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Sri Lanka enters into economic cooperation agreement with Israel
2-May-2007 Colombo Page
Sri Lanka last week entered into an economic cooperation agreement with Israel.
Activists back Venezuela-driven alternative integration
2-May-2007 IPS
Progressive social and political movements joined the governments of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) at the fifth ALBA summit in Venezuela.
Countries determined to protect sugar benefits
1-May-2007
The African, Carribean, Pacific countries are determined to safeguard the benefits the Sugar Protocol provided and would explore avenues to uphold its position, says ACP Sugar Ministerial chairman Dr Arvin Boolell.
S. Korea to decide on start of FTA talks with EU next week
1-May-2007
South Korea is scheduled to decide on the beginning of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) at a meeting of ministers next week, a government official said Sunday.
Ghana, Burkina Faso must implement protocols
1-May-2007
The Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition (GTLC) has appealed to the governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso to facilitate an unconditional implementation of the protocol on the free movement of persons, goods and services within the West African sub-region.
Govt accused of selling out workers for free trade deals
1-May-2007
Labor activists on Monday accused the government of selling out Indonesian workers by signing free trade agreements with foreign countries.
EPA scoreboard: EU 1, SADC-EPA 0
1-May-2007
On 4 April, 2007 the European Union announced through a press release that it would offer full market access to the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries under the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations. Before a hype of euphoria sets in, be reminded that the devil resides in the details.
Raw deal between Washington and Seoul
1-May-2007 FPIF
The US-Korea FTA cannot be seen apart from US-South Korean security ties, the presence in South Korea of more than 30,000 US troops and a 50-year economic relationship that has been heavily weighted towards American interests. From this perspective, the FTA is the fourth attempt by the United States to force its economic will on South Korea over the past half-century. By rejecting it, we can reject the flawed policies of corporate globalization while embracing a new relationship with the Korean people at the same time.
"Cuba is not with OAS and is not dead"
30-Apr-2007
The 5th summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) ended with a flexible energy agreement and withdrawal from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
Cotonou’s demise - Namibia to lose millions
30-Apr-2007
The end of the World Trade Organisation waiver for Cotonou trade preferences at the end of this year will cost Namibia hundreds of millions, considering that the country’s agricultural and fish exports are built on the preferences.
Colombians to protest FTA on May Day
30-Apr-2007
Rejection of the approval of the free trade agreement with the US will be a main motivation for Colombians to celebrate the International Worker’s Day.
The EU and Mercosur: Can the EU get its foot in the door of Mercosur, Latin America’s most dominant market?
30-Apr-2007 COHA
With US foreign policy heavily focused on Iraq and the WTO Doha Round negotiations all but paralyzed, the European Union seems to be disregarding the wide open door to further regional integration and economic influence in Latin America that could be achieved through a free trade arrangement with Mercosur.
Analysis of Mercosur Summit
30-Apr-2007 Movimiento Boliviano por la Soberanía y la Integración solidaria de los pueblos: Contra el TLC y el ALCA
Presidents Néstor Kirchner (Argentina), Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brasil), Nicanor Duarte (Paraguay) y Tabaré Vázquez (Uruguay) met at the Río de Janeiro summit between 18 & 19 January in order to advance and consolidate the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). The focus was less on institutional strengthening of the block but more on looking for mechanisms to resolve the deep asymmetry in trading relations between nations.
Japan-UAE joint economic committee set up
29-Apr-2007
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed their firm determination to develop bilateral relations between the UAE and Japan at all levels.
Growing sense that Caribbean-EC negotiations may be in trouble
29-Apr-2007
A few days ago an influential political friend of the region asked about the current state of the negotiations between the Caribbean and the Europe for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU says West Africa trade talks may stretch to 2008
29-Apr-2007
The European Commission is pressing West African governments to negotiate a deal on trade before a WTO waiver on current trade perks expires on December 31, but acknowledged on Thursday a short extension may be needed.
10th round of Korea-Canada FTA talks finished
29-Apr-2007
Trade delegates from Korea and Canada wrapped up their tenth round of free trade talks in Seoul last Thursday.
Call to lay down rules for signing treaties
29-Apr-2007
The draft constitution has failed to fix weaknesses in the state’s endorsement of international treaties, including free trade agreements (FTAs), civic groups and legal experts say. Article 186 regarding the signing of international agreements failed to say that the government must seek parliamentary backing before signing any international pact, they said.
S Korea free trade deal looms
29-Apr-2007
New Zealand has taken a big step closer to a free trade agreement with South Korea.
Abe-Bush statement sets ball rolling on FTA
29-Apr-2007
The agreement by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President George W. Bush to share information about their countries’ free trade agreement talks with third parties apparently marked a first step toward an eventual FTA between Tokyo and Washington.