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Vietnam vows to work for ASEAN-EU partnership
23-Nov-2007
Vietnam will work hard for the development of the ASEAN-EU partnership, particularly their Free Trade Agreement that is now under negotiations, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has promised.
EU trade chief impatient on Doha, Southeast Asia deal
23-Nov-2007
The European Union’s trade chief said on Thursday he was impatient with the lack of progress towards free trade deals in the global Doha round and between the EU and Southeast Asia. The Doha round of talks, launched six years ago, has been deadlocked as the United States and European Union call on developing nations to open up their markets for manufacturers in return for cuts by rich countries to trade-distorting subsidies.
EU lawmakers vow to block free-trade deal with ASEAN without reforms in Myanmar
23-Nov-2007
The European parliament will oppose any free-trade deal between Europe and Southeast Asia unless Myanmar makes democratic reforms, visiting parliamentarians warned Friday.
Govt warned on EPAs
22-Nov-2007
A group of civil society representatives in Uganda have warned the government against signing an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union arguing that it will stifle the growth of local industries and frustrate the effort of local farmers.
Country is in a Quandary Over EPAs
22-Nov-2007
A Senior Research Fellow at the Botswana Institution of Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) Dr Joel Sentsho says he hopes current negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) will yield something positive for Botswana.
South Korea Urged To Strengthen IP In EU Trade Talks
22-Nov-2007
South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union.
EPAs Threaten Another ’Scramble for Africa’ - Unionists
22-Nov-2007
Union leaders who met in Palapye for a two-day economic workshop on trade and related issues on Friday likened trade agreements that Botswana and other African countries are entering into with Europe as a new form of colonisation.
Korea, EU Clash Over Technical Standards on Cars at FTA Talks
21-Nov-2007
Free trade negotiations between South Korea and the European Union have hit a snag as both sides failed to make headway over auto-related technical standards, one of the stickiest issues in their trade talks.
EU ‘Firm’ on EPA Deadline
20-Nov-2007
East Africa: Officials confused about pros and cons of EPA
20-Nov-2007 IPS
The news that the ministers of the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) are on the verge of signing an economic partnership agreement with the European Union has been received with mixed reactions by government officials from these very same countries.
CSOs: Kenya bullied into signing treaty
20-Nov-2007 KBC
Civil Society Organizations now say that the East and Southern African negotiators and civil servants who attended the Economic Partnership Agreements meeting in Brussels, Belgium were bullied into a midnight deal with the European Union.
S. Korea seeks breakthrough in free trade talks with EU
20-Nov-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korea’s chief negotiator in free trade talks with the European Union (EU) said on Monday that Seoul will redouble its efforts to make a breakthrough on some sticky issues, including a dispute over auto trade, and called for an "equal" effort from Brussels.
EPA - Reasons why Nigeria is a sitting ’elephant’
19-Nov-2007 AllAfrica.com
The European Union Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Peter Mandelson was quoted recently as saying that Nigeria is "sitting like an elephant in the middle of the road."
Kenya is exempted from ACP-EU treaty
17-Nov-2007 KBC
Kenya has been exempted from signing the Economic Partnership Agreement for another year. Economic analysts say the deal is good for Kenya in the short term but could become oppressive in the future.
EU makes interim trade deal with East Africa
17-Nov-2007 Forbes
The European Union has made an interim trade deal with east African countries, which will replace preferential tariff agreements which are due to expire this year, Kenya announced.
ACP group wins major trade battle with EU
17-Nov-2007 AllAfrica.com
The EU has agreed to establish a framework that will ensure trade is not interrupted between January and December next year, thus giving a one-year extension before a new pact has to be reached.
Call to change ’deadline’ on EPA deal with Europe
16-Nov-2007 Jamaica Observer
Leading Caribbean nationals have made a stirring plea to Caribbean Community Heads of Government to speedily move for postponement of the year-end deadline given by the European Union for this region to sign an Economic Partnership Agreement.
South Korea aims to retain agriculture tariffs at EU FTA talks
16-Nov-2007 Asia Pulse
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said that rice will be exempted from free trade agreement talks altogether, while Seoul will stress the need to hold onto some protection for grain, vegetables and fruits.
EU-ASEAN: The beginning of a beautiful friendship?
15-Nov-2007 Chatham House
At present, the economic relationship is asymmetrical, with the EU market much more important to ASEAN than the reverse. But in the long run, the size and growth of the ASEAN market will make it a key source of growth and profitability for EU firms.
Korea to sweeten offer at next EU FTA talks
15-Nov-2007 Chosun Ilbo
Korea plans to accept a number of the European Union’s demands for lifting tariffs on EU goods in the fifth round of the Korea-EU free trade agreement talks slated for Nov. 19 in Brussels