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ACP negotiators meet in London
Chief negotiators from the six Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions that are fashioning the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union met in London last week to compare notes and review strategies, and emerged saying that they had a better understanding of the way forward.
US expects FTA with Bahrain to benefit Middle East
A senior US trade official has dismissed concerns by the Senate Labor Advisory Committee, saying that "the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions General Secretary has publicly hailed Bahrain as showing the way for the region" and "the disciplines and consultative mechanism in the FTA will play a major role in further improving the labour situation in Bahrain."
Hundreds rally against lifting ban
Hundreds of people turned up at two separate sites to demonstrate against Bahrain’s lifting of a boycott of Israeli goods yesterday
Ukraine to start free-trade talks with EU next year
Ukraine expects to win market-economy status from the European Union in December and plans to start negotiating a free-trade regime with the bloc early next year, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said.
Thai FTA hits rules of origin roadblock
The much-publicised Thai FTA seems to be stuck in first gear. According to sources in the auto industry, it is stuck over the rules of origin issue, which has been a contentious issue right from the beginning.
Chile next in line for FTA
Thailand and Chile have agreed to conduct a joint study on a potential free-trade agreement (FTA) in order to establish bilateral access to regional markets.
RP pushes for car-tariff clause in Japan talks
The Philippines will push for a provision in a planned free-trade deal with Japan that would allow renegotiation on motor vehicle tariffs by 2009.
India mulling FTA with Australia: Kamal Nath
India is exploring the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with Australia, of which a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be a component, Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, said during discussions on Tuesday with Dr. Geoff Gallop, Premier of Western Australia.
Bahrain: Of reshuffles & FTAs
The new ministers installed in Bahrain’s latest cabinet reshuffle inherit positions in a country that is currently breaking Arab world records in a number of sectors. With the country ahead in attracting foreign investment, it is also moving forwards in signing foreign trade pacts, as debates in the US appeared to move Bahrain closer still to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
FT: Washington seals trade agreement with Oman
The US and Oman said on Monday they had concluded talks on a free trade agreement, the fifth deal completed in the Middle East by the US as part of an effort to build a web of economic ties in the region over the next decade.
South Africa: trade beat
Trade talks appear to have picked up pace in the latter part of the year. SA has another free-trade deal in the bag and talks with the US are scheduled to resume after a year-long stall.
Ecuador says will stand firm on intellectual property issue in free trade talks
Ecuador will stick to its position with regard to the delicate issue of intellectual property in the new round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the United States, Colombia and Peru, Ecuadorian chief negotiator Manuel Chiriboga said on Monday.
US, Thailand make ’significant progress’ in free trade talks
The United States and Thailand have made "significant progress" in their latest round of talks to forge a free trade agreement, the US Trade Representative’s office said on Monday.
Islamic common market proposed
The first World Islamic Economic Forum yesterday called for the establishment of an Islamic common market and floated a series of initiatives to boost business cooperation amongst Muslim nations.
End of monopoly in food sector will benefit customers
The UAE’s decision to eliminate the monopoly in the foodstuffs sector will have a profound impact on the economy, according to analysts and businessmen.
Protests in St Lucia against EU negotiators
Farmers from across the Caribbean took to the streets of the St Lucian capital, Castries on Friday to picket top European Union negotiators, who were meeting on the island.
US, Oman reach free trade agreement
The United States and Oman have reached a free trade agreement (FTA) to eliminate tariffs and barriers and expand trade between both countries, US Trade Representative Rob Portman and Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan announced Monday.
Free trade isn’t free of partisan politics
Bitter partisanship is putting the United States’ trade agenda in the Americas in serious jeopardy.
Guiding Japan: Leadership needed to unify multipronged FTA strategy
Japanese FTAs agreed to so far are half-hearted at best.
Veggie industry faces bleak future
The Fair Trade Alliance blames the Philippine government’s trade commitments to the General Agreement on Tariffs Trade, the World Trade Organization and bilateral trade pacts for the problems facing the domestic vegetable industry.