bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles


Tanzania: Country in precarious position over trade pact
Tanzania is lagging behind in preparing to sign a deal that will determine how it trades with Europe for a long time to come.
Employers up against anti-FTA strikes
The Korea Employers Federation Monday called for an end to “illegal” strikes aimed at thwarting the establishment of a free trade agreement between Korea and the United States.
Anti-FTA protesters scuffle with police in Seoul
About 100 anti-globalization activists, some from the US, clashed briefly with police in Seoul Monday, as they protested against talks aimed at concluding a free trade agreement between South Korea and the US.
China, Iceland to start free trade agreement talks
China and Iceland plan to begin formal negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement soon following successful talks earlier this month.
First EFTA free trade agreement in sub-Saharan Africa
The Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU, comprising Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland) signed a free trade agreement on 1 July 2006.
CII working out guidelines for FTAs
Apex chamber Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is working on a set of industry recommendations to come up with guidelines for signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The WTO and other Trade Agreements Committee of the chamber is finalising the recommendations which will be submitted to the government within a month.
Nation faced with split due to free trade agreement
Voices against the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) are increasingly being raised ahead of the second round of FTA negotiations, due to be held in Seoul on July 10. The voices of protest are not getting louder because Seoul is the venue of the negotiations.
Protests to intensify over FTA
As Korea resumed its talks with the United States over a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) yesterday, anti-globalization activists also made their presence felt, organizing scattered demonstrations in Seoul calling for the government to withdraw from the negotiations.
Korea could drop Kaesong goods in FTA talks with US
The government could give up trying to persuade the U to recognize products from the inter-Korea Kaesong Industrial Complex as made in South Korea in free trade negotiations. “It has become impossible to win Washington’s consent about the Kaesong issue because of North Korea’s sudden missile launches,” an official here said.
Colombia sees US trade deal in October
Colombia’s government said on Friday it expected to sign a free trade agreement with the United States in early October after ironing out difficulties over agricultural goods in the text of the deal.
US says FTA talks must be pursued
President of the US-Asean Business Council Matt Daley is to propose a continuation of bilateral trade talks between Thailand and the United States, despite the Kingdom’s political deadlock, when he meets caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripi-tak in Washington today.
EFTA free trade relations
An overview report on EFTA’s free trade agreements with non-EU countries.
No EPA without investment rules and full reciprocity, Falkenberg insists!
Karl Falkenberg, Deputy Director-General of Trade at the European Commission, says its is not worth having an Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and ECOWAS if the Agreement did not enshrine Free Trade Agreement-style full reciprocity between the parties and liberalised rules for Investment.
Imports under FTA should not hurt domestic industry, but should be a win-win for both sides, says Kamal Nath
Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, has said that imports under the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should not adversely affect the domestic industry. Rather, such an engagement should be a win-win situation bringing economic benefits to both sides. The Minister said this in the context of vanaspati imports under the Indo-Sri Lanka FTA, when the issue was raised by Mr. Jayaraj Fernandopulle, Minister for Trade, Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Highways, who called on him here last evening.
FTA negotiations
Given the constitutional right to freedom of expression, there is nothing wrong with critics voicing opposition to a free trade agreement being negotiated with the United States. Actually, many of them get their anti-FTA message across by contributing articles to news media, appearing on public forums or exploiting other legitimate channels to their advantage.
CARICOM seeks free trade deal with USA following DR-CAFTA
The Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, informed that it intends to seek a free trade deal with the United States, after Central American countries and the Dominican Republic sign the latter.
Korea-EU FTA promoted at luncheon
A special luncheon was held in downtown Seoul on July 4, 2006 to explain the advantages and disadvantages of a Korea-EU FTA. The European Union Chamber of Commerce Korea hosted the event.
Police to counteract violence sternly
The commissioner general of Korea’s National Police Agency said police will sternly counteract possible violent demonstrations against the Korea-US FTA negotiations in Seoul next week.
FTA to boost Korean car exports
More Korean automobiles and more Korean auto parts will roll into the United States if South Korea and the US reach a free trade agreement, government officials and auto industry sources said Thursday.
Indonesia speeds up partnership with Japan
Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for the speeding up of ongoing negotiations on the proposed Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) so that it can be signed this year, a spokesman said.