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Emergency services turn life-threatening under US private equity owners — and a global Trade in Services Agreement would globalize the damage
31-Aug-2016 IUF
Vital public services like firefighting and ambulances are being handed over to a small number of transnational companies worldwide, a trend that will be hugely boosted by TPP, TTIP, CETA and TiSA.
An open letter to the sixteen governments negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
31-Aug-2016
Nearly 70 networks and organisations call on the RCEP negotiators to listen to civil society, not just corporate interests
PACER Plus not final – PNG says no, Fiji lukewarm, Vanuatu undecided
31-Aug-2016 Asia Pacific Report
The negotiations are said to offer an opportunity to help Pacific Islands Forum countries benefit from enhanced regional trade and economic integration.
The billion dollar ultimatum
31-Aug-2016 BuzzFeed
International corporations that want to intimidate countries have access to a private legal system designed just for them. And to unlock its power, sometimes all it takes is a threat.
The court that rules the world
30-Aug-2016 BuzzFeed
A parallel legal universe, open only to corporations and largely invisible to everyone else, helps executives convicted of crimes escape punishment.
A new generation of free trade agreements that privilege business interests over human rights
30-Aug-2016 The Wire
There must be ex ante human rights impact assessment of the trade agreements and investment treaties that are being negotiated by the ASEAN community, including with and in India.
Brexit fuels Japanese worries over planned trade deal
30-Aug-2016 EurActiv
The prospect of Brexit is giving Japan serious cause for concern as its government fears dwindling interest in a planned free trade agreement with the EU.
BIT deal with US can help India gain APEC membership
30-Aug-2016 The Hindu
American industry is keen that India and the US conclude their much-awaited Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which it believes will strengthen India’s chances of membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation bloc.
NGOs warn against dispute mechanism in Asian free-trade pact
30-Aug-2016 The Nation
Activists of various NGOs have urged Asean governments to eliminate investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) draft.
France, joining Germany, urges halt to Transatlantic trade talks
30-Aug-2016 Reuters
Current Transatlantic trade talks should be halted and a new set started, France’s trade minister said.
Venezuela ordered to pay Canadian miner Rusoro more than $ 1.2 billion
29-Aug-2016 Toronto Star
An international arbitration tribunal has ordered Venezuela to pay a Vancouver-based mining company more than $1.2 billion for expropriating its gold mines.
Cutting red tape Japan’s focus in preparation for TPP
29-Aug-2016 Bloomberg
Japan’s government will focus on cutting red tape to accommodate foreign businesses wanting access to the Japanese market as it ramps up efforts to have a 12-nation Asia-Pacific trade pact ratified
Trudeau’s China trip sparks fears of bad deal for workers
29-Aug-2016 The Tyee
Beijing’s trade agreement with Australia allows Chinese companies to use their own workers. Is Canada next?
Negotiations conclude on free trade agreement for Pacific
29-Aug-2016 Radio NZ
Trade ministers from Pacific Island Forum countries including Australia and New Zealand gathered to try to sign off on the negotiations which have been going on for more than 8 years.
Financial services liberalization in jeopardy
29-Aug-2016 The Jakarta Post
There are prominent dangers associated with the negotiation of IA-CEPA, particularly with the financial services liberalization.
International arbitration structure skewed in favour of developed nations
29-Aug-2016 Silicon India
Developing countries, including India, should build capacity instead of playing the victim as the structure of international arbitration was heavily biased towards the developed countries, a top Finance Ministry official said.
TTIP has failed – but no one is admitting it, says German Vice-Chancellor
29-Aug-2016 The Independent
Germany’s Vice-Chancellor said in 14 rounds of talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated.
Chile plans to send TPP Pacific trade deal to Congress this year
26-Aug-2016 Reuters
Despite protests and opposition from social movements, the Chilean government is expecting to send the Trans-Pacific Partnership to its Congress for approval by the end of 2016, President Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday.
India, US to try narrow differences in BIT
26-Aug-2016 Deccan Herald
India and United States will try to narrow differences on a proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) next week, although an early breakthrough seems unlikely.
Regulatory harmonization in international trade: A categorical or conditional imperative?
26-Aug-2016 Global Policy Journal
The idea that regulatory convergence leads to "more trade" stands on weak empirical grounds.