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geopolitics

Taiwan presses for US trade pact
26-Jul-2006 AFP
Taiwan urged the United States to move quickly to forge a free-trade agreement (FTA) with America’s eighth biggest trading partner, despite bitter objections from China.
P5+1 nuclear package of incentives offered to Iran (2006)
19-Jul-2006 Iran Focus
The elements of a proposal to Iran as approved on 1 June 2006 at the meeting in Vienna of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United States and the European Union, including the commitment to achieve an EU-Iran Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement on trade and investment.
Venezuela’s Chavez looms large over US vote on Peru trade pact
15-Jul-2006 Mercury News
Free-trade agreements generally set tariffs on beef and commodities and deal with government procurement contracts and labor provisions. But as US Congress prepares to vote on a contentious free-trade accord with Peru, the figure of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is looming large.
Korea could drop Kaesong goods in FTA talks with US
10-Jul-2006
The government could give up trying to persuade the U to recognize products from the inter-Korea Kaesong Industrial Complex as made in South Korea in free trade negotiations. “It has become impossible to win Washington’s consent about the Kaesong issue because of North Korea’s sudden missile launches,” an official here said.
U.S., Oman Pact Nixes Israel Boycott
29-Jun-2006
The U.S. Congress is likely to approve a free trade agreement that includes strong foreign policy components with Oman, one of Washington’s closest allies in the Middle East, despite protests over the Arab country’s record on labour standards, human rights and the environment.
FTAs: Much more than trade pacts
29-Jun-2006
In keeping with the global trend, it is free trade agreement (FTA) talks galore in the Gulf. Apart from a deal with Lebanon, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are collectively and individually negotiating FTAs with the United States, European Union and India at present.
Trading on terror to profit a few
26-Jun-2006
Even as Congress has finally begun a serious debate about whether U.S. troops should be withdrawn from Iraq, another part of President Bush’s "war on terror" is advancing with far less public fanfare. Last month, the Senate Finance Committee approved the implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement and cleared the way for its consideration by Congress.
Trade should be linked to normalisation with India and not resolution of Kashmir
21-Jun-2006
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said in Karachi on Sunday that no progress had been made so far with the Indian government on the resolution of Siachen, let alone Kashmir and other vital issues, but he hoped that “outstanding issues will be resolved soon if the dialogue between the two neighbours continues”.
Malaysia and America as free trade partners?
17-Jun-2006 Daily Times
The American-backed FTA is certainly not designed to serve the interest of ordinary Malaysian or American workers (it may well lead to the practice of dumping and out-sourcing instead), but it will invariably open up the Malaysian economy to the rigours and discipline of the global market.
US draws distinct lines on what Congress will reject in Korea FTA
16-Jun-2006 Yonhap
A senior US senator drew clear lines Wednesday on what the Congress will not accept in a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, including imports from an industrial complex inside North Korea.
The myth of free trade
12-Jun-2006 The Standard
Once we confront the flimsiness of the free trade ideal and admit that every deal has varied implications, the sleight of hand that characterizes so-called global free trade might begin to be broken down and something called fair trade might yet emerge.
Boycott of Israel still in effect, Omani official tells ’Post’
8-Jun-2006 Indepedent Media Review Analysis
Five months after signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, Oman continues to restrict the import of Israeli-made goods despite a pledge made to the US that it would not boycott the Jewish state, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Korea, US fail to agree on Kaesong-made goods
7-Jun-2006
The first round of free-trade negotiations between Korea and the US failed to produce agreement on products made at the joint-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea.
FTA ’followed in letter and spirit’
29-May-2006 Gulf Daily News
The US government has confirmed that Bahrain is no longer part of an Arab boycott of Israeli products in line with its commitment to the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Tensions stall Japan/South Korea FTA
27-May-2006 Stuff.co.nz
Negotiations for a free trade pact between South Korea and Japan have been deadlocked for more than a year partly due to differences over how the two sides view their history, South Korea’s commerce minister said on Friday.
US ’better free trade partner than Japan, China’
26-May-2006 Chosun Ilbo
The US is a much better free-trade partner for Korea than China or Japan, where issues of race and historical animosities would make an agreement difficult, Korea’s chief negotiator in free-trade talks with the US said Thursday.
US forum focuses on ways trade can produce political effects in Mideast
6-May-2006
The importance of trade as a vehicle that can also produce significant political effects was the focus of a Cato Institute briefing on Capitol Hill entitled "Building Foundations for Freedom, Commerce and Peace in the Middle East."
Yes Mr. Solana, the EU has abandoned the Palestinian people
4-May-2006 The Electronic Intifada
If Solana wants to demonstrate genuine support for the Palestinians he can start by calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in accordance with its Article 2 which grants Israel trade privileges only on condition that it respects human rights.
Aziz links free trade to Kashmir
3-May-2006 Daily Times
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that free trade with India was not possible without resolving political disputes.
No benefit from free trade deals - PIDS
2-May-2006 The Daily Tribune
Policymakers should realize that free trade agreements (FTAs) are neither necessary nor sufficient for economic growth, Dr. Josef Yap, president of the government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said in a study.