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Globalized protests
Korea and the United States will start formal negotiations on a bilateral free trade accord in Washington on June 5. Flying to the US capital for the occasion are not only government delegates but also a contingent of about 100 demonstrators. Having heard much about Korean protesters’ militancy, local police have reportedly entered a state of emergency.
Colombia: Casualties in battle against free trade pact with US
Indigenous and campesino protests against the free trade deal that Colombia is negotiating with the United States drew a harsh military response from the government of rightwing President Álvaro Uribe, leaving an as yet unknown number of people dead, injured or missing. Even the ombudsman of the southwestern province of Nariño, Carlos Mario Aguirre, was hospitalised last Thursday.
Koreans, French fight Hollywood domination
Films from South Korea may not be as prominently featured in the program of the 59th Cannes Film Festival as in recent years, yet Korean cinema is garnering attention, thanks to the struggle by industry people to defend the screen quota system.
US eyes closer trade ties with Taiwan, but no pact
The United States has no immediate plans to negotiate a free trade pact with Taiwan, but is eager to discuss other ways to expand economic ties, a top US trade official told reporters on Monday.
White House upbeat on Vietnam trade pact
The Bush administration expressed optimism Monday that a recently completed trade agreement with Vietnam can be signed by early June and supporting legislation can win congressional approval this summer.
Korean groups vow ’no violence’ in US capital
Korean activists will go ahead with their planned rallies in Washington to protest negotiations for a free trade agreement, ignoring the government’s appeal for restraint.
Mexico to replace Venezuela in trade pact
Mexican officials said Monday they will seek a replacement for Venezuela after the South American nation decided to quit the G-3 trade pact.
ALBA: Social debt and human rights - proposals for the new social, economic and cultural order
President Chavez has proposed a new project for Latin America integration, ALBA, which challenges the imperial project ALCA, designed to consolidate neocolonial empire.
Guatemala: Fears and hopes raised by free trade with US
With just a few days to go before the removal of trade barriers between Guatemala and the United States, social organisations are afraid that living standards in Guatemala will decline, while the government and the business community predict an influx of investment, economic growth, and the creation of thousands of new jobs.
US upbeat about trade talks with South Korea, Malaysia
The United States is "very optimistic" about clinching free trade agreements (FTAs) with major trading partners South Korea and Malaysia, a senior US official said.
Free trade match kick-off
Winning the soccer World Cup in Germany next month would be a cinch compared with winning special access to Chinese markets for Australian farmers, investors and service providers.
Indo-Asean FTA set for Jan takeoff
Here is the final word on the Indo-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) - bigger than any other trade pact that India has entered into so far.
India loses out in Thai FTA
As the country debates the merits and de-merits of free trade agreements (FTAs), an analysis of trade data shows India has been at the receiving end in both the Thai and the Sri Lanka FTAs.
Proposed FTA with Thailand in choppy waters
The proposed India-Thailand free trade agreement (FTA), which was to follow the early harvest programme (EHP) implemented in September 2004, seems to be in trouble. The Thai side is refusing to budge from its new demand of making the rules of origin (ROO) norms for the agreement less stringent than the norms being followed under the EHP.
Venezuela says it will pull out of G-3
President Hugo Chavez said Sunday Venezuela will pull out of a trade bloc with Colombia and Mexico, its latest move to abandon trade deals with countries that have free-trade pacts with the United States.
GCC-New Zealand free trade deal likely next year
The GCC states and New Zealand are expected to sign a free trade agreement next year.
Chinese proposal for FTA items’ classification rejected
Pakistan has rejected a Chinese demand that 90 percent items covered under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should be put on positive list and remaining 10 percent in negative mode.
Gov’t urges anti-FTA protestors to stay home
The South Korean government on Friday urged a group of some 100 Koreans to refrain from staging a protest in Washington against the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the US, to be held there on June 5-9.
Signature of an investment protection agreement and a Declaration on Cooperation with Colombia
Switzerland and Colombia signed two agreements in Bern on 17 May 2006. The first was an agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments between Switzerland and Colombia. The second was a Declaration on Cooperation between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Colombia.