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environment

Greenpeace: Ratifying JPEPA would be ‘criminal’
17-Jan-2008 Inquirer
Greenpeace says Japan is pursuing trade agreements with Southeast Asian nations “to reopen the region to toxic waste trafficking” citing an August 2006 contract between the Japanese government and Shinko Research Co. Ltd. “to assess the use of bilateral agreements ’for bidirectional movement of toxic wastes between Japan and Asian countries.’”
US uranium mining company plans poses threat to over one million Canadians
1-Jan-2008 The Canadian
Thanks to politicians corrupted by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a US mining company is poised to make commercial profit by spreading uranium contamination across eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
Trade chief says no need for JPEPA side accord
20-Nov-2007 Inquirer
Favila said clarificatory statements or an exchange of diplomatic notes would be enough to clarify the "toxic issues" of the JPEPA.
Uruguay-Argentina: Smoke from pulp mill clouds relations
10-Nov-2007 IPS
Everything was in place for the beginning of the end of the long-running conflict: a friendlier face about to be sworn in as president in Argentina, a tiny bit of flexibility on the part of Uruguay, a few points of agreement, and a Spanish mediator appointed by the King.
Arroyo on FTA promo blitz but environmentalists worry
26-Aug-2007 Japan Times
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s team has begun a high-profile public relations blitz to urge the Senate to ratify a free-trade pact with Japan.
Can biofuels become sustainable?
20-Jul-2007 European Voice
Sustainability and trade barriers in biofuels could be addressed through new economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which are currently being negotiated with countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific bloc. “New EPAs and the EDF will provide a framework for action on trade in biofuels,” a spokesman for the European development commissioner said. “From 2008 onwards this issue will become much more visible.”
USTR, Congress settle on changes to trade deals
26-Jun-2007 ABC News
The Bush administration and U.S. lawmakers have agreed on a blueprint to strengthen labor and environmental protections in four pending free trade deals, trade officials said on Monday.
US calls for revisions to S.Korea FTA
16-Jun-2007
The United States has proposed revisions for a free trade agreement with South Korea to reflect Washington’s new guidelines that call for stricter labor and environmental standards, officials said Saturday.
Philippines: ’Diplomatic exchange’ on JPEPA toxic provisions not enough, Greenpeace says
28-May-2007 Infoshop
The diplomatic notes state that "Japan would not be exporting toxic waste to the Philippines as defined and prohibited under the laws of the Philippines and Japan, in accordance with the Basel Convention." This is where the loophole and ambiguity lies.
RP-Japan pact won’t allow toxic dumping
23-May-2007 ABS-CBN
Japan will give formal assurance to Philippine senators that it will not dump toxic and hazardous waste on the Philippines in an attempt to convince them to ratify the controversial Japan- Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
Agreement on ’Trade in Goods’ in the proposed ASEAN-Japan economic pact to be finalized November
13-May-2007 Balita Organization
On the contentious issue of transboundary movement of toxic waste, which inclusion in the JPEPA had caused an uproar locally, Philippine Trade Secretary Peter B Favila said it is likely that the same provision would be carried in the Japan-ASEAN trade deal.
Bipartisan trade deal: USTR "fact sheets"
13-May-2007 USTR
US may seek FTA renegotiations on labor, environment
12-May-2007
Washington plans to demand renegotiations on several areas of the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA) signed on April 2, according to US media reports.
’New trade policy for America’
11-May-2007 House and Ways Committee
The agreement announced today is a fundamental shift in US trade policy and clears the way for broad, bipartisan congressional support for the Peru and Panama FTAs.
South Korea-EU free trade talks got off to fast start, both sides say
11-May-2007
South Korea and the European Union made good progress this week in their first round of negotiations to forge a major free trade pact, chief negotiators from both sides said on Friday, but they conceded sensitive issues were barely touched.
Treaty with Japan may legalize dumping toxic waste in India
8-May-2007 RxPG
If the agreements negotiated by Japan with the Philippines and Thailand are anything to go by, the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that is being worked on by the two governments will open the floodgates to Japan’s municipal, medical and hazardous wastes.
Trade pact risks environment, public health
3-Apr-2007 Korea Times
For the past few years, the backers and denouncers of a free trade accord between Korea and the United States have feuded like the Montagues and Capulets. Not surprisingly, the two camps are still polarized on whether the trade pact bringing together the world’s largest and 10th largest economies is destined to be a happy marriage or Shakespearean tragedy.
What’s the rush to ink FTA with Japan?
2-Apr-2007 Bangkok Post
Critics of tomorrow’s signing say the interim Thai government has broken promises and failed to reveal details of the pact, but the biggest question they have is why Surayud is in such a hurry
Rangel and Levin unveil new trade policy for America
28-Mar-2007 House and Ways Committee
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI), today unveiled “A New Trade Policy for America,” to improve pending free trade agreements and allow for bipartisan support in the House.
Trade: Support builds for labour, environment standards
22-Mar-2007 IPS
Strong majorities in both developing and developed countries believe that international trade agreements should require governments to abide by minimum labour and environmental standards, according to a new survey of public opinion in 10 countries.