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corporate interests

Breaking ’08 pledge, leaked trade doc shows Obama wants to help corporations avoid regulations
14-Jun-2012 DN!
A draft agreement leaked Wednesday shows the Obama administration is pushing a secretive trade agreement that could vastly expand corporate power and directly contradict a 2008 campaign promise by President Obama.
Canadian human rights report on Colombia a ’sick joke’
17-May-2012 Canadian human rights report on Colombia a ’sick joke’
The Canadian government’s human rights report tabled in Parliament Tuesday regarding implementation of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement might as well have been a comic strip of three monkeys: "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."
Corporations win big in battle against investment regulation
7-May-2012 IPS
In a world where governments are increasingly subservient to global finance capital, multinationals are gaining ground in the fight against state regulations that aim to protect the environment, public health or social policies.
’Chasm’ in trade talks
4-May-2012
An American business lobbyist has given a sober assessment of Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] talks, citing a ’’chasm’’ between leaders’ ambitions and their negotiators’ positions.
Ford asks steep price for Japan to join trade talks
4-May-2012 Reuters
Japan should be required to reduce the size of its auto industry before being allowed into regional free trade talks with the United States and eight other countries in the Asia Pacific, a top Ford Motor Co official said.
Treaties that gave away the store
27-Apr-2012
As India grapples with the Vodafone and 2G fallout, the Bilateral Investment Treaties it signed a few years ago are coming back to haunt it.
Cargill lobbyist’s quest is open markets
22-Apr-2012
Devry Boughner sits under a portrait of Ho Chi Minh in the home of Vietnam’s ambassador to the United States and pitches the virtues of open markets to a communist diplomat.
Argentine YPF move threatens to sour EU-Mercosur trade talks
20-Apr-2012
Argentina’s move to nationalize a 51% stake in the country’s YPF oil company from Spain’s Repsol this week may hamper efforts to finalize free-trade talks between the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc later this year, European officials said Friday.
Fargo company to benefit from Colombia trade agreement
13-Apr-2012 Wday
No one is more excited about the new US free trade agreement with Colombia than some of North Dakota’s local ag and aviation companies.
Business calls for US-Brazil trade treaty
11-Apr-2012 Tax News
On the occasion of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s visit to the United States on April 9, the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) President and CEO Thomas Donohue called on the two countries to begin discussions on a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Korea trade deal unlikely to benefit Chrysler, CEO says
29-Mar-2012 The Detroit News
Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne told lawmakers Wednesday he is skeptical of the benefits of some free-trade agreements, and urged caution about proceeding with some new agreements.
Coalition calls for comprehensive US-EU FTA
22-Mar-2012 Poultry Site
An ad hoc coalition of 40 food and agricultural organizations led by the National Pork Producers Council in a letter sent yesterday to the Obama administration and Congress expressed concern that a proposed free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union might fall short of long-established US objectives for trade pacts.
International civil society groups slam corporate influence on Trans-Pacific free trade talks
2-Mar-2012 Matangi Tonga
The 11th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement negotiations between Australia, the US, New Zealand, Malaysia and four other countries starts in Melbourne on March 1. Civil society groups from those countries are in Melbourne to contest corporate influence and debate the issues.
NGOs warn against corporate influence on trade talks
1-Mar-2012 Radio Australia
The 11th round of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP begins in Melbourne, on Thursday. Civil society groups are warning against allowing corporate influence, to drive the talks with outcomes that may disadvantage the poor and vulnerable in those nations. Interview with Patricia Ranald of AFTINET.
APEC business leaders push Asia-Pac FTA
28-Feb-2012 Tax News
The Business Advisory Council of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is focused on taking further steps towards realizing the goal of an integrated Asia Pacific economy, and on liberalizing and facilitating trade and investment, leading ultimately to a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).
Korea, US free trade deal to take effect March 15
23-Feb-2012 Reuters
A long-delayed free trade deal between the United States and South Korea will go into effect on March 15 following months of technical-level talks, officials said on Tuesday, cheering business groups that have waited years for the day.
Documents show CETA ill-advised
2-Feb-2012
The City of Saskatoon’s executive committee recently voted narrowly in favour of a motion that calls on the provincial government to exclude the city from a potential Canada-European Union free trade deal. There are good reasons why councillors should uphold that decision when the proposal comes before them next week.
GM joins chorus against FTA duty cut on EU cars
28-Jan-2012 Financial Chronicle
General Motors, Hyundai and Suzuki are against the reduction in import duty on European cars proposed under the India-EU free trade agreement
Big Tobacco vs Australia: Philip Morris scores an own goal
23-Jan-2012 The Conversation
It appears as though Philip Morris Asia only acquired its Australian companies in order to be able to launch a claim against the government under the Australia-Hong Kong BIT.
Asean-EU officials, business rep meet in Siem Reap to discuss FTA challenges
16-Jan-2012 Bernama
Officials and business representatives from the 10 Asean Member States and the European Union came together today in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of free trade agreements, as well as ways that Asean would benefit from free trade agreements.