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Miners dig in against union critics of free-trade deals
7-Jul-2015
The Minerals Council of Australia has dismissed critics of free-trade agreements, including unions and civil society groups, arguing that deals struck between Aus­tralia and other countries have brought substantial benefits.
WHO warns govt about risks of FTAs
7-Jul-2015
Experts say the government should carefully consider before signing free-trade agreements (FTA) - as people could be hurt by deals that prolong drug patents and restrict information about medicine.
Obama seeks to fast track TTIP
7-Jul-2015 Left Foot Forward
Unions such as Unite and the United Steelworkers in the US and Canada have warned that their hard fought for and cherished social, employment rights and sectoral collective bargaining system may be undermined by new trade deals.
New leaked TPP chapter shows countries converging on anti-user copyright takedown rules
7-Jul-2015 Electronic Frontier Foundation
A draft of the Trans-Pacific Partnership’s "Intellectual Property" chapter from May 11, 2015 has recently been leaked to journalists and contains significant change on intermediary liability rules compared to previous leaks.
TPP ministers to gather in Hawaii July 28-29
7-Jul-2015 Kyodo
Pacific Rim countries pursuing a free trade initiative are set to hold ministerial talks on July 28 and 29 in Hawaii to wind up their marathon negotiations, a source said Monday.
TiSA Round 13: decision-time on key negotiating items
6-Jul-2015 Bordelex
Negotiations towards a plurilateral trade in services agreement (TiSA) are entering a decisive moment as the 13th round of talks in Geneva this week is to determine what items to drop from the negotiating list, reports Bordelex.
Further delays in Taiwan-China trade deal could affect Taiwan’s future: Officials
6-Jul-2015 CNA
Progress of China’s preferential trade deal with Taiwan has been held up after its service trade pact was stalled by the island’s divided parliament. Officials warn that further delays could have a devastating effect on Taiwan’s economic future.
Protests in Bulgaria’s capital and Varna against TTIP agreement between EU and USA
6-Jul-2015 FOCUS News Agency
Civil protests were staged this weekend in coastal Varna and in Sofia themed “No to TTIP and CETA”.
TPP would reshape stock portfolios alongside trade flows
6-Jul-2015 Reuters
As the Trans Pacific Partnership will have long-term implications for Pacific Rim companies, fund managers are starting to look at the implications for long-term positioning.
Canada, Japan clash over timber in TPP talks
6-Jul-2015 The Canadian Press
One of Canada’s most protected industries — British Columbia timber — has been targeted by Japan in the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks, The Canadian Press has learned.
Free trade deal with EU the next in line
6-Jul-2015 Radio New Zealand
With the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement still a work in progress, New Zealand negotiators have their eye on the next target as well — a free trade deal with the European Union.
Editorial: New Zealand must tread carefully on Trans Pacific Partnership
6-Jul-2015 The Dominion Post
New Zealand needs to be ready to walk away from the Trans Pacific Partnership, says The Domion Post, worried about the impact of its drug patenting rules and investor-state dispute settlement mechanism.
Government looks to rework FTA strategy
6-Jul-2015 Times of India
India is set to rework the way it does free trade agreements (FTAs), moving to a more liberal regime on routing of third-country goods, as it revives its push for bilateral deals to corner a greater share of the export market.
India, Thailand still disagree on FTA details: Thai official
3-Jul-2015 PTI
The much-awaited Free Trade Agreement between India and Thailand has hit a slight bump as the two sides still disagree on key details, according to a senior Thai official.
Investor vs. State
3-Jul-2015 Policy Alternatives
Canada is being pummeled by NAFTA corporate lawsuits. Why do we put up with it?
’TPP can hurt India’
3-Jul-2015 Fibre2Fashion
Financial services company India Nivesh has warned that when the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) comes into effect, India would be negatively impacted to a major extent.
Botswana, EU discuss EPA negotiations progress
3-Jul-2015 APA
Botswana Minister of Trade and Industry Vincent Seretse has met with European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Mamstrom in Gaborone to discuss the finalisation of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between the EU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
WikiLeaks publishes four more TiSA documents
3-Jul-2015 WikiLeaks
On 2 July, WikiLeaks publshed four more chapters from the secret ongoing TiSA (Trade in Services Agremeent) negotiations, ahead of the next negotiating round on Monday: Electronic Commerce, Telecommunications Services, Financial Services and Maritime Transport Services.
TISA leaks reveal threat to seafarers
3-Jul-2015 International Shipping News
TISA documents predict a power grab by transport industry players at the expense of the public interest, jobs and a voice for workers, the International Transport Workers’ Federation says
Maximising investment protection in Africa: the role of investment treaties and investment arbitration
3-Jul-2015 Lexology
In recent years, many African governments have made an effort to improve foreign investors’ protections by entering into many BITs and related agreements with non-African countries