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The treaty that could decide the Vodafone india tax case
11-May-2012 New York Times
As the British telecommunications company Vodafone Group and India’s finance ministry edge ever closer to a full-blown confrontation over taxes related to Vodafone’s $11.1 billion acquisition in India, a key issue may be the India-Netherlands Bilateral Investment Treaty, signed between the two governments in 1995.
India to oppose Vodafone’s move to invoke BIPA pact
31-Mar-2012 Economic Times
The Indian government is likely to oppose any move by Vodafone Plc to invoke the India-Netherlands Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA) if it is forced to cough up Rs 12,000 crore in taxes on the grounds that the investment was routed through several step down firms based in different countries and that the treaty does not cover tax disputes.
TCI to invoke India-UK treaty against govt
27-Mar-2012 Business Standard
London-based hedge fund, The Children’s Investment Fund (TCI), on Monday said it will initiate legal action against the government under the provisions of the India-UK bilateral investment treaty (BIT).
Free trade is not what Africa needs, Mr Cameron
20-Jul-2011
On his trip to South Africa yesterday, David Cameron talked of the need to go beyond debt cancellation and aid "to make African free trade the common purpose of the continent". He lamented there has never once been "a march or a concert to call for … an African free trade area". He pointed to the need for more inter-African trade to facilitate the growth that would mean "businesses growing, new jobs on offer, families on the up, living standards transformed".
Deal with EU hits snag in the United Kingdom
23-May-2011
The signing of the framework deal with the European Union (EU), a prerequisite for a free trade agreement, has hit a snag given the United Kingdom’s questions as to whether some cooperation activities can be implemented.
Car industry fires a warning over EC free-trade deals
11-Apr-2011 Express
Free-trade agreements with India and Japan could undermine the UK’s automotive industry, which employs 700,000 and accounts for more than 10 per cent of exports, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is warning.
David Cameron wants Japan EU trade deal
25-Mar-2011 BBC
The European Union should offer Japan a free trade deal to help it recover from the earthquake and tsunami two weeks ago, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
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.