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Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA comes with govt’s ‘Look East’ policy: What does it mean?
29-Jan-2018 Daily Mirror
So what does the government mean by ‘Looking East?’ Is it simply a buzz-word thrown in for good measure, in the process of marketing the Singapore FTA to the public? Does it point to some confusion at a policy level? Or is it terminology advised by external forces guiding policy?
Talks on Asean gold import ban today
29-Jan-2018 The Economic Times
The ban was effected over complaints by bullion traders. Unscrupulous traders were misusing the FTA to import bullion in the guise of jewellery. The trade bodies are willing to promote trade and manufacturing through FTA or similar agreements, but not at the cost of local manufacturers and workers prospects.
From Tokyo with love for global trade
29-Jan-2018 The Hindu
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, is going ahead in the absence of the US is a testament to Japan’s role in shepherding the tough negotiations through some tumultuous times.
‘Trans-pacific pact could hurt India’
29-Jan-2018 The Hindu
The book titled “Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: A framework for future trade rules?” has analyzed 5,544 pages of the TPP text says that if India joins TPP, norms may hit agriculture and manufacturing.
Asean pushes for liberalised trade pact with India
29-Jan-2018 The Daily Star
The members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have mounted pressure on India for clinching a liberalised pact in goods and services also involving six other countries, including China, by this year.
UK ’front of the line’ for free-trade deal, says US treasury secretary
26-Jan-2018 Sky
Steven Mnuchin said the US was "very supportive of the UK over the Brexit issue" and wanted to see a successful transition.
RCEP negotiations: Officials to meet in Jakarta in February
26-Jan-2018 The Hindu
The member countries would deliberate on finalising the maximum number of goods on which duties will either be eliminated or reduced drastically. Matters pertaining to services sector are also expected to figure in the meeting.
How about showing us the TPP deal we’re about to sign?
26-Jan-2018 Sydney Morning Herald
There’s no way to tell what’s in the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership deal until we’ve seen the text, and we won’t see it until after it’s signed, in Chile on March 8.
China to establish int’l courts to deal with Belt and Road Initiative cases
26-Jan-2018 The Tribune
China has decided to set up three international courts to deal with disputes related to its multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), under which it is making massive investments.
Korea, US to hold 2nd round of FTA renegotiation talks next week
26-Jan-2018 Yonhap
The two-day talks come days after US President Donald Trump again denounced the free trade deal as "a disaster" for the US, claiming the deal cost 200,000 American jobs.
Free trade pact would break EU-Turkey deadlock
26-Jan-2018 EU Observer
Turkish President Erdogan’s visit to Paris earlier this month was beset with bitter messages from French president Emmanuel Macron on Turkey’s EU journey, as he openly remarked that political developments in Turkey were blocking its EU accession bid and the idea of a new partnership instead of full membership needs to be entertained.
What would a India-US free trade agreement look like?
26-Jan-2018 The Wire
While an FTA is a long shot, the starting steps include India and US being more flexible on the domestic and international front.
Trump: I would reconsider a massive Pacific trade deal if it were ’substantially better’
26-Jan-2018 CNBC
President Trump says he would reconsider the Trans-Pacific Partnership if the United States got a "substantially better deal."
Sri Lanka eyes FTA with Indonesia, in continued engagement with ASEAN
25-Jan-2018 Economic Next
Sri Lanka and Indonesia had agreed to study a free trade agreement during a state visit of President Joko Widodo to Colombo.
China willing to negotiate signing of free trade agreements with Uruguay
25-Jan-2018 Xinhua
China is willing to negotiate step by step free trade agreements with Uruguay and other countries in South America.
US, Mexican unions to file NAFTA complaint over labor bill
25-Jan-2018 Reuters
US and Mexican unions will formally complain to the US Labor Department on Thursday that Mexico continues to violate NAFTA’s weak labor standards
OBOR’s connect deters US-India hegemony
25-Jan-2018 Pakistan Observer
The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on regional trade integration should also be seen in light of trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
China piles up free trade deals as Trump abandons them
25-Jan-2018 Bloomberg
China is hoping to have a ‘bumper year’ for new trade deals. 11 nations are planning to save the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
NAFTA talks focus on dispute settlement, autos
25-Jan-2018 Toronto Star
Canada has proposed that Canada and Mexico would agree to a dispute settlement process between their two countries alone — to be outlined in an annex to the NAFTA.
Don’t sign revised trade pact, consumers group urges government
25-Jan-2018 Free Malaysia Today News
Consumers Association of Penang says the new agreement will be even worse than the original as there will not even be the benefit of selling more exports to the US.