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geopolitics

Goods from occupied lands should not be part of trade deal with Israel
21-May-2012
In late 2010, former trade minister Peter Van Loan announced that Canada and Israel would start exploratory talks to upgrade the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA). Earlier this year, the Ministry of International Trade finished public consultations and is now in internal discussions to implement the upgrades.
Heart breaker: US says Pakistan cannot offer much in free trade
28-Jan-2012
The United States has said that a free trade accord is too big for Pakistan as there is no match between the economies of the two countries, says a top official of the commerce ministry.
Taiwan’s Ma seeks to join Trans-Pacific Partnership
25-Jan-2012 Asia Sentinel
US President Barack Obama’s promotion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free trade agreement, put forward in November at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Hawaii, is seen as a strategic tool to drive a wedge between the US and its Asia-Pacific friends on one side and China on the other.
Tensions grow ahead of EU-Ukraine summit
15-Dec-2011 Euractiv.com
Days before a crunch EU-Ukraine summit on 19 December, Kyiv is under increased pressure as Brussels urges its leaders to release political prisoners and Russia moves to take control of its gas pipeline network, diplomats told EurActiv.
Linking Kashmir to trade
15-Jun-2011
The European Parliament has passed a resolution linking a Free Trade Agreement with India to an improvement in its human rights records, and to greater democracy.
India, Pakistan agree to enhance trade
28-Apr-2011
India and Pakistan agreed Thursday to set up a joint working group to enhance trade, in a further move designed to ease tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals, officials said.
Tackling trans-Pacific trade
16-Sep-2010 Xinhua
With a third round of negotiations scheduled to be held in Brunei in October, the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) still faces ambiguity in promoting its intentions.
Free trade, disputed waters
17-Aug-2010 The Irrawady
The full story of China-Asean relations is a mix of good and bad.
Politics behind trade
11-Aug-2010
When politicians and bureaucrats make frequent remarks about the welfare and interests of citizens, one senses another election season is coming. That seems to be the case with the United States these days.
Is the US ready to challenge China’s Asean influence?
25-Oct-2009 The Irawaddy
Proposals by a prominent Washington senator to push the US government into a free trade agreement with Asean may be no more than a political prod to get President Barack Obama more engaged in Southeast Asia.
Taiwan and China: Reunification by trade?
24-Aug-2009 The Economist
Free-trade agreements are often contentious but rarely would one have as much strategic significance as that proposed between China and Taiwan.
AIPAC and the US-Colombia free trade deal
14-Jul-2009 IRMEP
By paying off IAI and laying the groundwork for future Israeli weapons purchases, the Colombian government clearly hopes to win the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to help pass the US-Colombia FTA.
A helping Chinese hand
29-Apr-2009 Asia Times
A new investment fund and loan package to help alleviate the impact of the global financial crisis for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents the latest overture of China’s "soft power" campaign towards the region.
US Muslim group seeks to nix US-Israel Free Trade agreement
23-Apr-2009 Haaretz
Global pharmaceuticals companies, which often argue that Israel should pass stricter legislation to protect intellectual property, have received support from an unexpected corner recently: the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep) has filed an urgent petition to the United States Trade Representative demanding the immediate suspension of preferential Israeli access to the US market under the Free Trade Area agreement.
US Security Council ’wants FTA with Korea ratified’
21-Apr-2009 Chosun Ilbo
"Inside US Trade", an American magazine, last Saturday quoted sources as saying NSC officials believe that the passage of the FTA bill will cement the Korea-U.S. alliance at a time when tension is mounting on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket.
Social organizations oppose signing economic agreement with China
15-Mar-2009 Taiwan Church News
Farmers, medium-sized and small businesses will lose out while capitalists will reap the most benefits if an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between Taiwan and China is signed. An ECFA is also a prelude to reunification.
China seeks ‘comprehensive’ economic pact with Taiwan
6-Mar-2009 Bloomberg
China will push for a comprehensive economic accord with Taiwan and wants to broaden discussions to involve military issues, Premier Wen Jiabao said.
Activists demand referendum on CECA proposal
26-Feb-2009 Taipei Times
Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan representative Tsay Ting-kuei said that if Taiwan signs a CECA under the “one China” principle, the agreement would symbolize Taiwan’s surrender to China.
Maltese civil society: Suspend EU-Israel agreement
23-Feb-2009 Electronic Intifada
In view of the recent three-week premeditated campaign of bombing of the population of Gaza and its infrastructure by the State of Israel which came after a crippling, illegal two-year siege, we, 14 member organizations of SKOP, the Maltese national platform of development non-governmental organizations, call for a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Taiwan, China negotiating a landmark free-trade sgreement
23-Feb-2009 Washington Post
Taiwan and China are negotiating a wide-ranging free-trade agreement that represents an important step toward the possibility of unification of the longtime adversaries.