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geopolitics


EU warns Russia over trade ’threats’ to ex-Soviet bloc
The European Commission has warned Russia that it is "unacceptable" to use threats against ex-Soviet states which are seeking closer ties with the EU.
Signing of treaty on free trade zone between Ukraine, EU will create problems for Ukraine, Russia - Putin
"If Ukraine believes it needs to sign a treaty on free trade with the EU, it means that’s how it should be. However, we see some problems for us and them here," Putin said in an interview with Russia’s Channel One and the Associated Press.
Israel: A bitter harvest
The EU, Israel’s biggest trading partner, is preparing EU-wide guidelines for the labelling of goods made at settlements as originating from Israeli-occupied Palestinian land. The measure would affect $300m of Israeli exports, according to a World Bank estimate.
The challenges of the Pacific Alliance: Regional sovereignty in Latin America or a pampered periphery
Two projects of regional association are facing off in South America: the Pacific Alliance and UNASUR.
India becomes part of regional trading bloc despite Chinese opposition
India overcame resistance from China to become a part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, an Asean + 6 grouping which is set to emerge as one of the most significant free trading blocs in the world, government sources confirmed.
Will Asia’s largest FTA make a difference?
Unless there is enough political will to close potential loopholes disguised as “flexibility” and pursue reforms deeper than those ever before attempted, RCEP may be seen as serving the geopolitical interests of a few players, to little economic effect.
Despite promising start, Taiwan misses free trade deals
The island known for moving big batches of electronics to world markets is struggling to keep a toehold in Asia politically and economically against rivals that make the same stuff and have more trade deals, writes the business magazine Forbes
Joining TPP best answer for worries of further US encirclement
It is easy to perceive why China is highly apprehensive at the thought of Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This move fits into a complex pattern that has fed China’s paranoia about being encircled.
China left out of Obama free trade party
Obama’s new trade approach might be characterised as ABC – Anyone But China.
Experts call for BRICS free trade pact
"BRICS should consider proposing a free trade agreement at the summit, regardless of whether it’s feasible right now," said Wang Junwen, chairman of the China Association of International Trade.
Australian-US alliance a factor in Chinese investment decisions
The growing size and value of China’s investments in Australia makes the case for a bilateral investment treaty increasingly urgent, according to a leading China expert.
EU-Ukrainian Association Agreement: To sign or not to sign?
The leak of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA) turns the focus of their relations to a Shakespearean question: to sign or not to sign.
Pak-US hectic talks on BIT draft
Pakistan and the United States remained engaged on Friday to narrow their differences over the draft of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) which Islamabad and Washington have been discussing since March 2012
S. Korea says Japan free trade talks ‘difficult’ due to tensions
South Korea said resuming negotiations with Japan over a free trade agreement will be difficult given a maritime territorial spat.
Geopolitical tsunami in the Southern Cone
When the Paraguayan Senate approved the “political judgment” against Fernando Lugo on June 22, it unleashed the biggest political crisis in the Mercosur in the last 20 years. The dust still hasn’t settled, but it’s clear that nothing will be the same since the shake-up.
Asia Pacific talks not aimed at containing China - US official
Some in China see the Trans Pacific Partnership as a US attempt to rewrite the rules of trade for the region to economically contain China, whose rapid growth continues to rattle many lawmakers and companies in the United States. Deputy USTR Demetrios Marantis rejects the charge.
Goods from occupied lands should not be part of trade deal with Israel
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
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
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
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.