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Africa: The African Growth and Opportunity Act nears its deadline
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows duty- and quota-free exports from eligible African countries into the United States, is due to expire in 2025.
New economic framework IPEF an empty US pledge: Financial Times
Without substantial new access to the US market or other trade privileges on offer, there’s little incentive for partner countries to make big commitments themselves.
USTR releases summaries from US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released summaries of texts proposed by the U.S. side during the first negotiating round of the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP).
Memorandum and analysis on the agriculture chapter of the STIP negotiations
Econews Africa, in a memorandum to the Kenya/United States Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) has highlighted lack of transparency in the negotiation process and the devastating consequences of negotiating a chapter on Agriculture have been highlighted.
US seeks to wrap up IPEF this year, with sustainability in ag chapter
The US aims to wrap up negotiations on the 14-nation Indo-Pacific Economic Framework this year, but not before key provisions on sustainability are added to the agriculture chapter of the deal, Chief US Agriculture Negotiator Doug McKalip said.
US begins USMCA dispute against Mexico’s GM corn restrictions
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced that she is calling for dispute consultations with Mexico over the country’s efforts to ban genetically modified corn and its recent history of rejecting biotech seed traits.
Zimbabwe continues fight in US courts to block payment of US$277m land reform suit
ZIMBABWE continues its fight in the United States (US) to block enforcement of a US$277 million arbitration award to a German and Swiss family which stems from the country’s controversial land reform programme.
US-Taiwan relations: New trade deal signed as China tensions rise
It is the first agreement under a framework for talks between Washington and Taipei called the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade.
EU, US to weigh China, AI, trade strains at high-level Sweden talks
Top US and European Union officials meet to weigh how best to deal with China and cooperate on artificial intelligence and other future technology as well as EU complaints about Trump-era tariffs and US green subsidies.
14 IPEF nations forge stronger supply chains to reduce reliance on China
In an evident attempt to decrease their dependency on China and prepare for potential future supply chain challenges, 14 nations involved in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework have reached an agreement.
CSO letter to the Commerce Minister on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar
On behalf of the Forum for Trade Justice, a CSO letter has been sent to the Indian Commerce Minister. The letter highlights the perils of participating in the IPEF and urges the Commerce Minister to withdraw from the IPEF processes.
Empty promises and prospects: The US-led economic agreement is a liability for Fiji
This weekend in Detroit, Trade Ministers from eleven countries will be meeting for the latest round of negotiations on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a secretive geopolitical and economic agreement aimed to curtail China.
Civil rights groups warn trade talks may hurt efforts to counter discriminatory algorithms
A coalition of civil rights and consumer protection groups warned in a letter to President Biden that ongoing trade talks risk eroding efforts to mitigate algorithmic discrimination.
What to watch at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) ministerial in Detroit
As trade ministers gather for the second ministerial meeting of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework talks, recent developments on the ground in Detroit indicate that politically powerful groups are watching with great anticipation.
Disagreements between US, Asian nations complicate IPEF negotiations
The challenges underscore the scheme’s ambitious nature and ‘great difficulty in reaching agreements among a very heterogeneous group of countries’, say analysts.
Joint statement on the 6th Nepal-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement council meeting
During the meeting, the delegation discussed a range of bilateral trade and investment-related issues covered under the TIFA.
The US has a strong case against Canada’s Online Streaming Act
The new legislation requires that streaming services like Netflix, Spotify and Disney+ invest in, and show, more Canadian content.
US-led trade talks with 14 countries, including India, close to reaching supply chains pact
Fourteen countries in US-led Indo-Pacific trade talks are nearing an agreement on supply chain coordination and may announce a deal as soon as next week.
US, Taiwan agree to lift trade, clouding planned China talks
The Taiwan initiative isn’t a formal free-trade agreement and doesn’t address thorny issues such as tariffs, but it’s part of a broader drive to deepen trade ties amid heightened tensions with Beijing
The rise of geopolitical swing states
As the US and China coexist, compete, and confront each other to determine who will set the geopolitical rules, they will either court or thwart an emerging group of countries to gain an edge. This new class of influential nations are the geopolitical swing states of the 21st century.