bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

India, US sign pacts on investment promotion, sharing traditional knowledge
24-Nov-2009 Thaindian News
India and the US have signed two inter-governmental agreements on traditional knowledge, intellectual property and investment promotion.
Pak, Germany to sign improved ‘investment treaty’ next month
23-Nov-2009 Regional Times
Pakistan and Germany will sign the enhanced version of “bilateral investment treaty” during the visit of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to Germany early next month.
Zimbabwe: South Africa farming union insists land grab victims be protected
23-Nov-2009 SW Radio Africa
South Africa’s main agriculture and farming union has expressed concern about the bilateral investment treaty agreed with Zimbabwe, which is set to exclude South African owned farms that were expropriated by the Robert Mugabe regime during the chaotic land ’reform’ programme.
Lee’s FTA comments create needless confusion
23-Nov-2009 Chosun Ilbo
In a press conference on Thursday with US President Barack Obama, President Lee Myung-bak said, "If there are any problems in the automobile sector... then we are ready to resolve this issue." The US side probably interpreted Lee’s comments as signaling his willingness to either re-negotiate the FTA or hold additional talks.
EAC installs free market project with a new treaty
23-Nov-2009 Business Daily
The pace at which the EAC has concluded discussions on critical stages of integration process has raised eye-brows even in Africa where similar projects have barely moved beyond free trade area agreements.
New Zealand - FTA with Hong Kong signed
23-Nov-2009 Meat Trade News Daily
New Zealand (NZ) and Hong Kong have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) on the back of recently concluded trade talks.
Vietnam, US hold third BIT negotiation round
23-Nov-2009 VOV
Vietnam expressed concerns about the possibility of executing some terms and conditions in the BIT draft, especially those relating to transfer of money, financial services, list of non-conforming measures and minimum standard treatment.
RP: no tariff lifting sans investment
22-Nov-2009
The Philippines is likely to suspend its tariff-elimination commitments for Japanese vehicles and auto parts under the two countries’ economic partnership agreement starting in January, as the government still needs to determine if the “increased investment” that Japan promised has indeed come in already.
Nigeria cautious on EU free trade deal
22-Nov-2009
Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest economy, will not sign free trade deals with the European Union until it is sure it can comfortably compete, a minister said on Wednesday.
FTA with Singapore ’good’ for both
22-Nov-2009
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore would be beneficial because it would result in more opportunities with Sri Lanka, currently attempting to develop itself as a hub to India and a financial hub; particularly due to the country’s existing respective FTAs with India and with Pakistan, a top Singapore businessman has said.
India-EU FTA will lead to new wave of investments
21-Nov-2009
A new wave of investments from India to Europe and from Europe to India is likely to follow the India-EU free trade agreement which would take the bilateral trade to 160 billion euro by 2015, says the Indian Ambassador to France Ranjan Mathai.
S. Korea has already conceded enough in KORUS FTA
21-Nov-2009
The debate surrounding the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) is growing stronger. President Lee Myung-bak’s suggestion of a possibility of renegotiation of the auto trade clauses in the agreement during the South Korea-US summit press conference has set it off.
Lawmakers grill Mari over feasibility of planned FTAs
21-Nov-2009
Lawmakers have demanded that Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu make available the feasibility studies on the proposed free trade agreements (FTAs) following business community concerns that losses may outweigh gains.
East Africa trade bloc inks common market treaty
20-Nov-2009
Leaders of the five-member East African Community bloc on Friday signed a common market treaty to allow free trade, movement and right of residence, the first of its kind on the continent.
Syria Stalls on Signing Trade Deal With EU
20-Nov-2009
After years of pursuing a free-trade pact with the European Union, Syria is balking at signing a deal, as local businesses express worry about competition from European goods.
India to play a proactive role in SAARC
20-Nov-2009
Economic integration of all the eight South Asian countries posses a challenge to the political leaders of the region. Though South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was operationalised from July 2006 the intra regional trade increased at a snail space from 3.2% in 1980s to only 5.5% in 2008, which is far below when compared with 58% in NAFTA, 54% in European Union, 25% in ASEAN and 22% in COMESA.
China trade talks ’very pleasing’: Crean
20-Nov-2009
Australia’s breakthrough with China on another round of negotiations on a free trade agreement after a 12 month lag is "very pleasing", Trade Minister Simon Crean says.
President Lee hints at renegotiations on FTA auto trade clauses
20-Nov-2009
While speaking on the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), President Lee Myung-bak hinted Thursday that he would consider engaging in additional negotiations in the automobile sector if the U.S. requests it. President Lee’s statement is expected to cause controversy.
500 items on ECFA "Early Harvest" list
19-Nov-2009
The government has earmarked close to five hundred items for inclusion on an "Early Harvest" list in an economic agreement with China, according to Economics Minister Shih Yen-shiang on Wednesday.
Miti to make decision on Malaysia-US FTA talks soon
19-Nov-2009
Trade Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed hopes to find out in a few weeks if the country should still pursue a free trade area deal with the US, its biggest trading partner, or join a regional pact instead.