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bilateralism & multilateralism


Serving whose interests? The political economy of trade in services agreements
There is a fundamental contradiction between the global market model and the intrinsically social nature of services
Bilateral accords quietly push neo-liberal agenda
Right now through the European Union process there is a divide and rule strategy taking place, not only regionally but also within regions where some countries are signing bilateral trade and investment agreements and some aren’t.
Hard bargains: Bilateral trade pacts draw domestic objections
The fear of having other countries steal a march on Washington by signing their own deals may bring Congress back to the bilateral trade negotiating table.
“Free trade”, neoliberal immigration & the globalization of guestworker programs
An analysis of how free trade and investment agreements affect migrant workers
Korea gives up renegotiating deal
A senior government official indicated Thursday that the Korean government would not ask the United States to renegotiate the beef import deal. Opposition parties and the majority of the people, however, want the renegotiation.
WTO can’t adjudicate on EPA’s - Lamy
Director-General of the World Trade Organisation has said that the world trading body would not legislate on the current bilateral free trade negotiations between the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the European Commission.
Civil society groups call for establishment of Commission on Globalisation
Civil society groups have called for the establishment of a new Commission on Globalisation and Development Strategies within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Handled with tact, FTAs can do what WTO can’t
Compared with a multilateral organization like the WTO, FTAs are much more convenient for China in several aspects.
Handled with tact, FTAs can do what WTO can’t
On April 7, China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement (FTA) covering trade in goods and services as well as investment, making it the first FTA reached by China with a developed country.
Understanding the EPA - Most Favoured Nation concession a danger for the Caribbean
So concerned is Brazil about the Caribbean EPA that it sent, on February 5, a communication to the World Trade Organisation requesting a debate. Its concern is that the arrangement agreed with the European Commission may cause nations like India, China and others to cease to negotiate with nations like the Caribbean.
Supachai: ‘An India-China FTA will be better than an India-US FTA’
Interview with the UN Conference on Trade & Development’s secretary-general, and former WTO chief, Supachai Panitchpakdi.
Caricom eyes Brazil’s alert
When Ministers of Caricom’s Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) meet in The Bahamas tomorrow, they are expected to consider the implications for this region of reservations expressed by Brazil at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on provisions of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated with the European Commission (EC).
Rudd may be pinning his hopes on trade policy that is past its use-by date
Kevin Rudd and his Trade Minister, Simon Crean, are very clear on the direction for trade liberalisation under a Labor Government.
"Via Campesina, from anti-WTO to anti-FTA"
Interview with Jun Gi-Hoan, General Secretary of Korean Peasants League
US-Korea Understanding on Agricultural Biotechnology (2007)
Negotiated on the sidelines of the US-Korea FTA, in March 2007.
TRIPS, bilateralism and patents: how they are failing both the developed and the developing world and what to do about it
Luigi Palombi discusses TRIPS, post-TRIPS bilateralism and patents in the context of biological resources and traditional knowledge and seeks to provide a solution to the present intellectual property deadlock between the developed and developing worlds.
Panellists see high impact of bilateral trade deals on Geneva policymaking
A panel of government and non-governmental experts on intellectual property and biodiversity issues last week stressed the high impact that leading economies’ bilateral free trade negotiations are having on multilateral policymaking in Geneva.
Bangladesh eyes FTA with China
Bangladesh is eying a free trade agreement (FTA) with its biggest trading partner China. As the country has achieved a little from many multilateral and regional deals, the government plans to improve its two-way trade with major trading partners, sources said.
Trade: The $1b game of patience
State of play with New Zealand’s trade negotiations
Economic Partnership Agreements - no plan B?
The European Union Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said the EU would not engage in an alternative strategy concerning African, Caribbean and Pacific trade relations with Europe at the World Trade Organisation, stressing that there is definitely "no Plan B" for EU trade relations with the ACP. New Era spoke to trade analyst, Wallie Roux, wherein he responds in his personal capacity to Mandelson’s assertions.