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Regional banana exporters uneasy as Latin America pressures EU
23-Feb-2008
The Caribbean Banana Exporters’ Association (CBEA) is expressing grave concern that the European Union (EU) might bow to pressure from Latin American banana producing countries and reduce its 176 euros per tonne tariff for bananas from that region.
Deal with Europe will lead to Dominican-Haiti trade pact in 1 year, official says
23-Feb-2008
The Economic Association Agreement between Cariforum and European Union (EPA) countries will lead Dominican Republic and Haiti to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement in one year, said Industry and Commerce minister Melanio Paredes, during the Business Table organized by magazine The Economist.
EU EPAs could inhibit South-South trade integration, Brazil alleges
22-Feb-2008 Bridges
Brazil has alleged that a clause in the EU’s recent trade agreements with several former colonies could discourage these countries, among the world’s poorest, from pursuing deeper trade integration with other developing nations.
Caribbean: Fissures appear over EU trade deal
21-Feb-2008 IPS
Just a few weeks before the signing, some key governments appear uncomfortable with the final agreement
Premier forum d’investissement des Etats membres de l’Accord d’Agadir
18-Feb-2008 Business News
L’objectif général du forum serait d’accroître le flux des investissements européens dans les pays de l’Espace Agadir
The European party agrees amending the Association Agreement
9-Feb-2008 El Khabar
The EU says it will revise the its Association Agreement with Algeria, pointing out competition from China and enhanced ’security’ interests
ANC MP accuses EU of ‘recolonising’ Africa
7-Feb-2008 Business Day
The biannual meeting of European and South African parliamentarians to discuss South Africa-EU relations got off to a rocky start yesterday when a top African National Congress MP accused the Europeans of recolonising Africa through EPAs.
Differences over negative list hold up India-EU trade pact
7-Feb-2008 Economic Times
India Inc’s eager wait for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union could get a little longer as differences have cropped up over the items which would be kept off the pact.
L’accord bilatéral entre l’UE et l’Algérie reste bloqué
5-Feb-2008 Le Maghreb
M. Mandelson a souligné que l’accord d’association, qui est "une base" de développement des relations bilatérales entre l’Algérie et l’UE, ne fonctionne pas bien actuellement.
Look to Europe, not the US
5-Feb-2008 Borneo Post
Negotiations on a free trade agreement between Malaysia and the United States have hit a sticky patch. There are 58 issues still unresolved and no fixed date scheduled for the sixth round of talks.
EU cool to free trade deal with Canada
5-Feb-2008 CanWest
The European Union, being pressured to support the launch of free trade negotiations at the next Canada-EU annual summit in Montreal this fall, is showing only lukewarm enthusiasm for the idea.
Malawi: Caught between two economic blocs
31-Jan-2008 IPS
Malawi finally has to face up to the dilemma of choosing between being a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or to stick with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) if it is to continue receiving funding from the European Union.
No to corporate Europe - Yes to global justice!
30-Jan-2008 OWINFS
Statement from Seattle to Brussels Network calling for joint strategies to halt current negotiations seeking to implement “Free” Trade Agreements (FTAs) between Europe and the rest of the world; and consolidating the struggles against European transnational corporations, and deepening the process of constructing alternatives, to reclaim the right to food, education, health and other basic services.
S. Korea, EU spar over ’rules of origin’
29-Jan-2008 Korea Times
Under EU-suggested rules, a product would be considered as coming from a trading partner only when at least 60 percent of the value of the finished item is added in that country. South Korean negotiators want the ratio to be lowered to 40 percent, as a number of manufacturers in the country outsource many components from neighboring countries such as China to cut costs.
Free trade with EU entails endless conditions
27-Jan-2008 Gulf News
It seems that more time is needed before the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and 27-member European Union sign a long-awaited free trade agreement. Qatar’s deputy premier and minister of energy and industry Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah recently raised the alarm bells, speaking of "endless" EU conditions.
Europe supports Morocco’s EU partnership aspirations
25-Jan-2008 Maghrebia
Morocco invited European Union leaders to Rabat on Monday to discuss the transformation of its current Association Agreement into "advanced status" with the EU. The European ministers in attendance underlined their support for the Moroccan initiative.
Which India, Mr Brown?
22-Jan-2008 The Guardian
The EU’s stated aim is to use its planned free trade agreement to open up new Indian markets to European exports, especially in those areas which have traditionally been closed to foreign companies. India, which aims to win opportunities for its own exports, has asked that it be allowed some flexibility in opening up its domestic markets in order to protect the most vulnerable sectors of its economy. The EU has refused to grant India any such leeway.
Ecowas EPA - the facts and the falacies
22-Jan-2008 AllAfrica.com
From Ken Ukaoha, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS)
EU keen to renegotiate Mauritania fish deal
22-Jan-2008 Reuters
European Commission experts will head to Mauritania later this week to renegotiate the EU’s most valuable fishing deal with another country. The European Union has signed more than 20 bilateral fishing agreements, nearly all with developing countries and mostly in Africa, that give the EU a substantial extra supply of fish. The deal with Mauritania is the largest and most valuable.
EU eyes new bilateral pact with Vietnam by next year
22-Jan-2008 Thanh Nien
EU members are keen to press ahead with the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Vietnam. Replacing a 1995 pact, the proposed new agreement will cover areas ranging from trade and investment to science and technology, education, culture, justice, the environment and security.