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CARIFORUM signs EPA without Guyana, Haiti
17-Oct-2008 Jamaica Observer
The signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the CARIFORUM Group - Caribbean Community states and the Dominican Republic - went ahead as planned. However, Guyana and Haiti, which had both expressed reservations about sections of the agreement, did not attend the signing ceremony in Barbados.
“Historic” Dominican-EU trade deal to be signed today
16-Oct-2008
The Dominican Government is scheduled formally sign an economic association agreement with the European Union today, making the country Latin America’s leader, after Chile, with the most Free Trade deals, now with 48 nations.
EU seeks FTA with Vietnam
15-Oct-2008 VietNamNet
Philippe Meyer, Head of the European Union’s Free Trade Agreement negotiation mission, told Vietnam’s press on October 14 that as the negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and ASEAN have been going slowly, the EU is considering moving ahead by kicking off separate negotiations with some ASEAN’s countries that are ready to open their markets, including Vietnam.
EU and Morocco eye free-trade deals
13-Oct-2008 Reuters
The European Union hopes to reach a deal with Morocco on the liberalisation of agricultural trade this year and on services next year, the bloc said in a statement issued on Monday.
MPs want region to turn away from EU
13-Oct-2008
East Africa’s increasingly frosty economic ties with the West took a turn for the worse last week when the region’s parliamentarians called for their governments to scrap the interim Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
EU: Defiant Guyana to be punished
13-Oct-2008 IPS
The European Union is preparing to impose swingeing taxes on goods imported from Guyana as punishment for the Caribbean island’s refusal to accept a free trade accord. Patrick Gomes, Guyana’s ambassador to Brussels, said that the EU’s move could lead to his country losing €70m (US$94m) each year.
Talks on RP-EU cooperation deal to start next year
13-Oct-2008 BusinessWorld
The Philippines and the European Union have agreed to start formal talks in February for a political cooperation agreement (PCA) that will govern political and economic relations and lead to an EU-ASEAN free trade deal. Human rights, intellectual property rights and climate change will be among the areas covered by the agreement.
EU-Asean meeting to tackle trade barriers
11-Oct-2008 Business Mirror
The Philippines has expressed serious concerns on the proposed PCA because it requires commitment to sign the Rome Statute. Manila has not ratified the statute owing to concerns of military and police authorities they may face possible harassment suits from rights groups at the ICC.
Food exports and free trade agreement
10-Oct-2008 GRAIN
One of the non-negotiable elements in the flurry of free trade agreements (FTAs) signed over the last decade or currently being negotiated is that the international flow of goods cannot be controlled or restricted in any way.
African experts endorse African template for EPAs
10-Oct-2008
African experts on Friday ended a continental forum on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between European and African countries with the endorsement of proposals towards an African template for EPA negotiations.
Silence surrounds trade issues
10-Oct-2008
The trade landscape in Canada could shift rapidly and radically after next week’s election.
Zambia-EU: European Union to sign free trade agreement with Zambia after Ghana and La Côte d’Ivoire
10-Oct-2008 Afrik.com
Zambia will soon sign with the European Union (EU) an interim free trade agreement. Zambia is the first country from the Southern Africa region to do so, while waiting to conclude a full Economic Partnership Agreement (APE) with all countries of Southern Africa.
Seoul, Brussels reaffirm pledge to strike free trade deal by year end
10-Oct-2008 Asia Pulse
South Korea and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed that they will strike a free trade deal by the end of the year, a top Seoul trade official said Friday.
L’UA s’inquiète des conséquences des accords commerciaux avec l’Europe
9-Oct-2008 APA
L’Union Africaine s’inquiète beaucoup des effets pervers des Accords de partenariat économique (APE) entre les pays africains et l’Union Européenne sur le calendrier de l’intégration régionale en Afrique.
OATUU opposes EPA
9-Oct-2008 AllAfrica.com
The Organisation of African Trade Unions Unity (OATUU) has joined in the crusade against the signing of the EPA, stating several claims which it believed would cripple the economies of member countries, if they go ahead to sign the agreement.
Little scope for Europe-Asia FTAs
8-Oct-2008 IPS
Plans to conclude free trade agreements (FTAs) between the European Union and several Asian economies are unlikely to be realised in the near future, a senior Brussels official has conceded.
Ghana: Farmers say EPAs would destroy livelihoods
8-Oct-2008 Farm Radio Weekly
Instead of signing the EPAs, Mr. Amoak would like to see his government implement measures to keep foreign rice out of the country.
NGO wants Mauritius to stop EPA negotiations with EU
8-Oct-2008
The Mauritian NGO, Rezistans ek Alternativ, has asked the government to stop the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) process with the European Union (EU) in the midst of the financial, food and energy crisis.
ACP Group Risks Disintegration Over EPAs
7-Oct-2008
The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mizengo Peter Pinda, has said that the formation and negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a clear indication that the cohesiveness of the African, Carribean and Pacific Group is being threatened to the "forces of disintegration".
GCC-EU trade deal on way
7-Oct-2008
A free trade agreement bonding the GCC and EU may be sealed next year. "Bilateral talks are progressing steadily," said Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Dr Essam Fakhro.