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US-Malaysia FTA talks may be further delayed
24-Feb-2009 Business Times
The US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement talks, which is poised to enter into its ninth round, is due to be delayed further pending the appointment of a new US top trade official, according to a senior US State Department official.
Peru-Chile free trade pact to take effect Sunday
24-Feb-2009 Forbes
A free trade pact between Peru and Chile will take effect this week, a sign that two of the most open economies in South America are deepening their commitment to trade to help weather the global economic crisis.
IADB chief urges Obama act on Colombia deal
24-Feb-2009 Reuters
President Barack Obama should signal his support for open trade at the Summit of the Americas meeting in April by laying out a plan for Congress to approve a free trade pact with Colombia, the head of the Inter-American Development Bank said on Monday.
Immediately halt EFTA negotiations - statement of concern from India
23-Feb-2009 FTA Watch - India
Trade unions, people’s movements and civil society organisations express opposition to the lack of transparency, public debate and democratic process surrounding the ongoing negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association, composed of Lichtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland
Maltese civil society: Suspend EU-Israel agreement
23-Feb-2009 Electronic Intifada
In view of the recent three-week premeditated campaign of bombing of the population of Gaza and its infrastructure by the State of Israel which came after a crippling, illegal two-year siege, we, 14 member organizations of SKOP, the Maltese national platform of development non-governmental organizations, call for a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
EU-ASEAN proposals on intellectual property too sweeping, say consumers
23-Feb-2009 Bangkok Post
The proposed EU-Asean free trade policy on intellectual property rights protection is too sweeping, says a consumer group.
Asean urged to reject EU piracy pact
23-Feb-2009 Bangkok Post
A consumers’ group on Saturday urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to turn down the EU-Asean free trade policy on intellectual property rights protection which, if ratified, could affect the Asean agriculture, biodiversity and public health access.
Whisky producers turn screw on Seoul
23-Feb-2009 Scotland on Sunday
The Scotch Whisky Association will this week call on the European Union to step up the pressure on South Korea to lower its punitive 20% import tariffs in a groundbreaking free trade agreement that will help unlock the fifth largest whisky market in the world.
Taiwan, China negotiating a landmark free-trade sgreement
23-Feb-2009 Washington Post
Taiwan and China are negotiating a wide-ranging free-trade agreement that represents an important step toward the possibility of unification of the longtime adversaries.
India & NZ to enter free trade talks
23-Feb-2009 NBR
NZ trade minister Tim Groser and his Indian counterpart Kamal Nath announced on Saturday that our respective governments are to negotiate a free trade agreement, with negotiations due to begin later this year.
Asean deal hits dual hurdle
23-Feb-2009 Telegraph
The Indian government is likely to delay the free trade deal with Asean to avoid criticism of failing to protect producers during the slowdown.
Human Rights and Bilateral Investment Treaties: Mapping the role of human rights law within investor-state arbitration
21-Feb-2009 Rights and Democracy
Profiles a series of lawsuits that have arisen between foreign investors and their host states — where state compliance with investment treaty obligations is in question and where human rights concerns have resulted from investment projects.
Revised laws ’could promote biopiracy’ in Peru
21-Feb-2009 Eco Earth
Modifications to intellectual property laws that the Peruvian government "rushed through" to enable the go-ahead of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Peru and the United States could facilitate biopiracy and hamper Peru’s position as a protector of traditional knowledge, say experts.
S Korea finds economic breakthrough opportunities in FTAs
20-Feb-2009 Xinhua
South Korea’s chief free trade negotiator said free trade is essential to break through the current economic slump, South Korea’s Korea Herald said Friday.
India, New Zealand keen for early FTA talks
20-Feb-2009 Business Standard
India and New Zealand today agreed for an early commencement of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations subject to the approval process of the two countries.
Zardari to sign FTA with China, seek support from hydro projects
20-Feb-2009 Times of India
China and Pakistan plan to sign a free trade agreement on trade and services during the four-day visit of Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari to Hubei and Shanghai beginning tomorrow.
EU, Andean Nations struggle forward in trade talks
20-Feb-2009 ICTSD
Intellectual property, a potential regional customs union, human rights, and bananas triggered heated debate last week in Bogota during the first round of negotiations toward a free trade agreement between the European Union and Andean nations Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
China FTA needed: Crean
19-Feb-2009
China needs to come back to the table on a free trade agreement with Australia to improve the investment climate between the two countries, says Trade Minister Simon Crean.
South Centre cautions African countries when approaching Economic Partnership Agreements
19-Feb-2009 South Centre
The value of the preferences African countries will reap from an EPA will essentially become nil in about 5 to 10 years.
The complex relationship between governments and movements: Autonomy or new forms of domination?
19-Feb-2009 CIP Americas Program
Chavez’s rise to power was the result of a long process of struggle from the bottom-up that initiated with caracazo of Feb. 1989—the first massive popular insurrection against neoliberalism. It has now led to crisis in the party system, which supported domination by the elite for decades.