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Trade deals a closely held secret, shared by more than 500 advisers
1-Mar-2014 Washington Post
The details of the Obama administration’s proposals for a massive 12-nation trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region are off limits to most Americans, held close by negotiators who worry that too much openness would make it impossible to reach a deal. But a chosen few have been allowed to peek behind the curtain and share some of the most sensitive documents.
USTR rejecting EU bids for more transparency in TTIP
1-Mar-2014 Infojustice
USTR demands for hyper-secrecy in the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) continue to be a major block to continuing negotiations, writes Sean Flynn
US pushes for greater transparency in EU business regulation
24-Feb-2014 FT
The US is using transatlantic trade negotiations to push for a fundamental change in the way business regulations are drafted in the EU to allow business groups greater input earlier in the process.
Obama admin’s TPP trade officials received hefty bonuses from big banks
24-Feb-2014 Republic Report
Officials tapped by the Obama administration to lead the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations have received multimillion dollar bonuses from CitiGroup and Bank of America, financial disclosures obtained by Republic Report show.
The TTIP, corporatism, and GMOs
11-Feb-2014 Voltility
Opening up Europe to the full onslaught of US agricultural products and systems is the main goal of the US in pushing for TTIP in the first place.
European Commission announces composition of TTIP expert group
1-Feb-2014 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-79_en.htm
Last Monday the Commission launched a special Advisory Group of experts representing a broad range of interests, from environmental, health, consumer and workers’ interests to different business sectors to provide EU trade negotiators with high quality advice in the areas being negotiated in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks.
Liberalization key to Taiwan’s TPP bid: AmCham
16-Jan-2014
The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Taipei urged Taiwan Thursday to speed up its efforts to liberalize its business environment to help its bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
VN seeks Walmart support in TPP talks
8-Jan-2014 Vienam Net
Viet Nam hopes to have the support of major US retail corporation Walmart in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations as well as free trade pacts with other countries, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said yesterday, Jan 7.
Japan, Turkey agree on trade, nuclear power tie-ups
8-Jan-2014 Hürriyet Daily News
Japan and Turkey agreed on Jan. 7 to begin talks on an economic partnership agreement, part of a drive to build closer ties as they also step up cooperation on nuclear technology.
Philippines: Businessmen prepare for free trade accords
5-Jan-2014 Manila Standard
The largest group of businessmen in the Philippines is preparing for new trade agreements that will enable the country to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
‘Havoc for palm oil sector’
27-Dec-2013 New Straits Times
Palm oil refiners, some of which are owned by the country’s largest conglomerates, may face a bleak future if Malaysia accedes to demand under free trade pacts to dismantle the crude palm oil (CPO) tax.
TPP: Getting US snout in Vietnam trough
21-Dec-2013 Thanh Nien News
American swine could make their way to the Vietnamese dining table via Chinese slaughterhouses, thanks to the TPP
Leaked proposal for EU-US trade deal increases business power in decision-making
16-Dec-2013 CEO
A leaked EU negotiation proposal for the EU-US trade agreement reveals the European Commission’s plans to fundamentally change the way regulations will be adopted in the future, says the activist group CEO
Canada - Africa: Aggressively negotiating treaties
10-Dec-2013 The Africa Report
Canada’s Minister of international trade, Ed Fast explains the country’s strategic shift to link development aid with private sector investments.
Aussie sugar could get sweet FTA
22-Nov-2013 ABC
The Australian Sugar Industry Alliance is demanding sugar’s inclusion in the Trans Pacific Partnership after it was left out of the US FTA in 2008.
European food industry backs ‘comprehensive free trade’ between EU and Japan
15-Nov-2013 Food Navigator
Representatives of European food industry organisations have come out in support of a strong free trade agreement between the EU and Japan, ahead of talks in Tokyo next Tuesday.
CETA is more about corporate rights than free trade
9-Nov-2013
Since announcing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) two weeks ago Harper’s Conservatives have repeatedly labelled those questioning the deal as “anti-trade”. But this Canada-European Union accord is one part trade and four parts ‘corporate bill of rights’.
Argentina settles five outstanding investment treaty arbitration claims in historic break with its anti-enforcement stance
3-Nov-2013
Argentina has agreed to settle five separate investment treaty arbitration claims at a cost of around USD 500 million, in an historic departure from the Latin American state’s refusal to comply with awards made by international investment treaty arbitration bodies.
India Inc unable to reap benefits of Goods FTA with ASEAN: FICCI
2-Nov-2013 Economic Times
Indian companies have been unable to capitalise on potential benefits arising out of the free trade agreement on "goods" between India and ASEAN, industry lobby Ficci has found.
Canadian beef makes gains in EU agreement, but US must aim higher
2-Nov-2013 Beef Magazine
Canada won’t realize the benefits negotiated under CETA until it allows imports of beef produced in the EU, which is still banned due to BSE. This is a concession the EU will also press the US to make in the TTIP, says the US beef industry.