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Japan

Manila-Tokyo deal: A toxic nightmare
20-Feb-2007 Manila Standard Today
I first thought that my Japanese clients were trying to patronize me (and us Filipinos) when they said that Japan did us an injustice in the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.
Japan, ASEAN to miss end-March target for free trade deal
19-Feb-2007 Kyodo
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will not be able to wrap up their negotiations for an economic partnership agreement by the end of next month and now hope to strike a deal by June or July.
NGOs fear there’s a hidden agenda in Japan FTA
17-Feb-2007 The Nation
Khao-Kwan Foundation chairman Day-cha Siripatra said the country would lose several hundred billion baht a year if the government allowed Japan to patent micro-organisms.
Legislators face tough choice over Thai-Japan FTA
16-Feb-2007 MCOT
Despite the Thai government’s intense effort to press ahead with the draft free trade agreement with Japan, appointed members of the National Legislative Assembly remain divided as to its pros and cons.
US envoy says solving farm issues is key to possible FTA with Japan
15-Feb-2007 Kyodo
US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer sounded a positive note Wednesday over a possible free trade agreement between the world’s two major economies and indicated that resolving farm issues would be the key.
India, Japan can rule Asian economy post-CEPA: Envoy
15-Feb-2007 Hindustan Times
Japan is confident that a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement currently being negotiated with India would help the two countries dominate Asia’s economic output in the future.
NLA lobbied hard to back FTA deal with Japan
15-Feb-2007 Bangkok Post
The Thai Foreign Ministry is lobbying hard for the National Legislative Assembly’s support for a free trade area (FTA) agreement with Japan
Legislature to debate portions of Thai-Japan FTA pact
14-Feb-2007 MCOT
Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly will debate the controversial Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement on Thursday.
Japanese NGOs join Thai protest
13-Feb-2007 Bangkok Post
Sixteen Japanese non-government organisations have joined the protest by Thai activists against the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement (FTA) by urging their government to remove tariff reductions for hazardous waste from the pact.
Activists want waste provisions to be removed from agreement
12-Feb-2007 Bangkok Post
Activists have called on Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly to remove trade in waste and micro-organism patenting from the Japan-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
RI, Japan to meet in Tokyo this month to finalize EPA deal
9-Feb-2007 Jakarta Post
"We have finished about 90 percent of the content. But regarding quality, the remaining 10 percent is of much greater significance," Indonesia’s chief negotiator Sumadi Brotodiningrat said.
India, Japan move closer to trade pact
5-Feb-2007 Economic Times
India and Japan have decided to set up four working groups in goods, services, investment and bilateral cooperation to take forward negotiations on the proposed bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).
Japan-Thailand FTA (JTEPA): draft chapter on intellectual property
3-Feb-2007
Corporate boss leads charge for free trade
1-Feb-2007 The Australian
Fujio Mitarai, the Nippon Keidanren chairman who leads a powerful business mission to Australia at the weekend, belongs to the Japanese establishment’s inner elite. His position is often described as "prime minister of business".
Campaigners call for caution, transparency in free trade deal with Japan
1-Feb-2007 MCOT
Critics of the proposed Japan Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement have warned the Thai government not to rush the draft free trade agreement through the National Legislative Assembly.
China vs Japan: FTAs, oil and Taiwan
27-Jan-2007 bulatlat
China and Japan are locked in a rivalry over at least three flashpoints: Free trade agreements, particularly in the region; oil energy; and Taiwan.
Free trade: Japan and ... Switzerland?!
24-Jan-2007 Asia Times
Why Switzerland? Why not?
Thai-Japan free trade pact set for legislative assembly hearing
24-Jan-2007 MCOT
The Cabinet gave a greenlight to the proposed Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) Tuesday, paving the way for the bill to be sent to the National Legislative Assembly for further scrutiny.
Japan must enter FTA or lose market to China: Humayun
24-Jan-2007 The News International
Pakistan asked Japan to strike Free Trade Agreement (FTA) otherwise the import of auto parts and machinery from Japan will suffer in the wake of FTA with China, Humayun Akhter Khan, Commerce Minister said Monday.
US, Japanese bosses call for ambitious trade pact
20-Jan-2007 The News International
Powerful US and Japanese business leaders called Friday for a free-trade agreement to link the world’s two largest economies.