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Japan has shot down Theresa May’s hopes for a quick trade deal after Brexit
29-Aug-2017 Busines Insider
Japan is currently in talks with the EU about a free trade agreement and has no intention of rushing that negotiation to satisfy the wishes of UK government, the Financial Times reports.
Trump move on settling trade disputes splits NAFTA fans and critics
29-Aug-2017 Washington Examiner
The Trump administration’s proposal to revamp NAFTA’s system for settling disputes between governments and private companies splits both the opposition to and the advocates for ISDS
NAFTA renegotiation: Will working people continue to get shafted?
29-Aug-2017 Building Bridges
Interview with Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizens Global Trade Watch, and Gisela Perez, lawyer and journalist who works at NGO Derechos Digitales and is a spokesperson of the coalition "Mexico Against NAFTA", composed of more than 30 civil society organizations and trade unions.
To prevent influx of imports hurting Indian steelmakers, Centre set to raise this shield
28-Aug-2017 Financial Express
India’s steel ministry wants to protect the local steel industry from influx of imports under the proposed RCEP deal
"Modernize NAFTA, but don’t ruin its energy trade provisions"
25-Aug-2017 Washington Examiner
More than 100 associations representing US businesses are teaming up to encourage the Trump administration to maintain ISDS protections as it renegotiates NAFTA, writes the head of the US oil and natural gas industry trade group
AmCham Singapore voices support for TPP-11
25-Aug-2017 AmCham Singapore
AmCham Singapore urges the eleven members of the TPP to reach a successful conclusion to ongoing deliberations and implement the agreement as soon as possible, as it is "supportive of US businesses"
Norway, China launch free trade talks
25-Aug-2017 Reuters
Norway and China have resumed talks on a bilateral free trade deal, Norway’s Industry Ministry said Thursday, in another sign that their relationship was thawing after a row over the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to dissident Liu Xiaobo.
Support threatened if Trump team abandons investment protection provision
25-Aug-2017 FT
Three top US business groups have fired a warning shot at the Trump administration, threatening to drop their support for its renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement if a controversial investment protection provision is abandoned.
Concerns over proposed TPP11 next steps re e-commerce
24-Aug-2017
The beneficiaries of the TPP’s e-commerce rules will be the major US technology companies, and possibly those from China (neither of whom have to provide market access in return in the TPP11), civil society statement says.
Health community’s concerns re TPP11 proposed next steps
24-Aug-2017
Stronger intellectual property protection would benefit the US in return for no concessions, civil society groups tell TPP11 Ministers
Internet freedom and public interest groups concerns re TPP11 proposed next steps
24-Aug-2017
Stronger intellectual property protection does not benefit the TPP11 but would benefit the US in return for no concessions by the USA, a civil society letter to ministers asserts
Indonesia, Chile trade deal expected to be sealed by year-end
24-Aug-2017 Jakarta Post
Indonesia and Chile are both confident about concluding a comprehensive economic partnership agreement on time at the fifth round of negotiations in Chile, scheduled for this October.
CETA: Canada’s cheese quota settlement upsets EU dairy farmers
24-Aug-2017 EurActiv
Canada’s federal government has finalised the details of an additional import quota that will allow 18,500 tonnes of European cheese to enter Canada — 50% by manufacturers and 50% by distributors and retailers — but EU dairy producers say cheese makers in Canada have no interest to allow European cheese through
A BIT of critique
24-Aug-2017 The Hindu
A committee in India, led by Justice B.N. Srikrishna, has lost an opportunity to push for the recalibration of the country’s BIT regime
Pharmaceutical prices, intellectual property rights emerge as key issues in KORUS FTA discussions
24-Aug-2017 Hankyoreh
Through the KORUS revision, the US is openly seeking to bridge its trade deficit with Korea by renegotiating specific terms for individual product categories.
Neelam Deo on EU-India’s perplexing relationship: Trade, Europe’s hypocrisy and China concern
23-Aug-2017 EU Bulletin
Former diplomat says the EU’s insistence on opening up on wine imports from France and automobile imports from Germany have held up the EU-India FTA negotiations.
Parliament debates Panama involvement in secret trade pact
23-Aug-2017 Prensa Latina
Parliamentary debate heats up in Panama concerning the country’s involvement in alleged secret talks for a Trade in Services Agreement between 23 members of the World Trade Organization, including the European Union.
US bid to exit Nafta arbitration panels draws ire from businesses
23-Aug-2017 WSJ
US trade officials are putting together a proposal to let the US withdraw from a corporate arbitration system at the heart of the North American Free Trade Agreement, upsetting big American companies that say the system protects their investments overseas.
Colonialism’s new clothes: The EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements with Africa
22-Aug-2017 GRAIN
Though not highly publicised, the EPA has faced continued opposition from across the ACP countries, not least because of its devastating effect on small scale farmers. A new report from GRAIN goes into the details in Africa.
Family farm groups from three countries slam NAFTA reboot based on TPP
22-Aug-2017 Common Dreams
As the formal talks to renegotiate NAFTA begin, family farm organizations from Canada, the United States and Mexico denounce the direction of the talks.