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Gulf states urged to end trade talks with EU
2-Sep-2008 Emirates Business 24/7
A former Saudi official yesterday urged Gulf oil producers to halt their prolonged free trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) and opt instead for separate agreements that will serve the region’s interests.
EPA signing postponed
2-Sep-2008 Radio Jamaica
Today’s signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARICOM countries and Europe is officially off.
ALP calls on govt not to sign EPA
2-Sep-2008 Antigua Sun
The Antigua Labour Party is calling on the government not to sign the EPA.
South Korea, EU to seek package solution on free trade deal
1-Sep-2008 Asia Pulse
Chief negotiators from South Korea and the European Union have agreed to seek a package solution on controversial issues such as auto trade after failing to narrow their gap in three-day free trade talks, officials said Friday.
The struggle continues over EPAs
1-Sep-2008
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs) are being given a bad name for nothing, according to Ghanaian parliamentarian JB Danquah.
S. Korea, EU fail to make progress in FTA talks
30-Aug-2008 Xinhua
South Korea and the European Union failed to narrow their gap in their free trade agreement (FTA) talks, South Korean Trade Ministry said on Friday.
ASEAN chief says proposed ASEAN-EU free trade pact "challenging"
29-Aug-2008 Channel News Asia
A proposed free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union is "one of the most challenging" ASEAN is negotiating, the bloc’s chief said on Thursday. The two parties had agreed on a schedule for discussions, but were having problems making headway due to the complexity of the talks.
EPA deadline a moving target - It’s October 31 or nothing, says EU
29-Aug-2008 Jamaica Gleaner
A senior European Union diplomat in Kingston warned Wednesday that Caribbean countries that fail to sign a trade pact the region negotiated with EU by the October 31 deadline will lose preferential access for their product into the European market.
EPA, worst thing since slavery - NWU
28-Aug-2008 Radio Jamaica
One of Jamaica’s major trade unions is insisting that Jamaica could be heading down a dangerous path if it goes ahead and signs the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
Jamaica: Trade unions want EPA signing delayed
28-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) says it will seek to delay the signing of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), between CARIFORUM and the European Union, to allow for a review and possible renegotiation of the agreement.
ECOWAS civil society groups kick against trade deals with EU
26-Aug-2008 GNA
Civil society organisations have asked governments of ECOWAS countries to suspend all trade-related negotiations with the EU.
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago prepare for economic shutdown
26-Aug-2008 Caribbean Net News
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up for a nationwide shut down of the country on September 8. They are protesting rising crime, uncontrollable food prices and increasing violence in the country, and calling for Trinidad and Tobago not to rush into signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU pact hit by last-minute revolt
26-Aug-2008 IPS
Eight months after congratulating themselves for having become the first region within the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping to conclude negotiations with the European Union on a new trade and economic pact, Caribbean leaders are getting cold feet as the time draws near to affix their signatures to the document.
Asean wary of EU approach to expanding free trade talks
25-Aug-2008 Bangkok Post
The European Union is considering ’’deeper’’ free trade area (FTA) discussions with Asean members that would cover political issues sensitive for some Asean governments: labour rights, environment legislation, competition policy, transparency in government procurement, and liberalisation in services.
EPA ’merry-go-round’
25-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
A day after Caricom chairman Baldwin Spencer proposed September 8 for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) the Observer has learnt that the pact is now unlikely to be signed before either September 12 or September 19.
Third World Network wants government to decline EPA pact
23-Aug-2008
The Third World Network (TWN) has said that it will continue to mount pressure on the government and policy makers for them to withdraw from signing a non-preferential economic partnership with the European Union (EU).
Caribbean integration and global Europe: Implications of the EPA for the CSME
22-Aug-2008 Norman Girvan
This paper critically assesses the compatibility of the CARIFORUM-EC EPA with the proposed CARICOM Single Market and Economy—CSME. The main conclusion is that the CSME, a project for the creation/strengthening of the regional economy for engagement with globalisation, will be superseded by the EPA, which involves a high degree of bilateral integration of individual Cariforum countries with Europe in trade, investment and regulatory policies.
S Korea-EU starts tackling sensitive issues of FTA
22-Aug-2008 Xinhua
Top negotiators of South Korea and the European Union (EU) will meet in Seoul next week to seek progress in their free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations by tackling sensitive issues, the Korea herald reported Thursday.
Backing out
22-Aug-2008 The Nation
Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has called for an urgent meeting of the CARICOM heads of government ahead of the scheduled September 2 signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Latin America’s free trade agreements with the European Union - An agenda for domination
21-Aug-2008 GRAIN
The EU is currently negotiating FTAs with Central America, the Andean Community of Nations and Mercosur. Its objective is to use these agreements to complete the privatisation process, to remove restrictions on European property and activity in the region, to acquire full access to natural resources and to obtain guarantees that European companies will be able to operate with clear advantages over national companies. Moreover, all these concessions granted to European companies are to be protected from any political changes that the peoples of the region might want to undertake in the future.