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Trade talks need balanced inputs
15-Mar-2011
The fate of the multilateral Doha Round talks to come up with an outline agreement for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by July rests in the hands of both developed and developing economies, said European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.
Nepal to reduce sensitive list under SAFTA
15-Mar-2011
Nepal is proposing removal of about 260 items from existing sensitive list of goods for imports at the upcoming meeting of South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) scheduled to be held in the last week of March in Kathmandu.
CAFTA-DR partners agree to fix technical flaws in agreement
15-Mar-2011
The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States (CAFTA-DR) Free Trade Commission has approved several changes to CAFTA-DR rules of origin that are expected to benefit the Western Hemisphere textile/apparel supply chain.
Philippines to ratify Indo-Asean FTA soon
15-Mar-2011
After more than a year since the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) became operational, it is now approaching consolidation.
Govt set to liberalise FDI policy on JVs, tech tie-ups
15-Mar-2011
The government is likely to liberalise the foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for entry of foreign companies that have existing joint ventures or technical collaborations in India. The new policy, to be implemented from April 1, may drop the requirement of no-objection certificate (NOC) that foreign firms need to set up a separate entity.
South Korean free-trade deal is long overdue
15-Mar-2011
It is Canada’s forgotten trade deal. Free trade negotiations with South Korea began in 2004. And nearly seven years later, there’s still no pact. Why?
Senate Republicans link nominations to sending Korea, Colombia, Panama FTAs together
15-Mar-2011
Republican senators Monday pressed President Obama to send Congress the pending free trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia at the same time, threatening to block his nominations for commerce secretary and other officials otherwise.
India, EU settle generics dispute, pave way for FTA talks in April
15-Mar-2011
India has sorted out most of its differences with the European Union on production of low-cost generic medicines, ahead of a crucial meeting on a proposed free-trade pact next month, a government official told ET. Civil society groups, however, warn that India should be on its guard to ensure that the intellectual property rights (IPR) regime is not changed to allow extension of patents.
Expanding U.S.-Mexico Economic and Security Cooperation
15-Mar-2011 Be Your Own Leader
The recent U.S.-Mexico summit focused on economic issues, as the leaders took steps to end the long-standing dispute over cross-border trucking. They also agreed to further deepen their cooperation in combating drug cartels.
EU, Malaysia aim to wrap up free trade talks by June 2012 despite controversial policy
15-Mar-2011 AP
Malaysia and the European Union said Monday they hope to wrap up free trade talks by June 2012, an ambitious target amid sensitivities over Kuala Lumpur’s government procurement policy favoring ethnic Malays.
Pak-China: Talks on free trade begin
11-Mar-2011
The first round of negotiations between Pakistan and China for the second phase of tariff concessions began in Islamabad on Thursday.
Rethinking trade with Panama
11-Mar-2011
It’s been a year and a half since Canada and Panama signed a free-trade agreement that creates important opportunities for Canadian producers. Parliament should ratify it.
Turkey, Ethiopia to sign FTA, eyes $20 bln exports to Africa
11-Mar-2011 Today’s Zaman
Turkey will soon be launching talks with Ethiopia to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the eastern African nation, Turkish Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Çağlayan said on Wednesday.
How Argentina torpedoed Uruguay’s FTA with the US, according to Wikileaks
11-Mar-2011 MercoPress
Although in public former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner was supportive of Uruguay’s negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, members of his cabinet warned the US embassy in Buenos Aires that Argentina would block such an initiative in Mercosur, according to the contents of several Wikileaks cables published in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
Indígenas de Nariño protestan por TLC que afectaría sector lechero
11-Mar-2011 El Tiempo
Los manifestantes solicitan al gobierno nacional que aplace cualquier negociación con los Estados Unidos respecto a la comercialización de leche con destino a los mercados de Colombia.
TPP - US IPR proposal (Feb 2011)
11-Mar-2011 KEI
Indian farmers call off a massive planned siege of New Delhi after talk and commitments from Prime Minister
10-Mar-2011 LVC South Asia
The main demands of the farmers were to improve farmers incomes through more remunerative and scientifically calculated support prices, to provide health care to farm families, to scrap all agriculture deals in the various ongoing secret negotiations of bilateral FTAs and the WTO, to ban GMOs permanently since there is no need for them, to reduce the rate of farm loans.
Peru’s horticulture industry could raise European exports by 50% after FTA
9-Mar-2011 FFP
The Peruvian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced Peru’s fruit, legume and vegetable exports to Europe will likely rise 50% after a free trade agreement with the European Union comes into effect in 2012.
US feels threatened by MERCOSUR consolidation and Venezuela’s “generosity” in the region
9-Mar-2011 Venezuelanalysis
A US diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks and published yesterday reveals the U.S.’s fear over the consolidation of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and Venezuela’s entry to the organisation.
EC tries to downplay impact for farmers of an EU/Mercosur trade agreement
9-Mar-2011 MercoPress
On Monday the European Parliament passed a highly critical report rejecting the EU/Mercosur FTA negotiations arguing that they may imply “farming concessions damaging to European agriculture”. The Commission counter-attacks.