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Bahrain exports to US dive 10%
2-May-2008 MENAFN
The US has emerged as the main beneficiary of the free trade agreement with Bahrain as the value of US exports to Bahrain amounted to $529 million during August 2006 to July 2007, up 28 per cent compared to the corresponding period a year earlier, a leading parliamentarian and economist said.
International investment agreements: A survey of environmental, labour and anti-corruption issues
2-May-2008 OECD
This paper surveys the societal dimension of 296 international investment agreements (IIAs) signed by the 30 member countries and of by the 9 non-member countries that participate formally in OECD investment work.
S Korean workers rally against free trade pact
1-May-2008
Thousands of South Korean workers rallied Thursday against a planned free trade pact with the United States and the pro-market policies of new President Lee Myung-Bak.
Israel, EU agree on trade concessions
1-May-2008 Jerusalem Post
Once the agreement comes into effect, export volumes of Israeli processed foods to the EU are expected to more than double. "These concessions represent a major step forward in the integration of the EU and Israeli markets," the European Commission said.
The labor movement’s principled position on Colombia FTA
1-May-2008 Huffington Post
Lately, the US labor movement has been accused of "lying" about the violence confronting unionists in Colombia. The accusers’ argument is that "only" 39 unionists were killed last year in Colombia. Commentators who use "only" and "merely" to describe 39 murders do not value the sanctity of human life. In addition, they ignore the fact that, even while union killings declined in 2007, the Colombian military’s share of such killings actually rose.
Canada has recently started bilateral investment treaty negotiations with Tanzania, Mongolia, Madagascar, Indonesia and Vietnam
1-May-2008 Trade Lawyers Blog
Canada is becoming more engaged in international treaty negotiation and has recently announced that: Canada and Tanzania; Canada and Mongolia; Canada and Madagascar; Canada and Indonesia; and Canada and Vietnam have agreed to begin negotiations towards a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).
Venezuela to renegotiate Dutch investment treaty
1-May-2008 Reuters
Venezuela plans to renegotiate a bilateral investment treaty with the Netherlands because oil companies have started "abusing" the agreement, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said on Wednesday.
GCC: Free trade agreements mark a major shift in trade policy
1-May-2008 Gulf News
FTAs mark a major shift in the policy of GCC countries’ foreign trade. They have just signed one with EFTA, concluded talks with Singapore earlier this year and made strides in signing similar deals with China, India, Pakistan, Japan, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. Further FTA talks are expected to begin soon with Iran and South Korea, while the EU hesitates.
US-Korea beef protocol (2008)
1-May-2008
Marshall: Limit EPA to trading of goods
30-Apr-2008
For the moment, Caribbean countries should limit signing of the full Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe in the trade of goods section.
European Union prods RP on drafting PCA
30-Apr-2008 Yehey
The European Union has urged the Philippines to start negotiations for the partnership cooperation agreement, a prerequisite deal for Manila to qualify in the comprehensive free-trade agreement between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
SADC needs EU - Gurirab
30-Apr-2008
The Southern African Development Community countries need assistance and cooperation from the European Union to overcome development challenges in the spirit of partnership, said Speaker of the National Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, at the first regional ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the southern African region.
Sheikha Lubna hopes to sign FTA with US soon
30-Apr-2008
Minister of Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi said on Tuesday that she hoped the UAE would soon sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US.
Round three of negotiations between the European Union and the Andean Community
30-Apr-2008 Upside Down World
The third round of negotiations for an association agreement between the European Union and the Andean Community (CAN), which took place between April 21st and 25th in Quito, began with a discussion of the asymmetries that exist between the two regions.
Free trade between Turkey and Albania
30-Apr-2008 Turkish Press
The agreement which establishes a free trade zone between Turkey and Albania, will come into force on May 1st.
Guardian not put off by FTA woes
29-Apr-2008
Guardian Industry, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of float glass and fabricated glass products, is confident of expanding its investment in Thailand despite the failure of talks on a free-trade pact between Thailand and the United States.
IPRs to find place in India’s FTA with EFTA nations
29-Apr-2008
A free trade agreement is slated to be finalised between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by early 2009. The EFTA countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
EC rejects view CARIFORUM forced into EPA
29-Apr-2008
The European Commission (EC) has flatly rejected as unfounded, suggestions that the CARIFORUM Group - Caribbean Community (Caricom) states and the Dominican Republic - was forced into the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) reached last December and that the negotiations were designed to split the ACP Group.
India wants to conclude trade pact with EFTA in a year: Nath
29-Apr-2008
India on Tuesday said it wants to conclude a Free Trade Agreement with a smaller four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) within a year, even as its ambitious trade pact with the European Union seems to have run into differences.
President Nathan says talks on ASEAN-Aust-NZ FTA to conclude in May
29-Apr-2008 CNA
Talks on the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be concluded next month, said Singapore President SR Nathan at a state banquet at the New Zealand Government House in Wellington on Monday.