bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

One step closer to a deal: Here are Belgium’s conditions for signing CETA
27-Oct-2016 Financial Post
After doubt was cast on Europe’s ability to negotiate a free trade deal with Canada, the tides turned as Belgium came to an internal consensus on conditions for signing the EU-Canada deal
Peruvians urge Himes to oppose TPP
27-Oct-2016 Stamford Advocate
"Our experience in Peru demonstrates how the TPP model prioritizes trade and investment above the protection of the environment, ecosystems, and life itself."
Intl. investment policy exacerbates vulnerabilities of people to corporate land grabs, says expert
27-Oct-2016 Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
As commercial pressures on resources increase, some of the world’s poorest people face the risk of dispossession under contested circumstances.
What do trade agreements do for open access—and what don’t they do?
27-Oct-2016 Electronic Frontier Foundation
The absence of support for open access in trade agreements comes as no surprise when considering that there are no representatives from the education sector, nor any library or archive representatives, in the relevant closed-door trade advisory committees
Belgium keeps EU, Canada waiting over trade deal
27-Oct-2016 Reuters
Belgian politicians failed to break their deadlock over a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement. The news prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call off plans to fly to Brussels.
World union meeting unites against TiSA and CETA
27-Oct-2016 ITF
Global trade union leaders meeting in Panama have united in condemnation of TiSA (the Trade in Services Agreement) and CETA (the Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement), highlighting the risks that both trade agreements pose to jobs and job security.
Public sector unions to oppose Asia Pacific mega trade deal RCEP
27-Oct-2016 PSI
On 12 October, the closing day of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Fukuoka, around 250 delegates representing more than 70 PSI affiliates from 18 countries resolved to intensify the struggle against the ambitious Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership under negotiation among 16 countries in the region.
Do free trade deals pose a threat to higher education?
26-Oct-2016 University World News
The awareness of the threat posed to the public realm by international ‘free trade’ agreements has been heightened by the publication of new leaks and criticism from leading intellectuals.
RCEP: India, China struggle to agree on tariff cuts in goods
26-Oct-2016 The Hindu
Trade Ministers from the 16-member RCEP will meet in the Philippines, on November 3-4 to see if final commitments in the area of goods, services and investments can be reached.
SADC, EAC and COMESA seek to implement Tripartite Free Trade Area
26-Oct-2016 Nigeria Today
The 10th EAC-COMESA-SADC Tripartite meeting opened in Nairobi to resolve issues that remain outstanding before the implementation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area.
Kenya opens fresh talks with EAC over EU deal
26-Oct-2016 The Star
Kenya has embarked on another round of diplomatic talks with her least-developed East African Community peers in a fresh bid to convince them to sign a trade deal with 28-member European Union.
US-China investment treaty faces uncertainties
26-Oct-2016 Global Times
Completion of BIT talks should wait after the election: experts
Kenya’s access to Europe remains intact
26-Oct-2016 Business Daily Africa
Kenya will continue enjoying duty-free and quota-free access for its goods to the European Union even if neighbouring countries fail to approve the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
TISA proposes new global rules on data flows and safe harbors
25-Oct-2016 Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Trade in Services Agreement contains many provisions that are a virtual copy-and-paste out of the TPP’s Electronic Commerce chapter.
Brics dispute resolution mechanism: Challenges ahead, but promises much
25-Oct-2016 Financial Express
Any intra-Brics framework will only be effective if awards rendered by such a body are enforceable without the added difficulty of getting entangled in domestic proceedings.
Uruguay confirms willingness to reach free-trade deal with China
25-Oct-2016 Global Times
Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez confirmed his country’s willingness to pursue a free-trade agreement (FTA) with China.
Call for Govt to help our neighbours negotiate for life-saving medicines
25-Oct-2016 Newstalk ZB
The Public Health Association (PHA) is asking the NZ government to step in and help our neighbouring countries negotiate better deals for life-saving medicines.
Belgium cannot sign CETA, PM Michel admits
25-Oct-2016 EurActiv
Belgium is not able to sign off on a landmark EU-Canada free trade deal after Wallonia and other regional administrations refused to give the federal government the go-ahead
Tigran Sargsyan’s visit to Beijing: new impetus to "conjugation" of the EAEU and the SREB
24-Oct-2016 Eurasian Economic Commission
Work is under way on forming a broad economic partnership on the basis of the EAEA and the Chinese initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Hazards ahead for TiSA talks
24-Oct-2016 Politico
The odds of the Trade in Services Agreement wrapping up by year’s end have grown longer after a mini ministerial meeting revealed a number of issues remain far from resolved