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  1. Negotiations

:: Across the board ::

This section contains news and analysis of sweeping developments that affect the overall push and pull towards FTAs and bilateral investment treaties. This means major trends relating to bilateralism, often with global consequences, and other cross-cutting issues. New developments arising from US politics, the WTO or South-South alliance-building, for instance, are often reported here as they tend to have systemic impacts.

last update: May 2012

A country for sale
25-Mar-2008 Fair Trade Alliance
Maraming nagugutom sa Pilipinas. Maraming walang lupang sinasaka. Maraming walang trabaho. Maraming naghihirap, isa sa bawat tatlong Pilipino sang ayon sa gobyerno mismo. Ang pangunahing dahilan sa paghihirap ay ang patuloy na pagguho ng industriya at agrikultura sa ilalim ng isang one-sided economic liberalization (lower tariffs, unchecked smuggling, missing safety nets, poor application of safeguard measures, trade-industry policy incoherence, high cost of doing business, etc.). Tanging remittances ng 10 milyong overseas Filipinos (contract workers at immigrants) ang bumubuhay sa bansa.
US free trade accords face rocky road
7-Feb-2008 CSM
A fresh battle is brewing in Washington over foreign trade, with the White House persevering in its pursuit of free trade agreements while congressional Democrats - some elected two years ago on protectionist planks - appear more inclined to take up trade issues with China than pass new deals.
Fighting FTAs: new publication and website
7-Feb-2008
bilaterals.org, GRAIN and BIOTHAI are today launching a collaborative publication, "Fighting FTAs: The growing resistance to bilateral free trade and investment agreements".
Analysis: China beats West in Africa
2-Feb-2008 UPI
By offering itself to former colonies as a more attractive and respectful trading partner, China initiated Africa’s refusal to put up with the EU’s demanding policies.
White House planning ’relentless’ campaign for FTAs: trade official
9-Jan-2008 Yonhap
The White House is planning a "relentless" campaign this year to push Congress to approve pending free trade agreements with South Korea and Latin American nations
Talks show China key player on world stage
4-Jan-2008 China Daily
Rcent bilateral talks with the major economies — US, Japan and EU — is solid proof of China’s emergence as a key player in the global economy.
China outwits the EU in Africa
13-Dec-2007 Asia Times
During the past several years, an increasing number of differences have arisen in the strategic partnership forged between China and the European Union. Among the many critical issues clouding the mutual agenda are differing policy approaches towards Africa.
International trade tribunals seen trumping state laws
3-Dec-2007 Boston Globe
States around the US are growing increasingly worried about the threats posed to their laws and regulations by the secret tribunals that resolve disputes in international trade. "Free trade agreements are to state sovereignty and economic development what global climate change is to the environment and natural resources," said state Sen. Virginia Lyons, D-Chittenden.
US labor activists petition to stop free trade push
28-Nov-2007 OneWorld US
Labor rights activists in the United States are trying to organize a nationwide campaign to push Congress to oppose the Bush administration’s plans to promote new free trade agreements.
Teamsters challenge Bush on free trade arguments: Hoffa responds to Bush
12-Oct-2007 PR Newswire
"When President Bush says the economy benefits from trade deals, he must mean the part of the economy he cares about — the top one percent," Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said. "It’s not competition we’re afraid of, but the global capitalists who rig the system against the American worker."

    Links

  • #A18DoA - Global day of action to defeat free trade and investment treaties
    Website for the global day of action to defeat free trade and investment treaties #A18DoA
  • 21st Century Trade Agreements: Implications for Long-Run Development Policy
    A publication of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future. The paper examines the policy space available under various free trade regimes for countries pursuing industrial policies for development.
  • Alianza Social Continental
    La Alianza Social Continental es un foro de organizaciones y movimientos sociales progresistas de las Américas, creado para intercambiar información, definir estrategias y promover acciones conjuntas, todo ello encaminado a la búsqueda de un modelo de desarrollo alternativo y democrático, que beneficie a nuestros pueblos
  • ICC
    International Chamber of Commerce
  • Movimientos.org
    A multilingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese) website focusing on social movements and their campaigns, including those against bilateral and regional FTAs.
  • Pambazuka
    In this week’s edition of the Emerging Powers News Round-Up, read a comprehensive list of news stories and opinion pieces related to China, India and other emerging powers...
  • People over profit
    People Over Profit is a campaign network that unites peoples movements and NGOs across the globe to stop free trade agreements (FTAs) and corporate plunder, launched in October 2016.
  • Peoples Global Action
    In February 1998, movements from all continents met in Geneva to launch a worldwide coordination of resistances to the global market, a new alliance of struggle and mutual support called Peoples’ Global Action against "Free" Trade and the World Trade Organisation (PGA).
  • Regional/Multilateral Integration Agreements
    Selected research papers on regional trade agreements, from internationaleconomics.net
  • SOMO
    SOMO links the negotiations and rules on international trade and investment with the actual conduct of corporations within these rules and agreements.
  • South Centre
    An intergovernmental organisation of developing countries
  • Stop fast track!
    10 days to stop fast track in the United States: Jan 22 - 31 2014
  • Third World Network
    TWN’s website is a good source of information and analysis about what’s happening within the multilateral trade system (WTO, UNCTAD, G77, etc).
  • WorldTradeLaw.net
    WorldTradeLaw.net offers a free library of current trade news and resources; a database of dispute settlement tables and statistics; and a user-friendly search tool for legal texts, and other documents.