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Hopes and Fears: Haste Should Not Make Waste in Free Trade Talks
3-Feb-2006
The launch of free trade negotiations between Seoul and Washington Friday marks another watershed in the two allies’ overall relationship. Particularly in economic areas, the two countries will almost become one with 90 percent of trade being made without tariffs in a decade. Doubts are still strong about the need for hurrying into a free trade agreement with the world’s largest economy, but the die is cast. This is no longer a matter of whether or not but of how and what kind.
Car, Tech Industries Expected to Gain Most From FTA Deal
3-Feb-2006
Local automobile and information technology (IT) industries are expected to benefit most from the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA).
Film People Begin Protest Against Screen Quota Cut
3-Feb-2006
Members of the local film industry on Wednesday started their all-night relay rally against the government’s decision to halve the screen quota system.
Pact could mature alliance
2-Feb-2006 JoongAng
The relationship between Korea and the United States until now was a firm security alliance to prevent the spread of communism. The announcement of free trade agreement negotiations is an expression of a will to establish a more developed general alliance, not only in ideology and military on a security level, but also in economic gains.
S. Korea, US announce start of FTA negotiations
2-Feb-2006 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States announced Thursday they will start negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). Formal negotiations will begin in May
Farmers break up hearing on US-South Korea FTA
2-Feb-2006 Reuters
Angry farmers have broken up a public hearing to discuss impending talks between South Korea and the US on establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officials said.
Myths and realities: The impact of the US-Thai FTA on access to medicines
2-Feb-2006 Health GAP
Reeling from the negative publicity and pro-access to medicines messaging in Thailand and internationally, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) has mounted a public relations campaign full of distortions and omissions.
Ecuadorian universities to discuss FTA
2-Feb-2006
Ecuadorean universities will hold consultations on the advisability to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the US, president of the National Council on Higher Education (CONESUP) Vinicio Baquero confirmed.
AmCham wants coalition of film industries
2-Feb-2006
A reduction in the mandatory screening days for domestic films would pave the way for a coalition between the film industries of South Korea and the United States, said Tami Overby, president of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Korea, Wednesday.
S. Korea, U.S. preparing for trade talks
2-Feb-2006
South Korea and the United States could announce as early as this week their intention to launch formal negotiations aimed at a free trade accord seen as the biggest for the U.S. since the landmark North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994.
Free trade with US will hurt health care
1-Feb-2006
Will the hands that save the lives of Thailand’s sick be tied once a free trade deal between this country and the United States is signed, later this year?
Time running short for FTA, says US biz lobby
1-Feb-2006
Seoul-based American business leaders Wednesday called for more predictability, consistency and transparency in government policies, saying there is an extra mile to go for a business climate that offers global standards.
US businesses in Korea renew call for early FTA
1-Feb-2006
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea has renewed a call for early conclusion of a free-trade agreement between the U.S. and Korea. AMCHAM president Tami Overby on Wednesday reminded reporters that a congressional authority for the U.S. government to expedite FTAs expires in June 2007 and time is therefore very short.
UAE starts fourth round of FTA talks with US
1-Feb-2006 Bahrein Tribune
The UAE was following the lead set in the GCC by Bahrain yesterday when it started its fourth round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US in London.
Korea now plans to expand free trade aggressively
1-Feb-2006 JoongAng Daily
After reaching free trade agreements with relatively small economies such as Chile and Singapore, Korea is looking to expand its horizons as it prepares to launch free trade negotiations with two of the world’s leading economies.
Qatar: US hopes for movement on free-trade pact in ’06
30-Jan-2006 Gulf Times
The US hopes to see during this year the beginning of the process to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Qatar, Ambassador Chase Untermeyer told a press conference on Thursday.
FTA talks with Washington need firm leadership
29-Jan-2006
Korea has agreed to slash a screen quota reserving time in the theaters for domestic films to 73 days a year as requested by Washington, thus removing the last hurdle to free trade negotiations with the U.S. The government will reportedly announce the start date for the FTA talks early next month.
Thai industrial sector asks preconditions to US FTA pact
29-Jan-2006
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has urged the government to reach an agreement regarding the origin of raw materials and quality standards of Thai-produced goods with US trade negotiators before signing a Thai-US free trade area (FTA) agreement with Washington.
Ecuador espera cerrar TLC con EEUU en febrero
28-Jan-2006 AP
Ecuador tiene "buenas posibilidades" de cerrar un tratado de libre comercio con Estados Unidos cuando reanude el diálogo en febrero, pero tampoco tiene prisa y no adoptará a ciegas los modelos de Colombia y Perú, dijo el viernes el principal negociador ecuatoriano Manuel Chiriboga.
Government steps up efforts to explain FTA issue to public
27-Jan-2006
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Friday instructed state agencies concerned to accelerate disseminating information on negotiations for a planned free trade area (FTA) between Thailand and the United States to ensure that the public get proper understanding on the matter.