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Trading away tax sovereignty? How trade rules shape taxation of the digital economy in Africa
24-Jun-2025 Journal of International Economic Law
The advent of digital and data-driven business models has heightened the risks of tax base erosion and evasion, adversely affecting revenue generation, economic recovery, and advancement of tax justice in African economies. We develop a framework examining how trade rules on services, electronic transmissions, and digital products shape the ability of African countries to tax their digital economies.
Analysis of the “rebalancing mechanism” of the EU-MERCOSUR free trade agreement
11-Jun-2025 Veblen Institute
Of the many concerns raised by the current version of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, those relating to the inclusion of a “rebalancing mechanism” in the chapter on dispute settlement are perhaps the most serious.
Making sense of tariffs – A briefing note by La Via Campesina
6-Jun-2025 La Via Campesina
This note compiles various arguments in support of using tariffs and non-tariff barriers to protect small-scale food producers and to promote food sovereignty and economic self-determination.
Meat Institute asks USTR to remove non-tariff trade barriers
12-Mar-2025 Feedstuffs
The Meat Institute is calling for the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade and for access to new markets for meat and poultry products.
Mexico tweaks reform on scrapping regulatory bodies to avoid USMCA issues
22-Nov-2024 Reuters
The ruling majority approved the general text of the constitutional amendment to abolish seven autonomous watchdogs including the transparency institute, antitrust body and the telecoms regulator.
RCEP members encouraged to harmonize rules
20-May-2024 China Daily
Members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership can further improve the alignment of operational guidelines across key sectors such as competition policy and trade in services to elevate mutual openness, said trade experts and foreign scholars on Sunday.
Public summary of second set of US text proposals under the US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
19-Apr-2024 USTR
The United States has tabled proposed texts under the US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP), covering Agriculture, Good Regulatory Practice and Workers’ Rights and Protection.
Explainer: Free trade zones and free trade agreements
24-Nov-2023 bilaterals.org
Free trade agreements, free trade zones and special economic zones are all designed to promote business-friendly regulations and encourage economic liberalisation, but they are different in nature.
US seeks to wrap up IPEF this year, with sustainability in ag chapter
6-Jun-2023 Agri-Pulse
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.
EU, US to weigh China, AI, trade strains at high-level Sweden talks
31-May-2023 Reuters
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.
IFC: AfCFTA is becoming a lot of talk — we need to fix regulations
19-Apr-2023 The Cable
Makthar Diop, the managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), says the Africa Free Trade Continental Agreement (AfCFTA) is becoming a lot of talk, and may not become a reality if laws and regulations are not fixed.
US trade chief Tai defends pursuit of non-traditional trade deals
6-Apr-2023 Reuters
US Trade Representative argued her approach of working to ease non-tariff barriers is better for workers, supply chains and the U.S. ability to compete with China.
US agenda revealed at IPEF talks in Bali
5-Apr-2023 AFTINET
The summaries of US inputs at the recent Bali round of negotiations for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) reveal US pressure of the other 13 states to adopt US standards.
Preliminary analysis of the IPEF chapter on good regulatory practice
18-Jan-2023 Third World Network
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) seeks to impose a structure, set of procedures and criteria to govern the Parties’ regulatory decision making at the central government level.
USTR announces new declaration on good regulatory practices
7-Jul-2022 USTR
Many trade agreements in the Hemisphere, such as the USMCA, MERCOSUR, the Pacific Alliance, as well as other bilateral arrangements, contain provisions on good regulatory practices.
Macron’s fair trade ‘crusade’ faces enemies within
28-Jan-2022 Politico
Paris is set for a tough battle in trying to export EU standards round the world.
Will new NAFTA block Biden’s progressive regulatory policies?
22-Mar-2021 The Hill
Biden is on the right track in calling for reform. But if the same deregulatory agenda remains in our internationally enforceable trade agreements, Biden’s reforms will come up short, ultimately subverting his agenda and vision.
EU-China comprehensive agreement on investment: A scoping study
16-Dec-2020 Heinrich Böll Foundation
Given China’s unique position, the study concludes that the EU must ensure that particularly strong protections for EU regulatory policy space are included in any future investment deal.
Brexit trade deal possible within days after Johnson concession, says EU
15-Dec-2020 The Guardian
Barnier says Johnson’s acceptance of need for ‘evolution clause’ as standards diverge has unlocked talks on level playing field.
Brexit: Ratcheting up the pressure for a trade deal
10-Dec-2020 BBC
Some in the UK will find level playing field controversial. For them, the very point of Brexit was to undercut EU rules and regulations.