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45 Colombian union leaders assassinated in 2009
12-Mar-2010 CUPE
Amid new reports of human rights abuses in Colombia involving the assassination of union leaders, Canada’s largest labour organization says it is appalled the Harper government will try to fast-track approval of a free trade deal with that country.
Chevron wins bid for Ecuador arbitration
12-Mar-2010 SF Chronicle
Steven Donziger, an attorney who represents the Ecuadorans suing Chevron, complained that the lawsuit’s plaintiffs won’t be able to participate in the arbitration proceeding, which will only involve Chevron and the Ecuadoran government. The plaintiffs, he said, will push forward with their lawsuit, regardless.
US judge rules for Chevron in Ecuador case
12-Mar-2010 Reuters
Chevron Corp may pursue an international arbitration claim over environmental pollution allegations in Ecuador, a judge ruled on Thursday, part of a long-running case that carries a potential $27 billion liability for the second-largest US oil company.
Rights groups slam EU free trade deal with Colombia
12-Mar-2010 Deutsche Welle
The European Union is close to reaching a free trade deal with Colombia. But human rights watchdogs, trade union organizations and some politicians believe the agreement would send all the wrong signals to Bogota.
CP urges firms to tap low tariffs under trade pacts
12-Mar-2010 Bangkok Post
Thai entrepreneurs need to make the best use of tariff cuts under free trade agreements, says Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand’s leading agricultural conglomerate.
No free trade agreement with Indonesia for now
12-Mar-2010 LiveMint
A proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and Indonesia has been put in cold storage as the Southeast Asian nation expressed its inability to resolve domestic opposition to such a pact. A joint study group set up by the two countries had strongly favoured a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement.
Delhi Network of Positive People: Indian government trading away our lives
11-Mar-2010
Delhi Network of Positive People protest the EU-India and all FTAs to MPs in India
Uruguay: Philip Morris files first-known investment treaty claim against tobacco regulations
11-Mar-2010 Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
The move is certain to be closely watched by international lawyers and policymakers alike, as it will serve as an early test-case of the little-used intellectual property protections contained in BITs.
Avatar downfall a blow for indigenous communities
10-Mar-2010 IPS
In 2009, Chevron’s lobby against the renewal of preferential tariffs for Ecuador was "one of the strongest and fiercest that Ecuadorean foreign policy has ever faced."
Trade pact with the US ’depends on Thailand’
10-Mar-2010 Bangkok Post
"There is no question that President Obama’s efforts to at least start talking to a few countries in Asia about a free trade agreement are the right step. Whether Thailand is ready to engage with the US in a free trade discussion is really a question for the Thais themselves," says the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.
India, US to ink trade pact on March 18
10-Mar-2010 Indian Express
The MoU will serve as the backbone for promoting a comprehensive investment policy between the two sides, both seeking out protection for their foreign investors and domestic industries.
Ecuador sees ruling in Occidental case in second half of year
10-Mar-2010 Wall St Journal
The World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes may soon rule on a case brought by US oil company Occidental Petroleum Corp. against Ecuador
European Union rules to benefit Papua New Guinea tuna sector
9-Mar-2010 Malum Nalu
PNG can now export to EU markets fish caught anywhere in the world and not just restricted to archipelagic and territorial waters
Either in or out of EPA – EU tells Namibia
9-Mar-2010 New Era
The European Union has asked Namibia to stop skating on thin ice and make up her mind whether to be in or out of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
East Africa strikes free trade deal with the EU
8-Mar-2010 Business Daily
The East African Community moved closer to striking a deal on Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations with the European Union after Brussels softened its stand on development support – a key demand of African states that has stalled the talks for nearly three years.
Philip Morris vs. Uruguay
8-Mar-2010 FPIF
Uruguay’s new health legislation, expected to go into effect in March 2010, requires that 80 percent of each side of cigarette boxes be covered by graphic images of the possible detrimental health effects of smoking. Philip Morris argues that this limits the space for branding and thus infringes on its intellectual property rights.
Taiwan and China to scale down early-harvest lists for ECFA
8-Mar-2010 CENS
The number of items on Taiwan’s early harvest list may be further cut to 200-300, about half the amount on the existing draft. Meanwhile, both sides have agreed to incorporate intellectual property into the ECFA
Thailand: Free trade talks with EU likely this year
8-Mar-2010 The Nation
Thailand is expected to start a first round of negotiations toward a bilateral free-trade agreement with the European Union by the middle of the year, to remain competitive with rivals Vietnam and Singapore.
Gov’t to prop up milk industry as FTA kicks in
8-Mar-2010 Yonhap
Korea will maintain 2 million tons of milk production annually to help the local dairy industry deal with an influx of imports once a free trade pact with the European Union (EU) goes into effect, the government said yesterday.
Dhaka prepares to sign free trade agreement with Delhi
8-Mar-2010 Economic Times
Bangladesh is to resume talks after five years on a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. It will then resume negotiations with Sri Lanka and Pakistan.