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U.S., China rushing investment treaty at end of Obama term
7-Nov-2016 Forbes
Negotiations on the proposed bilateral investment treaty, BIT as it is commonly known, are continuing at an accelerated pace, with new rounds only two weeks apart.
EU’s EPA strategy detrimental to Africa – ECOWAS farmers
7-Nov-2016 Vanguard
The Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS,’ farmers have called on African leaders to resist the pressure being put on them by the European Union to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Latin American nations set import records for U.S. corn
7-Nov-2016 Crop Protection News
The U.S. Grains Council recently announced new grain import records set by Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Trading away health: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
7-Nov-2016 MSF
A leaked draft of RCEP has revealed some proposed provisions that could undermine access to price-lowering, generic medicines, and thus, life-saving treatment to millions of people in the developing world
Australia, Indonesia continue push for trade deal, after President skips visit
7-Nov-2016 Reuters
Trade ministers from Australia and Indonesia continued negotiations to seal a trade deal between the two neighbours
In the battle to win the TPP, has Obama forgotten the lessons of the Vietnam War?
7-Nov-2016 IATP
The most important and defining factor for the fate of the TPP is that social pressure against the agreement within in the TPP negotiating countries grows.
Ruling bloc rams TPP bill through committee
7-Nov-2016 The Japan Times
Brushing off vocal protests by opposition lawmakers, Prime Minister Abe’s ruling coalition passed a bill to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement at a special Lower House committee, sparking criticism that it resorted to a steamroll vote.
RCEP: A devastating blow to the Philippine economy and its peoples
5-Nov-2016 APRN
APRN statement on the RCEP Ministerial meeting in Cebu, Philippines on 3-4 November 2016
Armenia initiated EAEU-Iran talks on free trade agreement
4-Nov-2016 Armen Press
The Eurasian Economic Union began discussions on having a privileged trade agreement with Iran at the initiation of Armenia
Commission 2017 Work Programme: What’s in it for trade?
4-Nov-2016 Vieuws
The negotiations towards a “reasonable and balanced free trade agreement with the US” part of the trade-related section of the Commission Work Programme for 2017.
‘FTA between India, Eurasian Economic Union soon’
4-Nov-2016 The Hindu
Discussions on a free trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union are at an advanced stage and an agreement could be reached as early as the end of the year.
Dutch referendum petition launched to oppose CETA ratification
4-Nov-2016 EurActiv
Dutch group very similar to the one which organised the referendum that blocked the EU-Ukraine association agreement has already collected over 190,000 signatures for blocking the ratification of CETA, the EU-Canada trade deal.
EU member states divided in face of Commission crackdown on intra-EU ISDS
3-Nov-2016 Bordelex
Once a desirable form of European international relations endorsed by the Commission, Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) became a problematic issue after the accession of former socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe to the European Union, and with the emergence of the first intra-EU investment arbitration – ISDS – cases.
Malaysia committed to complete ratification of TPPA by 2018
3-Nov-2016 Free Malaysia Today
MITI Secretary-General Jayashiri says government is in the process of amending laws to support the trade pact and have identified 18 thus far.
Ruling coalition gives up trying to pass TPP-ratifying bill after minister’s gaffe
3-Nov-2016 The Japan Times
After a new round of calls for the resignation of Japan’s gaffe-prone agricultural minister, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition gave up trying to pass a bill to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement through a special Lower House committee.
EU-US Privacy Shield pact faces second legal challenge
3-Nov-2016 EurActiv
A new EU-US pact governing the transfer of personal data faces a second legal challenge, putting the details of the deal which underpins billions of dollars of transatlantic trade in digital services under further scrutiny.
RCEP: Members worried about giving more market access to Chinese goods
3-Nov-2016 The Hindu
The concerns of 15 Asia-Pacific nations including India, over agreeing to give greater market access to Chinese goods without gaining similarly in return, are likely to take centre-stage
Comments after the INTA Committee’s debate on Ghana’s interim EPA
2-Nov-2016 SOL
On October 13, 2016 the INTA Committee of the European Parliament debated Ghana’s interim EPA (iEPA), with the participation of Ms Hannah Tetteh, Ghana’s Minister of foreign affairs.
EU seeks faster reforms on human rights ahead of Sri Lanka trade deal
2-Nov-2016 EurActiv
European parliamentarians asked Sri Lanka to step up reforms and abolish draconian anti-terror laws to qualify for lucrative trade concessions from the 28-member bloc.
Canada says must work hard to ensure firms benefit from EU deal
2-Nov-2016 Reuters
The Canadian government will have to work hard to ensure firms benefit from a landmark free trade deal that Canada has reached with the European Union.