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EU, Mediterranean states try to push trade talks on
2-Jul-2008 Reuters
EU trade ministers and their counterparts from 13 Mediterranean countries tried to find ways on Wednesday to boost commercial flows but experts said their aim of a free trade area by 2010 looked unattainable.
Trade unions call for renegotiation of EPA
2-Jul-2008 Antigua Sun
Regional trade unionists have called for a review and renegotiation of the recently initiated Economic Partnership Agreement, negotiated between the EU and the Caribbean Forum countries, Caribbean Community member states and the Dominican Republic.
Food safety - rigging the game
2-Jul-2008 GRAIN
In the food safety arena, both the US and the EU are pressing their standards on other countries through bilateral free trade agreements.
Economic Partnerships Matter
1-Jul-2008
We are told that the fundamental principles and objectives of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and CARIFORUM states are defined by the Cotonou Agreement. We are advised that this agreement seeks to create sustainable development of the states, their smooth and gradual integration in the world market, and eradication of poverty.
S Korea, EU to hold minister-level talks on FTA
29-Jun-2008 Xinhua
Trade ministers from South Korea and the European Union will meet next week to resolve contentious issues such as auto trade and rules of origin in their free trade negotiations
Sacu, EU to sign interim economic partnership agreement next week
28-Jun-2008 Engineering News
The Southern African Customs Union plans to sign an interim economic partnership agreement with the European Union next week. At the end of 2007, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland had all decided to initiate an Interim EPA with the EU, but South Africa had decided against. The union on Friday said all five of its members were now working together, and that the union intended to sign an interim EPA with the EU by July 1.
EU multi-level trade policy: neither coherent nor development-friendly
26-Jun-2008
The EU is demanding far-reaching trade concessions by developing countries which will help to increase their vulnerability. To merely include some paragraphs that all parties will respect and promote human and worker’s rights is just plain insufficient.
RP fishers buck EU-ASEAN free trade deal
26-Jun-2008
A group of small-scale fishers in the Philippines is against a free trade deal between the European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Petition: Suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement
26-Jun-2008 Petitionsite
Sign this petition which calls for an immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and any further trade between Israel and EU Member States in protest against Israel’s continued violation of human rights of the Palestinian people.
Jamaica to sign EPA with Europe
26-Jun-2008 Radio Jamaica
Prime Minister Bruce Golding has announced that Jamaica is to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe on July 15. But he added that the signing could be called off if there is wide scale opposition.
Devastating floods - man made
26-Jun-2008 Germanwatch
This brochure by Germanwatch and FIAN describes the negative impacts of european exports of poultry and tomato puree on the right to food of Ghanaian smallholder farmers and refers to the further threats by the new economic partnership agreement.
Latin America could halt EU trade talks over return directive
25-Jun-2008 EU Observer
Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, has warned that trade talks between the European Union and the Andean Community could be suspended if the 27-member bloc pushes ahead with its new immigration law.
Labour movement left out of EPA negotiations
25-Jun-2008
Senior Trade Union Leaders in the region are upset that the Caribbean Labour Movement was not afforded enough imput in shaping the European Union CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) initialled last December.
Europe drive vs workers assailed
24-Jun-2008 ABS-CBN
A regional coalition of civil-society organizations in Southeast Asia has criticized the European Parliament decision mandating the forcible deportation of undocumented workers in Europe. The decision negates the goals of the proposed EU free-trade deal with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), seeking to open trade and investments including the seamless entry of Asean workers to Europe.
Not much hope for Charest’s vision of Canada-Europe free trade agreement
21-Jun-2008 The Gazette
At last week’s international economic forum in Montreal, there was plenty of talk about an initiative being pushed by Premier Jean Charest: a Canada-Europe free trade agreement.
EU decision to upgrade relationship with Israel reveals Europe’s selective adherence to human rights standards
21-Jun-2008 AIC
Monday’s announcement for increased relations concerns three areas: diplomatic cooperation; Israel’s participation in European plans and agencies; and an examination of possible Israeli integration into the European Single Market.
Some interim EPAs may not be concluded
18-Jun-2008 AllAfrica.com
Some of the 35 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that have initialled interim economic partnership agreements (EPAs) may still withdraw from the process — apart from the 44 states that have so far refused to sign EPAs with the European Union — according to researchers studying the fraught trade negotiating process.
Hard bargains: Bilateral trade pacts draw domestic objections
17-Jun-2008 FT
The fear of having other countries steal a march on Washington by signing their own deals may bring Congress back to the bilateral trade negotiating table.
Anti EPA groups protest at White Hall!
17-Jun-2008 St Lucia Star
On Thursday June 12, organizations from around the region staged a protest against the EU-Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement in front of White Hall, the prime minister’s office in Trinidad.
Israel seeking an upgrading of its relations with the EU and to obtain "special status"
16-Jun-2008 AIC
On Monday June 16th, the EU-Israel Association Council will convene for the eighth time. For Israel the stakes are high.