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Japan

Japan, RI plan new investment, trade deal
16-Dec-2004 Jakarta Post
The governments of Japan and Indonesia are mulling a new economic agreement, which would see the latter offering Japanese firms incentives to invest here.
Twelve-country report on FTAs
15-Dec-2004 ANN
A report on the status of FTA fever in 12 Asian countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Asian free trade vogue could heat up
12-Dec-2004
Free trade agreements are flying around East Asia these days, with even India, from South Asia, getting a piece of the action.
Mazda to start selling cars in Mexico; planned FTA helps
12-Dec-2004 Wall Street Journal
Mazda Motor Corp. has set up a new unit in Mexico to start selling vehicles there, taking advantage of the scheduled implementation of a free trade agreement between Japan and Mexico next year.
FTA with Thailand opens can of worms for automakers
10-Dec-2004 AAN
The Japanese government has urged Thailand to lift tariffs on car imports as part of its efforts to conclude a free trade agreement. At the same time, Japanese automakers, whose affiliated firms take up most of the Thai auto market, are cautious about the FTA because it could cause fierce competition between the same Japanese car models.
Japan, Philippines FTA shows foreign worker hurdles
7-Dec-2004 Reuters AlterNet
Japan and the Philippines on Monday clinched a broad free trade agreement (FTA) that would include letting a trickle of nurses into Japan to help cope with a shortage.
EIU: Free-trade free-for-all
7-Dec-2004 EIU ViewsWire
If proof were needed that an Asian free-trade "arms race" has begun in earnest, then the 10th ASEAN summit in Vientiane on November 29th-30th provided it in abundance. The highlight of the summit was the signing of an FTA between China and ASEAN, but equally striking was the number of other trade pacts that were, variously, agreed, worked on or proposed during the meeting in the Lao capital.
Driving a hard bargain: Trade agreements easier said than done
24-Nov-2004 Asahi
Japan is proving a tough negotiator for countries with their hopes pinned on FTAs.
Japan, Philippines reach FTA accord
20-Nov-2004 Japan Times
Japan and the Philippines reached a basic agreement for a bilateral free-trade agreement after striking a deal on the stickiest issue — steel tariffs.
Japan, Chile to set up joint FTA study board
14-Nov-2004
Japan and Chile are expected to set up a joint study board aimed at concluding a free trade agreement.
Japan, Thailand edge toward free-trade deal, without rice
11-Nov-2004 Kyodo
Trade negotiators from Japan and Thailand resumed free-trade talks Monday after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra decided to withdraw rice from the negotiating table.
Free trade talks : Japanese protesters cry fowl
11-Nov-2004 The Nation
Chicken farmers from Japan have descended on Bangkok this week to lobby for the withdrawal of poultry products from free-trade talks, following the success of Japanese farmers in getting Thailand to drop rice.
Free trade pact eyed to aid firms in Chile
10-Nov-2004
Japan is considering a free trade agreement with Chile out of concern the Latin American country’s FTA agreements with other nations may put Japanese companies in the area at a disadvantage.
Taiwan: FTA push moves into high gear
8-Nov-2004 Taipei Times
Taiwan is struggling to find ways of making free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners, even as China and ASEAN are set to sign two landmark agreements this month establishing the world’s largest Free Trade Area, which is scheduled to come into being by 2010.
Indonesia stays committed to FTA with Japan
7-Nov-2004 Japan Times
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his commitment Saturday to continue talks for an economic partnership with Japan, the head of a visiting delegation of Japanese business leaders said.
Japan, Malaysia end free-trade talks without agreement
6-Nov-2004 AFP
Japan and Malaysia ended three days of talks on a free-trade agreement (FTA) on Saturday still divided over removing import duties on certain products such as Japanese cars, a news report said.
Japan, S Korea hold free trade talks amidst demos
1-Nov-2004 AP
Japan and South Korea opened a new round of free trade talks in Tokyo as nearly 150 labor union members from the two countries clashed with police during a demonstration to oppose the deal.
Philippine gov’t reports big progress in talks with Japan
30-Oct-2004 INQ7.net
The Philippines reported significant progress in talks to sign a free-trade pact by the end of the year with Japan.
Japan: FTA talks with 3 nations at crucial stage
29-Oct-2004 Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan’s ongoing negotiations over free trade agreements with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand are entering a crucial stage.
South Korea: Indefinite general strike planned
25-Oct-2004 GLW
Korean trade union and social organisations have worked together in recent months to stop the Japan-Korea FTA, arguing that it will result in the abolition of more regulations protecting workers rights, and more privatisation of public services. They also say the average citizens’ access to medical treatment and drugs will also be undermined by the FTA’s excuse to “protect” intellectual property rights.