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Minister: Australia’s “food bowl of Asia” no threat to Chinese farmers
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce is touring China in a bid to assuage local farmers’ fears over Australia’s ambition to be the “food bowl of Asia” as the two countries attempt to reach a conclusion to talks over a free-trade agreement.
Indonesia fishermen to suffer more under Asean Economic Community
Indonesian fishermen will suffer more when the ASEAN Economic Community is implemented in 2015, the environmentalist organization Walhi said.
Kenya: Civil society raises concerns over EAC-EU trade deal
Kenya Human Rights Commission and others demand extension of September 30 deadline to sign the pending trade deal between the East African Community and EU on the grounds that failure to reach agreement will hurt half a million horticultural workers, mostly women.
Sri Lanka-China to negotiate on FTA during Chinese President’s visit
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the island this week, the two sides will launch negotiations on a China-Sri Lanka free trade agreement.
Economist Jeffrey Sachs says NO to TPP and TAFTA trade deals
Jeffrey Sachs, world-renowned professor of economics, lays out five reasons why the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement should not be passed or ratified.
The carrot, the stick, and the seeds: US development policy faces resistance in El Salvador
While the seeds dispute was an effective rallying point, social movements must confront the elephant in the room – CAFTA.
Government ‘ignoring’ plea not to sign EU-Colombia trade deal
Aid agencies and human rights groups want Ireland to stall on signing the EU free trade agreement with Colombia which they say will put that country’s oppressed agricultural communities in peril and undermine its fragile peace process.
Strategy conversations: From protest to proposal – Launch of alternative proposal to the global investment regime
‘A Call for the Building of an Alternative Legal Framework to the International Investment Treaties. Favoring the Public Interest while doing away with Transnational Corporate Impunity.’
ISDS: The devil in the trade deal
A common provision allowing foreign investors to sue host governments has become a ticking time bomb inside trade agreements. Some countries are now refusing to agree to the provision and are questioning its legal legitimacy. Jess Hill investigates.
Outrage as EU blocks democratic challenge to US trade deal
The European Commission’s decision to block a citizens’ initiative to challenge the secret trade talks it is holding with the US government is a slap in the face for the 230 civil society organisations that have lined up behind the initiative and the millions of European citizens they represent.
Harper OKs Canada-China foreign investment deal after lengthy delay
Sources tell CBC the federal government will quietly announce it is ratifying the investment treaty later this afternoon.
How Greens in one German state threaten Euro-Canada trade deal
The survival of the new trade deal hammered out in secret between Canada and the European Union is threatened by opposed Green politicians in Germany’s most populated state, writes Andrea Rexer.
Bilateral Investment Treaties: What they are and why they matter
The US-China Business Council, a corporate lobby group, outlines what a US-China BIT might amount to.
EU Commission wants to wipe out citizens’ involvement in TTIP and CETA
European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP rejected / Alliance announces resistance
Businesses believe APEC’s free trade agreement will bring few benefits
The proposed APEC free trade agreement (FTAAP) is expected to be on a larger scale than the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, but many Vietnamese businesses are not enthusiastic about the trade pact.
US trade chief eyes bilateral ministerial TPP talks in weeks
US trade chief Michael Froman plans to hold meetings with his counterparts from countries involved in negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade initiative in the coming weeks, his office said Wednesday.
EU-Canada trade deal ’a threat to democracy’
Campaigners urge British government to amend ‘secret agreement’ that would allow Canadian companies new powers over government decisions
EU seeks compromise with Russia over Ukraine free-trade pact
Moscow is believed to be willing to accept Ukraine’s broad political and trade accord with the European Union under certain conditions, officials say.
India to start trade agreement talks with Peru
India will start negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru to boost bilateral relations and to expand its trade and investment ties, especially in the defence sector with the Latin American region.