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Brazilian elections: Lula’s victory to revive EU-Mercosur agreement
The much-criticised free trade agreement between the EU and the four Latin American countries in Mercosur is currently at a standstill but could be revived.
Slovenia ‘very likely’ to withdraw from Energy Charter Treaty
Slovenia will follow the lead of countries such as the Netherlands, Spain and France and very likely withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer announced.
Free trade agreements: Mexico. How to get out of corporate submission?
We have produced a detailed study/story of NAFTA, with its eternal wake of treatises and agreements, its effects, and the tools to analyse and organise resistance against the impacts of FTAs.
Katherine Tai on enforcing trade agreements
The original NAFTA might have had labor and environment rules, but they turned out that they were unenforceable and there were no teeth, said USTR Tai.
UK firms using legal muscle to facilitate human rights and climate abuses – report
Transform Trade charity says British-based companies are among main bringers of cases based on bilateral investment treaties.
CETA: An attack on health, the environment, consumer protection and democracy
The trade agreement disempowers the European Parliament and strengthens the influence of corporations.
Hogging the gains from trade in Mexico
The multinational pork giant Smithfield, now owned by a Chinese firm, took advantage of trade, investment, labor, environmental, and immigration policies, after NAFTA, to expand its low-wage factory farming model on both sides of the US-Mexico border.
Oil firm Rockhopper wins £210m payout after being banned from drilling
Italian government ordered to compensate UK firm after exploration forbidden within 12 miles of coast.
Why can Ascent Resources demand half a billion euros from Slovenia?
Ascent Resources initiated an arbitration dispute in which it is demanding half a billion euros due to Slovenia’s request that an environmental impact assessment should be carried out before fracking in Petišovci.
KCA, a Reno Nevada based mining company, suspended gold mine in Guatemala
However, locals feel latent tension that the imminent consultation process or the arbitration suit could revive earlier threats, violence, and legal persecution from company employees and contractors.
False good news for future EU free trade agreements
ECVC is heavily critical of the lack of ambition shown by the European Commission to tackle only future free trade agreements, meaning the pre-existing FTAs can continue their environmental and social devastation.
Commission’s trade sanctions proposal falls short
The proposal lacks ambition, especially when it comes to addressing trade’s role in driving climate breakdown.
Oceana filing under USMCA on right whales moves forward, could open US to trade restrictions
A filing made by non-governmental organization Oceana claims the US is not holding up its environmental laws regarding the protection of endangered North Atlantic right whales is moving forward.
A protest is taking place in Salisbury city centre today
Protestors will be gathering to march to the Rockhopper Exploration headquarters. The company is suing the Italian government for £236 million due to its refusal to allow oil drilling off the Adriatic Coast.
Overselling EU trade deals: new study uncovers failures of sustainability impact assessments
The European Commission uses flawed and tardy sustainability impact assessments as a fig leaf for environmentally, socially and economically damaging EU trade agreements, according to a new study.
Thai gold mine blamed for sickening local villagers is set to reopen
Citing the free-trade agreement between Australia and Thailand, Kingsgate, announced in November 2017 that it had filed a suit against Thailand at an international arbitration tribunal.
Key human rights tests for UK free trade agreements
Without adequate rules and the right business incentives to protect workers and communities, trade deals can contribute to a ‘race to the bottom’.
Serving of notice of dispute
Amendments to the mining law in Slovenia which prohibit the use of any hydraulic stimulation in mining exploitation constitute further breaches of the protections established by the BIT and the ECT.
EU-Mercosur trade deal to clear environmental hurdles this year, EU commissioner says
The European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur could by year’s end resolve environmental concerns that are holding up a free trade agreement, EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said.
UK farmers must compete with ‘cruel and unsustainable’ farming practices due to Australia trade deal
Post-Brexit agreement contains ‘no safeguards’ for environmental protections or animal welfare, campaigners warn.