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Intellectual property provisions of bilateral and regional trade agreements in light of US federal law
The critical lesson for developing countries accepting IPRs commitments in FTAs with the United States is that US IPRs law is replete with exceptions to the general rules, in many cases elaborated in considerable detail. If developing countries accept obligations in the FTAs, they must also be prepared to implement a significant level of exceptions so as to create a reasonable balance within their own law. If they do not implement these exceptions, they will find themselves not only with TRIPS-plus levels of IPRs protection, but also with US-plus levels of IPRs protection.
Trade negotiations command attention
Amidst the promises of positive benefits of FTAs to Thailand, more and more citizens are raising questions, especially in relation to the services and investment sectors.
EPA signing, FTA parleys postponed
Thailand has postponed the signing of its Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, and suspended free trade area (FTA) negotiations with the US until the formation of the new government, chief negotiators for the two pacts said yesterday.
Indian IT sector eyeing free trade pact with US
India’s dollar-spinning information technology industry is looking forward to some positive initiatives towards inking a free trade agreement with the US in the services sector during the US President, Mr George W Bush’s visit to the country.
Japan may begin FTA talks with India as early as summer - report
The government will possibly this summer enter into negotiations with India on a bilateral economic partnership treaty, of which a free trade agreement (FTA) would form the core, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing government sources.
Singapore and Panama to sign FTA on March 1
Singapore and Panama will sign a free trade agreement on Wednesday.
US says reaches free trade deal with Colombia
The United States has reached a free trade deal with Colombia after nearly two years of talks, the US Trade Representative said on Monday.
Election pushes back Japan FTA
Thailand and Japan have postponed off the signing of their bilateral trade pact earlier scheduled for April 3-4, pending the outcome of Thailand’s upcoming general election, a senior offcial said Monday.
Costa Rican presidential hopeful promises to obstruct Cafta
The leader of Costa Rica’s second largest political party has vowed to obstruct efforts to ratify a 2004 free trade agreement between Central America and the US.
S Korea’s Roh says FTA with US top priority
President Roh Moo-Hyun said that reaching a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States will be the top priority for his government during his remaining tenure.
Roadmap for WTO negotiations on Art. XXIV GATT
The WTO rules for bilateral agreements, set by Art. XXIV of GATT are currently under re-negotiation in the WTO. Below is an internal informal WTO discussion paper on these negotiations. This is an invitation to discuss this paper on the Forum of this website on "bilateralism".
IPO plans for state firms, FTAs face uncertain future as new election called
The dissolution of the House of Representatives has put the Thai government’s key economic policies - free-trade deals, the privatisation of state enterprises and investment in mega-projects - in limbo.
Cairo angered by US trade talks freeze
Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Egypt’s trade and industry minister, criticised Washington yesterday for mixing business with politics in its decision to freeze negotiations on a free trade agreement.
El Salvador: Free trade to begin in March
A free-trade agreement with El Salvador will take effect on March 1, the Bush administration announced, initially leaving behind five other Latin American nations that are supposed to be part of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
SAARC countries signing bilateral, multilateral FTAs one after another
The South Asian economies including Bangladesh are becoming more and more regional trade-prone and they are going for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) alongside regional arrangements like South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
Guatemalans march against US FTA
Hundreds of union members, farmers, women, indigenous and representatives of other Guatemalan sectors marched in front of the US Embassy Friday chanting "No to the TLC" (Spanish for FTA).
Japan and Chile agree to speed negotiations
Japanese and Chilean officials agreed to continue talks aimed at forging a free trade accord swiftly, government officials said Friday.
UNCTAD talks on trade remain inconclusive
The UNCTAD negotiations held in Kochi to assess the impact of trade as per the WTO regime as well as the ASEAN FTA on the local agricultural and industrial sectors, elicited inadequate response from the stakeholders.
Tripping up TRIPs debates
Access to medicine is at the forefront of multilateral debates surrounding the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). This paper argues that bilateralism allows the United States to circumvent these debates and to set standards that serve and protect the pharmaceutical industry.
US calls for more flexible currency regime in Malaysia
The US would like to see greater exchange rate flexibility in Malaysia, US Treasury Under Secretary Timothy Adams said yesterday.