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geopolitics

The TTIP of the spear
29-Oct-2015 The Economist
Selling Europe’s trade agreement with America as “strategic” has problems
A European (Fairy) Tale?
26-Oct-2015 Tele Sur
With the signing of the secret TAFTA agreements, the EU might very well be embarking on a cruise that would seal the fate of Europe as we know it.
Japan, Mongolia affirm closer economic ties via free trade pact
23-Oct-2015 The Japan Times
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mongolian Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg to advance economic cooperation between the two countries on the back of a free trade agreement
Why geopolitical arguments in favour of TTIP are also flawed
8-Oct-2015 Speri
The geopolitical ‘setting global standards’ argument that has become central to the advocates’ discourse on TTIP is seriously flawed. TTIP will only lead to high global standards under certain conditions and these conditions are unlikely to be met.
EU backs free trade agreement with Ukraine’s entry into effect on Jan 1, 2016 – foreign minister
2-Sep-2015 Interfax
Ukraine-EU Association Agreement will be fully applicable as of 01.01.2016,
Vietnam et Etats-Unis : une nouvelle ère stratégique ?
26-Aug-2015 Asialyst
Les relations entre Hanoi et Washington, ennemis d’hier, entrent dans une nouvelle ère. Au-delà du symbole, l’enjeu est la redéfinition des rapports de forces en Asie-Pacifique, avec la Chine au centre du jeu.
Free-trade treaties are anti-free trade
18-Aug-2015 Toward Freedom
Free trade treaties are not really based on free trade but rather on protectionism.
Obama woos Asia with trade deal asserting US Pacific role
24-Jul-2015 Bloomberg
Trade officials from 12 governments are gathering in Hawaii next week to attempt to hash out the final details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential bonanza for US corporations.
TPP ’cold war taking place by proxy’
29-Jun-2015 Otago Daily Times
The Trans Pacific Partnership is a ’’geopolitical contest’’ between the United States and China, University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey says.
Lawmakers are using trade rules to blacklist critics of Israel
29-Jun-2015 Foreign Policy in Focus
Legislation to fast track new trade pacts specifically targets supporters of the BDS movement against the Israeli occupation.
US Congress passes anti-BDS legislation, key trade bill
25-Jun-2015 i24News
The so-called trade promotion authority bill passed by Congress requires US negotiators to make the rejection of the BDS campaign a principal trade objective in negotiations with the European Union.
Morocco: EU Court to give verdict ’in few months’ on Sahrawi appeal against EU-Morocco agricultural agreement
19-Jun-2015 Sahara Press Service
The European Union Court examined Tuesday the appeal of the Polisario Front against the agricultural agreement concluded in 2000 between the European Union and Morocco, and the decision on this issue will be given in a few months
US trade bills seek to halt boycotts of Israel
13-Jun-2015
Amendments to Obama’s sweeping trade package would fight BDS, but Democrats opposed to other sections are holding things up.
China-led lender adds urgency to Japan’s pursuit of pan-Pacific trade pact
26-May-2015 Reuters
"If the new Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank goes ahead and TPP fails .... perception-wise it will hurt in the leadership contest for the Asia-Pacific," a Japanese government source told Reuters.
GCC leaders to meet with President Obama
11-May-2015
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council will be meeting with President Barack Obama this week at the White House and at Camp David. The six member nations of the GCC include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
The long arm of the EU: The Association Agreement and expansionist policies
27-Apr-2015 Counter Currents
The European Union is pursuing a targeted geostrategic goal aimed at extending its sphere of influence, the first priority being to control its immediate “neighbourhood” through association agreements.
TPP is a mistake
9-Apr-2015 Forbes
In many respects TPP appears essentially to be coming down to a US-Japan bilateral trade treaty that might complement the US-Japan security treaty, writes Jean-Pierre Lehmann.
US Defense Secretary urges approval of TPP
7-Apr-2015 VoA
US defense chief calls TPP one of the most important parts of the US re-balancing toward Asia-Pacific, including its military relationships.
The flaws in the geopolitical case for the TPP
25-Mar-2015 Financial Times
There is an intuitive appeal to the geopolitical use of trade agreements. But quickly scanning the two main bilateral trade deals the US has signed over the past decade in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia and South Korea, it is hard to see much strategic impact.
White House sees China as trump card in trade debate
27-Feb-2015 Reuters
The Obama administration is confident lawmakers will warm up to a proposed Pacific free trade deal on the grounds it is a chance for the United States, rather than China, to dictate the rules of Asian trade, a top official said on Thursday.