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Japan defies Trump, approves TPP trade pact
Japan’s lower house of parliament has passed the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal, a move largely viewed as an empty gesture because the US president-elect flatly rejects it.
Row over Romania’s land of Dracula and gold spills onto new international stage
A battle over plans to build a huge gold mine in Rosia Montana, a Romanian village boasting intact Roman mining shafts and 18th century houses, has moved to an international stage.
UK and India sign wide-ranging IP agreement
The countries will exchange best practices in the IP field, such as streamlining the processing of patent, trademark and design registrations.
McConnell rules out TPP vote before Trump takes office
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dashed any remaining hopes that President Barack Obama’s signature Pacific-Rim trade deal would come up for a vote before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Australia to pay more attention to RCEP if TPP fails under Trump
Australia’s Foreign Minister said the country will turn its focus towards an economic partnership with China and other Asian countries in place of a free-trade agreement with the United States after Donald Trump’s election win.
Ten progressive S&D principles for a new era of trade agreements
The first objective of trade agreements should be to benefit the widest possible range of citizens. Trade deals should contribute to sustainable economic growth and jobs in the EU and in partner countries.
Global trade 101: How NAFTA’s Chapter 11 overrides environmental laws
NAFTA, critics say, included investment provisions that inherently created an uneven playing field, allowing corporate investors to directly sue national governments for mega-millions and ultimately sidestep domestic environmental laws.
Auto vendors concerned about FTA with Thailand
Auto vendors have shown their discomfort over the ongoing negotiations regarding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Thailand.
EU wants more access to Indonesian F&B market
The EU demands Indonesia to ease trade barriers in the food and beverage (F&B) sector to give European producers more access to Southeast Asia’s largest market.
Another trade opportunity for Canadian pork
Shortly after the signature of the Canada-EU trade deal, the pork industry shows optimism once again at Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.
Is the EU abandoning freedom of speech in its trade deals?
As trade negotiators seek to wrap up the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), the EU seems to have abandoned the objective of promoting human rights, notably freedom of speech.
UK raises Vodafone tax dispute; wants early resolution
Global MNCs like Cairn Energy and Vodafone have invoked Bilateral Investment Treaty and served arbitration notice to India over tax disputes. While the tax demand on Cairn Energy is Rs 10,247 crore, that on Vodafone is Rs 14,200 crore.
EU executive and Canada join forces to promote multilateral investment system to replace ISDS
The move follows the Commission’s pledge from last year to “start work, together with other countries, on setting up a permanent International Investment Court.”
Liberals dodge democracy in effort to ram CETA through House
Parliamentary committee plans to freeze out critical input from Canadians.
Data exclusivity could go to 12 yrs
US reports that data exclusivity for biologics in Australia could still be extended to 12 years via the TPP trade deal have got local activists up in arms.
China-led Asia Pacific trade deal nears completion
Once approved, RCEP will promote free flow of goods and services among countries accounting for 30 percent of the global economy and half the world’s population.
Negotiators question EU commitment to services deal
Negotiators working to increase market access for services are beginning to question whether the European Union is capable of forging a multi-trillion dollar services agreement.
Ruling bloc further delays lower house TPP vote amid strong opposition
The Japanese government’s plan to rapidly ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement hit another setback
East Africa: team faults EAC-EU EPA deal
The Economic Partnership Agreement between East African Community and European Union is ’a raw deal’, an independent team tasked to examine the trade deal has warned.
Wisconsin dairy farmers oppose TPP
In a poll by the Wisconsin Farmers Union, nearly 80 percent of the 1,000 farmers surveyed favored Congress rejecting or placing a moratorium on TPP.