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Japan

FTAA unlikely to become reality soon, Mexico says
11-Apr-2007
Mexican Economy Secretary Eduardo Sojo said the U.S.-led Free Trade Area of the Americas scheme is likely to remain stalled in the foreseeable future as negotiations between the United States and the leftist-dominated South America on the issue have been deadlocked for the past few years.
India, S Korea agree on 80% tariff lines
10-Apr-2007 IRIS
India and South Korea have concluded the sixth round of negotiations on their proposed free trade agreement. Meanwhile, the second round of talks between India and Japan on their proposed comprehensive economic partnership agreement started in Tokyo today.
Japan, India start second round of trade talks
9-Apr-2007
Japan and India have opened a second round of talks on a free trade deal that the two countries aim to seal within two years.
Thai PM returns from Tokyo; greeted by critics on arrival
8-Apr-2007
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont dismissed criticism of his signing the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) as voiced by various sectors in Thailand.
US-ROK pact may prompt govt to rethink FTA stance
4-Apr-2007 Yomiuri Shimbun
The Japanese government is likely to reconsider its stance on free trade agreements in light of a pact concluded Monday between South Korea and the United States
FTA Watch and allies reject JTEPA
3-Apr-2007 FTA Watch
Today is a day of the deepest shame for Thailand and the Tai people. The coup-installed government of Gen Surayuth Chulanon has decided to sign a free trade agreement with Japan. This is in spite of the nation-wide impact that this agreement will have on the environment, biological resources, farmers, patients, small businesses and the majority consumers of health services. We insist that JTEPA as signed by the government today is null and void. We reject it and refute any obligations it places on the Thai people.
Japan-Thailand FTA (JTEPA, 2007)
3-Apr-2007 MOFA
Thai, Japanese leaders ink free trade pact
3-Apr-2007 MCOT
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Tuesday signed a landmark free trade accord which proponents in Thailand hope will boost bilateral trade, but which has drawn protests from non-governmental organisations and environmental activists.
Japan mulls FTA study with US, ready to resume talks with S. Korea
3-Apr-2007 Kyodo
Japan will study the pros and cons of a free trade agreement with the United States and is ready to restart FTA talks with South Korea, Cabinet ministers said Tuesday following a deal Washington and Seoul struck Monday.
FTA with Japan ’could hurt education sector’
2-Apr-2007
The Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) could put Thailand at a disadvantage if it focuses more on competition than on co-operation in educational services, participants at a brainstorming session claimed yesterday.
Legal expert warns Thai-Japan trade pact could be invalid
2-Apr-2007
The signing of the Japan-Thailand free trade agreement in Tokyo tomorrow could eventually be proven invalid as the signing process is unconstitutional, a legal expert said yesterday. Thammasat University law lecturer Banjerd Singkhaneti said the interim constitution did not authorise the coup-installed government to sign the bilateral trade pact, also known as the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA).
FTA with Japan seen as a threat to SMEs
2-Apr-2007
The decision of the interim government to sign the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (Jtepa) spells doom for most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have low competitiveness compared to Japanese high-technology industries, some key Thai industries say.
What’s the rush to ink FTA with Japan?
2-Apr-2007 Bangkok Post
Critics of tomorrow’s signing say the interim Thai government has broken promises and failed to reveal details of the pact, but the biggest question they have is why Surayud is in such a hurry
Signing of FTA is like policy corruption, NGOs tell govt
2-Apr-2007 The Nation
A group of Thai non-governmental organisations led by FTA Watch yesterday launched a campaign against the Surayud government over its plan to sign a free-trade pact with Japan tomorrow. The Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement will cause tremendous damage to a massive number of farmers and allow a foreign country to take over the country’s biological resources, while only a few exporters would benefit, they said.
Letter from Japanese farmers to Prime Minister of Thailand
1-Apr-2007 Via Campesina
From our standpoint, upcoming Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Thailand and Japan involves big problems which will bring misery of people in both countries.
Businesses back trade pact
31-Mar-2007
Thailand’s powerful business groups have thrown their full support behind government plans to sign a free trade agreement with Japan, believing the deal will increase exports to Japan by more than US$1 billion in the first year alone.
Private sector fully supports signing of Japan-Thailand FTA
30-Mar-2007
The Joint Private-Sector Committee has supported the government’s decision to sign the Japan and Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), saying Thailand would lose a market share in Japan if the signing was cancelled or postponed.
Dealing with the generals
30-Mar-2007
The troubled military-appointed government in Thailand has said that it will go ahead with the signing of a free-trade deal with Japan on April 3rd. Although welcomed by some local sectors, the move risks further damaging the interim government’s credibility, as concerns have been raised over whether the government has overstepped its authority and also that it has failed to follow up on its promise to hold public hearings on the issue.
Court rejects petition against FTA
29-Mar-2007
The Administrative Court yesterday turned down a petition by a group of Thai non-government groups to block a free-trade deal with Japan, saying the issue was beyond its jurisdiction.
Thai leader to visit, sign FTA with Abe next week
29-Mar-2007
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has said Japan and Thailand will sign a free-trade agreement next week during his visit.