bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

US

Don’t rush to sign FTA, Nesac warns
9-Feb-2006
The National Economic and Social Advisory Council yesterday warned the prime minister not to let the immediate gains from opening trades with the US blind him to the latent risks of rushing into an economic partnership.
Korea to Have Strong Say at FTA Talks With US: MOFE
9-Feb-2006
Vice Finance and Economy Minister Kwon Tae-shin Thursday said Korea shouldn’t be shy at the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation table with the United States.
US rejects free trade in Kaesong products
9-Feb-2006 JoongAng Daily
A US official said yesterday that Washington would not consider goods manufactured at an industrial park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong as South Korean products in its free-trade negotiations with Seoul.
S. Korea halts film making to protest US trade deal
9-Feb-2006 Washington Post
South Korea’s movie industry ground to a halt on Wednesday, as dozens of stars and hundreds of film workers protested against a government move to cut protection for the industry to smooth free trade talks with the United States.
US wants more concessions on beef imports: Official
9-Feb-2006 Chosunilbo
The US will push Korea for further negotiations on resuming imports of US beef with parts attached to the bone included, an official with the US Embassy in Korea said Wednesday. This January, the Korean government partly lifted the ban to ease the way for free-trade talks.
Kuwaiti delegation kicks off expert-level trade talks with US counterpart
9-Feb-2006 MENAFN
The Kuwaiti Ambassador praised the level of trade relations between Kuwait and the United States, which is considered Kuwait’s largest trade partner, and expressed Kuwait’s hope that the ongoing trade negotiations would lead to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
‘Secret’ FTA details on the Net
8-Feb-2006
Details of US proposals in free-trade talks with Thailand - perceived by many Thais as “forbidden information” the government has tried to cover up - were recently posted for all to see in cyberspace. Witoon Leanchamroon, director of BioThai, a non-government organisation working for bio-diversity and community rights, said at a press conference yesterday he had been told a group of Americans involved in public health issues had posted a full text of the patent chapter from the Thai-US free trade talks at www.bilaterals.org.
EDITORIAL: Health at stake in free-trade talks
8-Feb-2006 The Nation
For the United States, intellectual property rights represent the single most valuable asset in light of the new reality of information-based economies and where they derive their national wealth. The supremacy of the US as a global power depends on how effective it is in acquiring and maintaining its ownership of knowledge assets.
Draft amendment to patent law a ’sell-out’
8-Feb-2006 Bangkok Post
Opponents of a free trade area (FTA) agreement with the US have lashed out at the government’s proposed amendment of Thai patent law to facilitate the United States’ patenting of drugs and living organisms in Thailand. They fear it would lead to greater control of the country’s resources by American firms.
Stars Fight Losing Battle Against Screen Quota Cut
7-Feb-2006
One of Asia’s best known movie stars stood in front of the National Assembly in Yoido, Seoul, holding a picket which read: ``Be a friend of the screen quota system and we will flap Taegukgi in the world.’’
Work for a win-win agreement
7-Feb-2006
The competition over "mating" between countries and regions through free trade agreements is unusual. One hundred and twenty free trade agreements have been entered to date - 95 of them in the past five years. Fifteen agreements were reached last year and 37 are currently underway. Immediately after he came into office in 2001, US President George W. Bush pushed to enter free trade agreements, saying the United States was behind the European Union in making such pacts.
FTA to ease NK nuclear concern
7-Feb-2006
A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the United States would help ease concerns over North Korea’s nuclear weapons development, a high-ranking official said Tuesday.
US wants free trade agreement with Mercosur: diplomat
7-Feb-2006 Xinhua
The United States is seeking a free trade agreement with the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), Latin America’s largest trading bloc, according to a top US diplomat.
Free-Trade Backer Favored in Costa Rica
7-Feb-2006
A Nobel Peace Prize winner who supports a free-trade agreement with the United States was favored in pre-election polls as Costa Ricans chose a new president on Sunday. He faced a rival who said the pact would hurt farmers.
FTA deals a wild card: farmers
7-Feb-2006
To the delight of free traders and the apprehension of Korean farmers and other globalization foes, the United States and Korea announced Thursday that they would begin negotiations on a free trade agreement.
US-Thailand FTA - More IPR text proposed by US (2006)
6-Feb-2006
General provisions, trademarks (including GIs) and domain names
Outlook Hopeful as Trade Talks Begin
4-Feb-2006
Kim Hyun-jong, Korea’s trade minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Robert Portman, the United States Trade Representative, declared the start of preliminary ROK-U.S. ROK-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations at a joint press conference in the main hall of Capitol Building in Washington D.C. yesterday.
Support free-trade talks with S. Korea
4-Feb-2006
U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman’s newly announced plan to pursue a sweeping free trade agreement with South Korea is a bold step that, if done fairly, would be a win-win for the two nations, with long-term benefits for our economy.
Agriculture blocks Colombia-US FTA
4-Feb-2006 Prensa Latina
Disagreements on issues like agriculture are forcing the Colombian government on Friday to delay the possible signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, scheduled for this weekend.
Semiconductor Industry Association Applauds Launching U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement; Agreement Has Potential to Eliminate Trade Barriers
3-Feb-2006
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today applauded United States Trade Representative Rob Portman for initiating talks with Korea on a Free Trade Agreement.