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Wikileaks: UK undecided on EU-Syria Association Agreement
6-Feb-2011 Telegraph
"Before the Gaza crisis, Miliband had been inclined to support the Agreement, Saoul said, on the grounds that the Syria Arab Republic Government (SARG) had generally exhibited good behavior internationally (despite lack of progress on key issues such exchanging ambassadors with Lebanon), and that Syrian FM Muallem needed a deliverable to strengthen him with President Assad."
UK government’s consultation on new trade policy: Evidence from The Corner House
22-Jan-2011 The Corner House
In early 2011, the UK government plans to announce a new trade and investment policy for the next five years. To inform this policy, it gathered perspectives at the end of 2010, on “UK trade and investment performance and potential, the role of government on trade issues, the impact of global developments, both economic and otherwise, and the course of UK trade policy.”
Protesters invade British government office over tar sands trade deal
17-Jan-2011 rabble.ca
On Friday morning, a group of protesters invaded Britain’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and are demanding a meeting with Stephen Green, the new minister for trade. Calling themselves the "Big Society Trade Negotiators," they are concerned that trade negotiations between the EU and Canada, due to start in Brussels on Monday, will dramatically boost Europe’s involvement in the Canadian tar sands — the most destructive project on earth.
Pan American Energy takes Bolivia to ICSID over nationalization of Chaco Petroleum
12-May-2010 ITN
Anglo-Argentinean energy firm Pan American Energy has initiated arbitration against Bolivia over the nationalization of its subsidiary Chaco Petroleum by the Morales government in 2009.
Imminent EU-S. Korea trade deal will bring £500m benefit to British business
16-Mar-2010 FBT
A new UK government report outlines 100 business opportunities for British firms from the EU-Korea FTA
S.Africa sugar producers hopeful of EU trade deal
16-Oct-2009 Reuters
Durban-based Illovo Sugar — Africa’s biggest producer, majority-owned by British Sugar — said it plans to raise output by 50 percent to nearly 3 million tonnes in the next five years to cash in on the new tariff-free EU access.
Lord Mandelson accused of secretly lobbying for Libya during Lockerbie bomber talks
31-Aug-2009 The Telegraph
Informed sources say that, nearly a year after Lord Mandelson stepped down as European Trade Commissioner to return to the Cabinet, he has continued to push personally for a new and quick European Union (EU) trade deal with Libya.
The UK tight-lipped over dispute with an Indian investor
23-Jan-2009 ITN
The United Kingdom has formally declined to release a notice of arbitration delivered by an Indian citizen under the UK-India bilateral investment treaty, explaining that it would likely “prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and an international organisation; UNCITRAL.”
Tanzania: Thirsty for justice
24-Nov-2008 Multinational Monitor
British water giant Biwater cannot use an investment treaty to make Tanzania pay millions for an abrogated water privatization contract, an international tribunal ruled in July.
Biwater fails in Tanzanian damages claim
28-Jul-2008
A British water company thrown out of Tanzania over a bungled privatisation deal has failed in its bid to win up to £10m in damages.
Botswana, UK want fruits of EPAs
15-Jul-2008 Mmegi Mobile
While government officials promise the EPAs will bring more jobs and beef market openings for Botswana, Botswana unions believe they are nothing but recolonisation of ACP countries and say ’the EU is coming back to deplete our (African) resources’.
The water margin
17-Aug-2007 The Guardian
Tanzania was glad to secure the services of a British-led consortium to run the newly privatised water system in its capital Dar es Salaam. But then the price of water started to rise
UK exporters losing out over EU’s protracted Free Trade Agreements with Gulf nations
26-Jul-2007 AME Info
UK businesses are increasingly likely to lose out to the US on valuable Gulf export opportunities because it is taking so long for the EU to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the region’s key states, says Trowers & Hamlins, the international law firm.
Time to get serious about Israel
1-Feb-2007 The Guardian
The UK House of Commons international development committee is calling on the Labour government to press for sanctions against Israel over its treatment of the Palestinian people. As a first step in putting pressure on the Israeli government to end this oppression, the UK should now urge its fellow members in the EU to consider suspending the EU-Israel association agreement, the cross-party committee says.
Corporate complicity in Israel’s crimes
17-Dec-2006 Aljazeera
Originating as it does from illegally occupied land, settlement produce is supposed to be excluded from the preferential treatment which Israeli exports to the UK enjoy under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
’India, UK need new free trade pact’
11-Oct-2006 Times of India
Britain and the European Union urgently need an unprecedented new free trade pact with India, the UK’s leading organization representing 240,000 businesses and 80 of the FTSE’s 100 companies has demanded.
Oxus Gold seeks arbitration order to protect Kyrgyz investments
15-Sep-2006
Mining company Oxus Gold PLC said it is seeking an arbitration order to protect its investments in Kyrgyzstan, following the government-sponsored seizure of premises owned by Talas Gold Mining Co, Oxus’ joint venture company at Jerooy. Oxus said that representatives of Jerooyaltyn, a recently created joint venture between Kyrgyzaltyn and Global G.o.l.d, and local police forcibly took possession of the building on Thursday in direct contravention of the UK-Kyrgyz Bilateral Investment Treaty and Kyrgyz law.
Honest Tony, peace broker
14-Jun-2006 The Guardian
Rather than rebuke Israel, the UK and its fellow EU member states are actually sitting down today with Israeli representatives in Brussels to seal the continuation of the EU-Israel association agreement. The agreement grants Israel important trading preferences for its exports into the EU, even though these are supposedly conditional on respect for human rights from both sides.
Britain’s Duke of York to discuss trade, investment with Thai Deputy PM
8-Jun-2006
His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Britain’s Duke of York, will discuss trade and investment with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak here Thursday with an aim to strengthen bilateral trade ties between the United Kingdom and Thailand.
UK and Mexico sign trade agreement in Vienna
13-May-2006 MercoPress
United Kingdom and Mexico signed Friday a bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) in Vienna.