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Domestic manufacturers concerned over reduction in tariffs
14-May-2012
Domestic manufacturers are having nightmares as the tariffs of imported finished goods from South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) member countries would come down to five percent from the next fiscal year, while the duties on raw materials used to produce same products remain much higher, an official said on Saturday.
E. Asian powers’ 3-way FTA talks to have twists and turns
14-May-2012
The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea announced Sunday that the countries will launch negotiations for a trilateral free trade agreement by the end of this year. But the prospects are far from rosy.
FTA with China is on track, says Carr
14-May-2012
Foreign Minister Bob Carr wants to "broaden and deepen" Australia’s relationship with China in the face of growing international competition.
EU grants Cameroon banana sector 48 mln euros-radio
12-May-2012 Reuters
The money, granted in the context of Cameroon having signed an interim EPA with the EU, will be shared out to "major producing firms with plans to boost output".
Guyana’s Parliament ratifies EU’s EPA
12-May-2012 INews Guyana
Guyana’s Foreign Affairs minister Caroly Rodriques-Birkette stressed that the first review of the EPA is set for next year and the ratification will allow for the assessment of cost impact.
Our Sister’s Garden and the KORUS FTA
12-May-2012 Hankyoreh
"We lose two trillion won every year because we are importing that amount of agricultural products from other countries, in this case, the United States. That means, ten percent of the population—300,000 peasants—will be forced out of their businesses every year. That means the end to our agricultural base. So, the FTA is a system for the one percent of the people."
EU access to government contracts won’t hurt Bumis, says envoy
12-May-2012 Malaysian Insider
The European Union’s demand for access to government procurement in its free trade agreement with Malaysia need not harm the 40-year-old policy of affirmative action for Bumiputeras, insists its envoy in KL.
La Ville de Québec doit se prémunir contre l’AÉCG
11-May-2012 Tribune libre
À l’instar de Burnaby, Saskatoon, Kingston, Toronto, Montréal et Baie-Comeau, il est impératif que Québec adopte une résolution demandant une exemption complète de cet accord bilatéral.
The treaty that could decide the Vodafone india tax case
11-May-2012 New York Times
As the British telecommunications company Vodafone Group and India’s finance ministry edge ever closer to a full-blown confrontation over taxes related to Vodafone’s $11.1 billion acquisition in India, a key issue may be the India-Netherlands Bilateral Investment Treaty, signed between the two governments in 1995.
Chile threatens to pull out of TPP because of US IP demands
11-May-2012 Info Justice
Chile’s top trade official Rodrigo Contreras makes clear that intellectual property issues are at the forefront of his mind when he questions whether Chile should continue in the TPP.
Professors demand TPP Transparency; USTR says detailed response forthcoming
11-May-2012 Bloomberg
A group of law professors sent a letter to the U.S. trade representative criticizing the process surrounding a multilateral trade agreement. The USTR says that a detailed response is forthcoming.
Professors Demand TPP Transparency; USTR Says Detailed Response Forthcoming
10-May-2012
Key Development: A group of law professors sent a letter to the U.S. trade representative criticizing the process surrounding a multilateral trade agreement. The USTR says that a detailed response is forthcoming.
S. Korea, Peru upgrade relations to ’comprehensive strategic partnership’
10-May-2012
South Korea and Peru upgraded their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" Thursday in a move expected to bring the two far-off countries even closer after their economic ties got a boost from last year’s free trade agreement.
ECOWAS, EU negotiators deadlocked on EPAs
10-May-2012
Negotiations between ECOWAS and the EU on the Economic Partnership Agreements, EPAs reached a deadlock at a meeting held in Brussels, last month.
East Africa: Deadlines mar EAC-EU trade talks
10-May-2012
East African Community legislators and civil society organisations have urged the European Commission to desist from making unrealistic deadlines in trade negotiations; rather, negotiations should be driven by content rather than time frames.
Pakistan now ready to engage with EU on GSP plus, FTA: Zardari
10-May-2012
President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan is now ready to engage with the European Union (EU) on Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus and a Free Trade Agreement.
Trilateral FTA talks likely to be delayed
10-May-2012
Although Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo are discussing beginning negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA), domestic procedures will make it difficult to start talks within this year.
2016 targets to be missed if India-EU FTA covers auto sector
10-May-2012
Automobile industry body SIAM today cautioned that the sector will miss targets of the Automotive Mission Plan 2006-16 if it is included in the proposed free-trade agreement with the European Union for allowing imports of vehicles at lower duties.
China calls for early start of free trade agreement negotiations with Colombia
10-May-2012 Xinhua
China on Thursday called for an early launch of negotiations on a free trade agreement with Colombia.
Quebec City must protect itself against CETA
10-May-2012 Quebec Hebdo
Following the example of Burnaby, Saskatoon, Kingston, Toronto, Montreal and Baie-Comeau, it is imperative that Quebec adopts a resolution demanding a complete carve out from this bilateral agreement.