance on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and rather refocus on materialising the Regional Cooperation on Economic Partnership, said former WTO chief.