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US-Thai FTA: Framework needed before discussions on finance sector
9-Jul-2005 Bangkok Post
Financial sector liberalisation is a sensitive subject for the talks. US authorities have insisted that no FTA agreement can be negotiated without it. Thai authorities have been reluctant to make any commitments on opening up the banking, insurance, asset management or securities sectors.
Sacu-US trade talks to resume
9-Jul-2005 Sunday Times
The year-long deadlock in free-trade negotiations between the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and the US appears to have been broken with talks set to resume in September.
Malaysia should improve IPR protection, says US
8-Jul-2005 The Edge Daily
The protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) has been identified as being one of the main concerns for US investors to come into Malaysia, said the United States ambassador to Malaysia, Christopher J LaFleur.
Dabhol deal on track, Bechtel says it’s willing to settle
8-Jul-2005 Newind Press
The Dabhol settlement process is almost complete with US-based Bechtel Corp finally informing the Indian side that it’s willing to settle and not proceed with international arbitration.
Exporting prices: Drug makers’ trade group makes the industry’s priorities US trade policy
8-Jul-2005 Center for Public Integrity
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which represents 67 parent companies and subsidiaries that develop and make prescription and over-the-counter drugs, listed contacts with the government’s top officials overseeing international trade agreements on more lobbying reports than it did for contacts with the Food and Drug Administration, which directly oversees the industry’s products.
Bahrain parliament approves FTA with the US
8-Jul-2005 Aljazeera
The Bahraini parliament approved a free trade agreement with the United States. Some lawmakers wanted to use the agreement to press Washington to release six Bahrainis detained by the US at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But most MPs decided that they have a better chance to resolve the issue by ratifying the accord.
India to go slow on trade pacts with US and EU
8-Jul-2005 Financial Express
The Prime Minister’s Trade and Economic Relationship Committee has decided to go slow on bilateral trade agreements with Washington and Brussels. Even in the limited context of services, the government would rather remain unget-at-able to the two largest trading partners of the country in the medium term. Much less would New Delhi harbour the idea of entering into more comprehensive economic agreements covering trade in goods, investment and financial services with the twosome.
CAFTA reflects Democrats’ shift from trade bills
7-Jul-2005 Washington Post
Twelve years ago, amid heated rhetoric over job losses and heavy union pressure, the House passed the North American Free Trade Agreement with 102 Democratic votes. This month, as President Bush pushes the far less economically significant Central American Free Trade Agreement, he will be lucky to get more than 10.
Walking tall
7-Jul-2005 Business Today
By tying a free-trade agreement to the outcome of Egypt’s ongoing political reform campaign, Washington is ramping up the pressure. Can the Nazif Government set up an infrastructure that will make strong business ties indispensable regardless of the political atmosphere?
US Senate approves Central America trade deal
1-Jul-2005 Seattle Post Intelligencer
The US Senate on Thursday endorsed a free trade agreement with six Latin American nations, handing a major win to President Bush.
11th hour deal paves way for trade pact passage
30-Jun-2005 Oxford Press
The Bush administration and key lawmakers struck an 11th hour deal with US sugar producers to shore up congressional support for a controversial trade agreement, senators said Wednesday. A full Senate vote could come as early as Thursday on the US-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
Thailand-US: AIDS drugs take centre-stage at trade talks
30-Jun-2005 IPS
After tiptoeing around the issue for months, Thailand’s trade negotiators will have to finally reveal where they stand on the life-or-death question of producing cheap, generic anti-AIDS drugs.
Patenting rice: A matter of serious royal concern
30-Jun-2005 Bangkok Post
The prospect of including in many FTAs, especially the Thai-US one, issues like intellectual property and agriculture, could have implications on the survival or disappearance of the Thai rice culture
TRIPS, bilateralism, multilateralism & implications for developing countries: Jordan’s drug sector
30-Jun-2005
Looking at the experience of Jordan’s pharmaceutical sector, this paper shows that the expected benefits from bilateral agreements between developed and developing countries have been largely overestimated while the costs underestimated.
Senate panel considers Cafta trade pact: Vote won’t occur until Wednesday at earliest
29-Jun-2005 Market Watch
The US Senate Finance Committee won’t hold an important vote on the controversial Central America Free Trade Agreement before Wednesday, delaying action on the pact by at least a day.
Thai AIDS activists fear losing cheap drugs in free trade talks with Japan, US
28-Jun-2005 AFP
As Thailand prepares for new rounds of free trade talks with Japan and the United States, AIDS activists are voicing increasing concern that patients here could lose access to cheap, life-prolonging drugs.
Tunisia and United States negotiate free trade agreement
28-Jun-2005 Magharebia
Assistant US Trade Representative for Europe and the Mediterranean Catherine Novelli announced in Tunis on Wednesday (15 June) that the United States and Tunisia are negotiating for the establishment of a free trade agreement (FTA).
CAFTA deserves a quiet death
27-Jun-2005 Znet
The White House’s failure to push forward its latest "free trade" deal is a victory for working people throughout the Americas.
FTA talks with US without domestic private sector termed not good - UAE
27-Jun-2005
Chairman of the Emirates Bank Group Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer has expressed disappointment about not involving the private sector in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US, fearing it may turn out to be an ’agreement of mass destruction’ for the domestic economy.
Urge Congress to vote NO on CAFTA!
27-Jun-2005 Global Exchange
Global Exchange, an international human rights organization, calls on citizens across the country to make their voices heard with their elected officials in opposition to CAFTA.