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Recommendation for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a Convention establishing a multilateral court for the settlement of investment disputes
14-Sep-2017 European Commission
The inclusion of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in trade and investment agreements has become subject to increased public scrutiny and questioning.
Juncker’s trade push starts with Australia, New Zealand
14-Sep-2017 EurActiv
In his State of the Union address, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker mentioned the strengthening of the trade agenda as his number one initiative.
Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA to tap opportunities under Belt and Road Initiative: experts
14-Sep-2017 Xinhua
A free trade agreement to be signed by China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will help businesses better explore opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Japan pushes for expedited talks on ’TPP 11’
14-Sep-2017 Nikkei
Signatories eye fresh trade deal without US by year-end.
Lower house approves ratification of CETA
13-Sep-2017 Radio Praha
The lower house of the Czech Parliament ratified the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a free-trade agreement between the EU and Canada.
Iran ready for free trade with regional countries: Official
13-Sep-2017 Iran Daily
Iran is ready to establish preferential tariffs and free trade with some regional countries, particularly Afghanistan, Pakistan and Oman.
No #NAFTA2, yes to trade for people & planet
13-Sep-2017 Popular Resistance
We propose a vision for trade that serves working people and protects the planet. That is why we have to say #NoNAFTA2, and make a radical refusal of any new or re-worked corporate trade deals.
Turkish, American delegations to discuss economic ties next week
13-Sep-2017 Daily Sabah
Additional steps for liberalizing and deepening commercial relations between the two countries in the long term will be reviewed.
Vanuatu businesses unhappy with PACER signing
13-Sep-2017 Radio NZ
The private sector in Vanuatu has expressed surprise the government had reversed its position on the PACER PLUS trade deal despite opposition from the businesses affected.
India’s push to ease worker-movement norms may turn counterproductive
13-Sep-2017 The Hindu
India’s push to ease norms on movement of skilled workers across borders could turn out to be counterproductive
Civil society groups, trade experts flag concerns on RCEP
13-Sep-2017 PTI
Civil society raises questions on RCEP
Foreign patent owners can challenge domestic judgments under international investment arbitration
12-Sep-2017 Forbes India
The first ever final award on patents in international investment arbitration by ICSID in the case of Eli Lilly v. Canada has effectively cleared the way for raising future disputes by foreign IPR owners against domestic institutions which can result in stronger and robust IP protection regime.
The MERCOSUR Protocol on Investment Cooperation and Facilitation: regionalizing an innovative approach to investment agreements
12-Sep-2017 EJIL: Talk!
The Protocol draws significantly on the Brazilian model investment agreement, which stands out for departing from the traditional design of Bilateral Investment Treaties, particularly by excluding the possibility of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS).
Brazil tells the EU ‘it won’t move’ on Mercosur talks without ethanol and beef
12-Sep-2017 EurActiv
Brazil insists that it will not table a new offer as part of the ongoing EU-Mercosur talks until a proposal on beef and ethanol is on the table.
MERCOSUR threatens feed-in industries, vehicles: Industry Minister rules out possibility
12-Sep-2017 Daily News Egypt
The agreements will force global companies to exclude us from manufacturing: Masrouga
Regulating across the digital divide
12-Sep-2017 MENAFN
If the world’s three major economies the US, the EU, and China were ever to harmonise their approach to regulating digital trade and global data flows, the pressure on developing countries to accept digital rules would intensify.
EU-Japan deal: trading away our rights
12-Sep-2017 CEO
Imagine the EU finds a new chemical to be dangerous. The EU would like to ban it but is unable to, or is only able to do so with major delays and laxer standards….
Vanuatu signs up to PACER Plus
12-Sep-2017 Radio NZ
Vanuatu has signed up to PACER Plus trade deal in Samoa - three months after most regional countries agreed to the trade agreement.
RCEP ministers agree on "key elements" to speed up talks on "mega trade pact"
12-Sep-2017 Xinhua
The economic ministers of 16 Asia-Pacific countries have endorsed a set of "clear key elements" that will guide the negotiations to establish a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
Canada introduces patent term extensions for pharmaceutical patents
12-Sep-2017 Lexology
The new regime has been implemented in order to meet Canada’s obligations under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union