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Trade: African countries fight EU for survival
23-May-2007 IPS
Anti-poverty campaigners have likened trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and several regions in Africa to a boxing match between a schoolboy novice and a heavyweight champion.
Keidanren chief calls for Japan-EU free trade pact
21-May-2007 Kyodo
The head of Japan’s largest big-business group urged the government Monday to strike a free trade agreement with the European Union to alleviate impediments to two-way trade and ensure a freer flow of invesment funds.
Namibia: ’Half cooked’ opinion piece upsets meat industry
17-May-2007 AllAfrica.com
An opinion piece by Meatco’s market researcher and trade advisor about the on-going Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations between the European Union and SADC had the meat industry crying foul last week and saying such views could throw the industry into jeopardy.
EU-Central America FTA - EC negotiating mandate (draft, 2007)
17-May-2007
EU-CAN FTA - EU negotiating mandate (draft, 2007)
17-May-2007
FDCL alert: European free trade onslaught in Latin America
17-May-2007 FDCL
European Union endorses highly dangerous negotiation mandates for free trade areas with Central America and the Andean Community
EU vows to press ahead with free trade deals with ACP states
16-May-2007 EUX.TV
The European Union on Tuesday vowed to press ahead with efforts to eliminate tariffs and quotas on imports from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, arguing that the deals were needed to open up markets in poor nations. "We must create regional markets, ... poor countries need bigger regional markets," German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek- Zeul said.
Asean, EU may take years to ink FTA
16-May-2007 Financial Express
A deal may come only nearer to 2015, the year Asean is targeting for the creation of a single market for its 10 members, Asean secretary general Ong Keng Yong said.
Letter from Lebanon: Farmers risk losing big
13-May-2007 Scoop
As Lebanon heads down the fast track to trade liberalisation, some commentators are predicting a devastating impact on small-holder farmers. Unable even to sell produce on the Lebanese market let alone for export, farmers are painfully unprepared to compete with subsidised imports. Yet little is being done to fortify the agricultural industry as the fruits of major bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and liberalising reforms loom on the near horizon.
Call to secure EU-Gulf free trade deal
12-May-2007
Foreign Minister Michael Frendo has urged the successful conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
National interests need to be top priority in Korea-EU FTA
12-May-2007
Korea and the European Union have finished their first round of free trade talks. They have agreed to the basic principle of eliminating tariffs on 95 percent of all their products and on industrial products in ten years. We hope to see these negotiations be prudent and thoroughly about looking after Korea’s interest, which was not the case with FTA talks with the United States, which were forced through by a ticking clock set by the other side.
Burmese junta prepares for FTA talks with EU
11-May-2007
Asean and the European Union have agreed to allow Burma to participate in free trade agreement talks with the EU, amid signs the military junta is preparing to highlight what it claims are recent democratic advancements.
South Korea-EU free trade talks got off to fast start, both sides say
11-May-2007
South Korea and the European Union made good progress this week in their first round of negotiations to forge a major free trade pact, chief negotiators from both sides said on Friday, but they conceded sensitive issues were barely touched.
Comesa signs free trade pact with EU
11-May-2007 The Standard
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has signed an agreement that gives member States uninterrupted European Union market access. The new pact, which covers 25 years will become effective in January next year and is aimed at addressing trade disparities between Europe and Comesa countries.
S Korea, EU to wrap up first week of free trade talks
11-May-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the European Union were to wrap up their first round of free trade talks Friday with Seoul’s negotiators expressing satisfaction over the week-long negotiations, but conceding sensitive issues were barely touched.
Quebec seeks free-trade deals with Ontario, EU
11-May-2007 Globe and Mail
Quebec’s minority government will seek a free-trade agreement with Ontario as part of Premier Jean Charest’s attempt to revive the province’s economy and regain popular support. Mr. Charest also reiterated his proposal to seek a free-trade deal with the European Union.
Talks on Pak-Czech investment treaty under way
11-May-2007 The News International
Prime Minister of Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek has assured Pakistan that being the European Union member, Prague would play its role in strengthening Islamabad’s relations and striking a Free Trade Agreement with the bloc.
Officials urged to be critical over FTA
9-May-2007 Jakarta Post
Fearing that the gains promised by an ASEAN-EU free trade agreement (FTA) will turn out to be little more than illusions, a discussion has urged the members of ASEAN to stick together and remain "critical" during the upcoming negotiations.
EU promises seeks to design bilateral trade deals that support future WTO-type pact
8-May-2007 IHT
The European Union will aim to design bilateral trade deals with other regions and countries that can be applied to a future world trade agreement even if last-ditch efforts to forge a global pact fail later this year, an EU trade official said Tuesday.
GCC to seek further talks before EU free-trade deal
8-May-2007 Gulf Times
The wording of the agreement remains undecided along with issues concerning service industries and investment rules.