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’Inflexible US threatens southern Africa free-trade deal’
South Africa has urged the United States to be more flexible in negotiations towards a free-trade pact with southern Africa, warning that current talks may fail to secure a deal.
President Chávez is not the problem with CAN, but FTA’s
Rather than any remarks made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, the problem of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) is the execution of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the United States, Foreign Vice-Minister Pavel Rondón told state TV channel Venezolana de Televisión during an interview.
Shrimp farmers demand Thai lawsuit against US at WTO
The shrimpers asked the Commerce Ministry to take the case to the WTO within three days, or breeders from across the country will assemble at the Commerce Ministry to seek justice and to protest against the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations.
Economic sectors split in bid to secure China FTA
Australia is to break the link between key economic sectors, to start formal negotiations with China on a free trade agreement (FTA). The offers on goods and agriculture will start before work on services and investment.
’Ill feelings’ about EPA
There are a number of "misconceptions" circulating about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) being negotiated between CARICOM, the Dominican Republic, and the European Union, according to the principal EPA negotiators.
Korea-Chile FTA boosts agricultural imports
Some experts like Choi Sei-kyun, a research director at the Korea Rural Economic Institute, underlined in his latest research report that it is still too early to gauge the effect of the bilateral free trade deal on domestic farmers, despite the relatively rapid rise in Chilean agricultural imports.
Bolivia: Washington opening another front?
Even before Evo Morales won the presidential elections on December 15, 2005 and took possession on January 22, his government entered one of Washington’s exclusion lists, in this case one of "populism," an epithet that serves the White House and the US State Department, in charge of issuing warnings, to denote an executive that does not please or suit them.
International researcher hits Japanese aid to RP
A visiting Japanese researcher accused her own government of extending international aid that runs counter to the interest of the Filipinos. Kayoko’s observation came after members of the Philippine House of Representatives petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the government from finalizing an economic agreement with Japan.
Government eyes FTA with Singapore
The Taiwan government hopes to start negotiating with Singapore on a free trade agreement (FTA) within the next two years, the nation’s representative to Singapore Hu Wei-jen said yesterday.
Pakistan seeks US market access to fight extremism
What Pakistan really needs to fight extremism is better access to US markets in order to create jobs, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said.
Goddard: Take EPA negotiations seriously
According to the general secretary of the National Union of Public Workers, Joseph Goddard, workers in Barbados stand to be affected by the EPA negotiations in terms of government procurement, intellectual property rights, agriculture, the provision of decent work, fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals, adding that there is the possibility of the agreements compromising the country’s sovereignty.
Manufacturers bitter with govt over delay in Free Trade deal
Ugandan manufacturers are bitter with the government over its delay to sign the Free Trade Agreement.
Pak commerce minister arrives April 19
The commerce minister of Pakistan will make a three-day visit to Dhaka from April 19 to attend the Safta Ministerial Council (SMC) meeting and initiate talks on signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh.
NZ to seek FTA talks with Arab countries
New Zealand is to seek negotiations on a free trade agreement with a trade bloc of oil rich Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia.
’Spring struggle’: Industrial peace determines nation’s economic future
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has announced it would stage a general strike in April 3-14 in protest of parliament’s passage of a bill that labor thinks unfavorable to irregular workers and the government’s "labor road map," followed by walkouts of some industrial unions. KCTU also opposes the Korea-US free trade agreement, while calling for the provision of free medical and educational services.
Pakistan refuses to give MFN status to India even after Safta ratification
Pakistan has decided not to give most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, even under the recently ratified South Asia free trade agreement (Safta), and has indicated that it will continue to trade with the country on the basis of a positive list.
Ecuadorean team eyes trade deal with US this week
Ecuador could reach a free trade deal with the United States by the end of this week if the two sides can resolve difficult agricultural issues, Ecuadorean negotiators said on Monday.
Colombia and Guatemala plan free trade talks in June
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said in January the South American nation would negotiate free trade agreements with Guatemala and El Salvador.
Colombia FTA could help sell more US rice
The USA Rice Federation says the new US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement could mean increased sales of US rice - thanks, in part, to the persistence of the U.S. Trade Representative’s chief agricultural negotiator Richard Crowder.
Equitable trade and Southern Africa: A cookie cutter approach will cost lives and livelihoods
Statement of the US-SACU FTA Working Group