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As UK joins CPTPP hopefuls, S. Korea hurries to prepare application
8-Feb-2021 Hankyoreh
The South Korean government is speeding up its preparations to apply for membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after effectively making official its plans for negotiations to join.
Q&A: Int’l arbitration expert on Alberta’s threat of ’slam-dunk’ case v. USA over Keystone veto
8-Feb-2021 West Law
Alberta’s Premier said that the Canadian province, which has an equity in the now-canceled Keystone XL pipeline, may seek compensation under investor-protection provisions still in effect under NAFTA
US Chamber slams Mexico power bill as breach of USMCA trade pact
8-Feb-2021 Reuters
The bill gives preference in electricity distribution to the state-run Comision Federal de Electricidad and seeks to eliminate its obligation to buy electricity through auctions.
How Google could sue Australia for billions
4-Feb-2021 Australian Financial Review
Google and Facebook could sue the government for billions of dollars over a proposed law to force the digital giants to pay publishers for displaying news content, by seizing on investment clauses in the Australia-Singapore trade agreement.
US Chamber drives for Kenya-US trade deal
2-Feb-2021 Business Daily
The United States Chamber of Commerce has urged President Joe Biden to seal a new trade deal with Kenya, which was initiated by his predecessor Donald Trump.
Biden to focus on trade enforcement after years of Trump tariffs
1-Feb-2021 Bloomberg
President Joe Biden’s administration is setting up its trade policy to prioritize enforcement of existing commitments by the US’s partners over negotiating more deals to open new export markets.
S. Korea vows to speed up trade talks with Central, South America in 2021
29-Jan-2021 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry vowed to make more progress in expanding trade pacts with counterparts from Central and South America this year, in line with its efforts to diversify its export portfolio amid the growing protectionism around the globe.
Table of foreign investor-state cases and claims under NAFTA and other US “trade deals”
28-Jan-2021 Public Citizen
ISDS tribunals have ordered governments to pay corporations more than $989 million in compensation after ISDS attacks launched just under U.S. agreements.
Taiwan says realistic about U.S. trade deal, but one will happen eventually
27-Jan-2021 Reuters
Taiwan is under no illusions it can quickly sign a long hoped for free trade deal with the United States but feels when the time is right “success will flow naturally”, the island’s chief trade negotiator said on Friday.
Keystone XL legal risks highlight dangers of putting investors before climate change
26-Jan-2021 The Conversation
The owner of Keystone XL — TC Energy (previously TransCanada) — used NAFTA to launch a US$15 billion lawsuit in 2016 after President Barack Obama cancelled the project.
China’s trade with US failed to meet phase-one deal targets last year, and 2021 is not expected to yield more success
25-Jan-2021 South China Morning Post
Analysts point to unrealistic goals in original deal with United States, and overall trade goals may continue to remain elusive in this year.
US attacks Australia’s ’extraordinary’ plan to make Google and Facebook pay for news
19-Jan-2021 The Guardian
The US has said the proposed legislation could run counter to the US-Australia free trade agreement.
Kenya gears for third round talks on US trade deal
19-Jan-2021 Citizen Digital
Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina says the country is ready to return to the negotiating table once the new administration in the US settles.
Canada scrambles to salvage Keystone XL as Biden prepares to kill troubled pipeline project
19-Jan-2021 Reuters
Alberta believes there was a “very solid” legal basis to seek damages under international free trade agreements if the pipeline is effectively killed, said Alberta Premier
TNCs reviving TPP Frankenstein
18-Jan-2021 Financial Express Bangladesh
Corporate globalisation and Covid-19 should also have taught developing countries that they must reject FTAs strengthening IPRs, ISDS and TNCs in order to secure policy space to ’build back better’.
Taipei seeks to persuade Europeans for BIA talks
18-Jan-2021 Taipei Times
The government is stepping up efforts to persuade European countries to start bilateral investment agreement talks with Taiwan, as the conditions are ripe, Minister said
Dhaka drops plan to negotiate FTA with US
11-Jan-2021 Financial Express Bangladesh
The government has backtracked from a plan to propose the United States for signing a free trade area deal considering its lack of preparedness, an official says.
US Consulate a turning point for disputed Western Sahara
11-Jan-2021 AP
Trump said the goal of the Western Sahara consulate would be “to promote economic and trade opportunities in the region.”
US assesses potential losses in agricultural exports to EU if the Mercosur deal is finally ratifies
11-Jan-2021 MercoPress
Analysis by the United States Department of Agriculture point out that the country has US$ 4 billion in agricultural exports that may be affected to some extent by the European Union-Mercosur trade deal.
China and EU leaders strike investment deal, but political hurdles await
4-Jan-2021 New York Times
The agreement, which would roll back restrictions on investment, faces some opposition in Europe and objections from the Biden camp.