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Peru trade deal probed over labor rights
12-Mar-2006
The Peruvian government is hoping to swiftly complete a free trade agreement with the United States despite reports by the U.S. government that point to inadequate labor rights in the region that do little to protect workers.
Ambassador: NAP not an obstacle
11-Mar-2006
US Ambassador to Malaysia Christopher J. LaFleur said it was not expected that the National Automobile Policy would become an obstacle for both countries in convening discussions on Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
’No strong case for RP-US free trade pact’
11-Mar-2006 Manila Times
The conclusion of a Philippines-US free trade agreement (FTA) will drastically impact on the country’s agriculture because it is labor intensive and employs large number of people, according to a recent paper published by De La Salle University experts.
Japan, Chile to accelerate FTA negotiations
11-Mar-2006 Kyodo
Chilean President-elect Michelle Bachelet and Hidenao Nakagawa, policy chief of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, agreed Friday that the two countries should accelerate efforts toward signing a bilateral free trade agreement.
Shipping pact with Brazil, S. Africa
11-Mar-2006 The Hindu
India announced that it is evolving an agreement in maritime shipping within IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) and working out modalities to implement the framework agreement in civil aviation in the region. It cautioned, however, that since Brazil and South Africa were members of MERCOSUR and SACU, there were constraints in working out a trilateral FTA within the IBSA framework.
Negotiation opens opportunities
11-Mar-2006 FT
When US President George W. Bush announced in 2002 that he wanted a new Central American Free Trade Agreement (Cafta) with the five nations of Central America, the Dominican Republic scented a threat.
When the time is right
11-Mar-2006 Al-Ahram Weekly
"The time is not right." US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez’s terse statement summed up his answers to repeated questions as to why negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Egypt and the US appear to have been abandoned.
Peruvian farm orgs protest FTA
11-Mar-2006 Prensa Latina
More than 30 agricultural organizations in Peru announced a national strike against possible signing of a free trade agreement with the United States, which they believe would severely affect them.
US, UAE postpone free-trade talks amid ports row
11-Mar-2006 Reuters
The United States and United Arab Emirates postponed their next round of free-trade talks, the two countries said on Friday, a day after a Dubai state-owned company said it would sell US port management operations to calm a political furor.
RI to open labor market for Japan
11-Mar-2006 Jakarta Post
The Indonesian government will open up the domestic labor market in certain sectors to Japanese workers as part of the liberalization of the service sector envisaged under a planned bilateral economic partnership agreement (EPA)
Bush concerned about collapse of ports deal
10-Mar-2006
President Bush says he is concerned about international reaction to congressional opposition to a Dubai-owned company managing operations at some US ports. Opposition led the firm to announce it would transfer port operations to a US entity.
Rousing start to FTA talks
10-Mar-2006
The Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks got off to a rousing start with 18 Senators and members of the House of Representatives, both Democrat and Republican, turning up to show support.
Malaysia and Australia sign MoU on agriculture
10-Mar-2006
Malaysia and Australia on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at building a new cooperation on agricultural, food processing, livestock and fisheries trade.
"No intention of becoming Third World farmers"
10-Mar-2006
Just one year into the free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, Trade Minister Mark Vaile - who signed the FTA - may agree to dump the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) single desk system. The system was set up in 1939 when growers pooled their wheat to protect their incomes.
Korea set to drive hard bargain on shipping, textiles in FTA
10-Mar-2006
South Korea should call on the United States to remove protection for its shipping industry and lower tariffs on textile and clothing imports in order to counter Washington’s demands at the upcoming free trade talks, a state-run think tank said Thursday.
Korea, ASEAN fail on FTA terms
10-Mar-2006
South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to agree on some details in the 10th round of their free trade agreement (FTA) talks this week, the country’s Agriculture Ministry said Friday.
Agriculture deal with Malaysia opens door for FTA
10-Mar-2006 The Age
Australia and Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to foster trade in agriculture, food processing, livestock and fisheries. The MoU is separate from the proposed free trade agreement between the two countries, and comes as the United States announced it would begin formal negotiations for a free trade accord with Malaysia.
Vaile briefs officials, defends monopoly
9-Mar-2006
Trade Minister Mark Vaile has briefed senior Bush Administration officials on the Cole inquiry, will today brief members of Congress, and is defending Australia’s monopoly wheat sales system from the attacks of US lobby groups.
Concern in Venezuela about Colombian-US FTA
9-Mar-2006
Coming into force of the Colombian-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has encountered opposing positions in Venezuelan sectors. Three visions prevail -firstly, it is feared that the impact on Colombian-Venezuelan trade will be negative; secondly, there could be a negative impact in the medium term, but a positive one in the short term; last but not least, good prospects are anticipated.
Trade deals we need to close
9-Mar-2006
This week US Trade Representative Rob Portman announced that the Bush administration will pursue free-trade talks with Malaysia. Last month talks on a free-trade agreement (FTA) were inaugurated with South Korea. In a global economy awash in trade deals designed to open markets and build alliances, FTAs with these countries are particularly desirable.