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Labour issue blocking TICFA deal: Faruk
12-Jul-2011 BD News 24
Disagreement on the issue of workers’ union in EPZs is standing in the way of Bangladesh signing the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) with the US, according to the commerce minister.
Business, labor spar over Colombia free-trade deal
11-Jul-2011
While the loudest shouting is about unionists and the union movement in Colombia, it appears at times to mask an altogether different debate: whether trade pacts are good or bad for jobs in the US.
Officials indicate ractopamine ban remains in place
10-Jul-2011 Taipei Times
Taiwan is in no hurry to lift the ban on a lean growth-enhancing agent, the cause of a major trade dispute with the US, as the international food standards setting body again failed to advance maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the additive, government officials said yesterday.
Trade in Services in US FTA with Jordan
10-Jul-2011
The US-JO FTA includes a provision for trade in services in article 3
"BRICS can ensure affordable drugs"
10-Jul-2011
While ‘data exclusivity’ clauses will not feature in the India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA), the threat posed by the impending deal to the world’s supply of cheap generic drugs is far from over.
Pressing for strong IPR regime in FTA with India: EU tells WTO
10-Jul-2011
The European Union has informed the WTO that it is pressing for inclusion of strong IPR regime in the free trade agreement under negotiations with India even as the Commerce Ministry has maintained that New Delhi will not yield to the EU on this issue.
EU calls on Japan to compromise on free trade talks
10-Jul-2011 Mainichi
European Union President Herman Van Rompuy told Hiromasa Yonekura, head of the Japan Business Federation, that Japan should budge on the issue of dropping nontariff barriers, an official said, quoting Yonekura as saying during the meeting, "I will tell the government when I’m back."
Vietnam, EU look forward to free trade argreement
9-Jul-2011 zvov
Vietnam and the EU are now at the beginning of negotiations. Vietnam expects to benefit from exporting agricultural and aquaculture products to the EU market, while the EU hopes to export machines, equipment and automobiles to Vietnam.
Free-trade deals would be costly to US
9-Jul-2011
For over a decade, the labor movement and development advocates have called for fair-trade policy that is part of a more coordinated and coherent national economic strategy. Unfortunately, the Korean, Colombian and Panamanian free-trade deals before Congress do not address the fundamental policy failures of the North American Free Trade Agreement and China’s inclusion into "favored nation status," which has led to catastrophic job loss in the U.S. and the explosion of our import/export deficit, now reaching $500 billion annually.
S.Korea and China resume preliminary FTA talks
9-Jul-2011
The South Korean and Chinese governments recently resumed preliminary ministerial discussions on sensitive areas prior to beginning discussions on a free trade agreement (FTA).
Canadians may pay the price of US Free Trade Agreement with Colombia
9-Jul-2011
The United States intends to offset the cost of entering into a new Trade Promotion Agreement with Colombia by imposing a $5.50 fee on Canadian and Mexican travelers to the US.
Beware the tobacco bullies: Do not let them use free trade agreements to endanger public health
9-Jul-2011
Tobacco giants are invoking investor-state dispute mechanisms in bilateral investment agreements to challenge moves of governments which are aimed at controlling the widespread use of tobacco products. This scary development highlights the dangers of signing trade or investment treaties which could give corporations the right to sue governments over legitimate health or other public interest regulations.
ECFA debate marred by faulty reasoning
8-Jul-2011
One year after the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement was signed by Taipei and Beijing, Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party has declared the ECFA "myth" busted, while the ruling Kuomintang continues to tout its many benefits.
Taiwan calls for FTA with European Union
8-Jul-2011
The European Union should consider signing a free trade agreement with Taiwan as “the EU’s Asian regional economic strategy will not be complete without Taiwan,” said Chen Ming-shy, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade July 6.
Korea-EU FTA to put Seoul at public health crossroads
8-Jul-2011
Pharmaceuticals might not have been the most discussed sector before the Korea-European Union Free Trade Agreement came into effect from July 1.
US Senate committee approves Colombia FTA
8-Jul-2011 Colombia Reports
The Senate Finance Committee voted to approve the US-Colombia free trade agreement (FTA) bill in a mock markup session Thursday morning, much to the satisfaction of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
Canadian agricultural commodity groups call for immediate resumption of free trade talks with South Korea
8-Jul-2011
A coalition of Canadian agricultural commodity groups is calling on Canada’s premiers and agriculture ministers to express their support the immediate resumption of free trade talks with the Republic of Korea.
Ireland anticipates rejection of EU/Mercosur trade accord on beef
8-Jul-2011
The Irish government is expecting a report from the European Commission setting out the economic impact on Eire of a potential trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.
Trade critic says TPP talks could collapse
8-Jul-2011
A critic of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade talks says it’s unlikely any deal will be agreed upon for at least two years and the negotiations could yet collapse.
PIDS tapped to do impact study on free trade agreements
8-Jul-2011
The Department of Trade and Industry has tapped the Philippine Institute for Development Studies to evaluate how the country has benefited so far from the various trade agreements entered into by the government, both bilateral and through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.