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Think free-trade deals can raise labor standards? This case suggests otherwise
17-Sep-2015 In These Times
The Obama administration promotes the TPP as “the most progressive trade bill in history,” with the highest labor standards yet but similar promises have been trotted out to justify every free-trade agreement from NAFTA on.
Free trade agreements fail to boost Australian agriculture and food manufacturing
17-Sep-2015 The Conversation
Many claims are made that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with select trading partners will benefit Australian agriculture. OECD statistics say otherwise.
Why we should oppose the free trade agreement with China
17-Sep-2015 Red Flag
There’s freedom for the bosses to hire and fire at will and to shut down their businesses, throwing thousands onto the dole. But there’s little freedom for workers to strike for their rights.
‘Lipstick on a pig’: EC’s proposed corporate court system slammed by campaigners
17-Sep-2015 RT
Visant à rendre l’ISDS acceptable, les modifications de forme proposées menacent d’étendre considérablement le champ de cette justice aux services des multinationales
TIFA meeting to be held in October
17-Sep-2015 China Post
The next round of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks between Taiwan and the U.S. will be held in October in Taipei at the earliest. Besides food safety, Taiwan is expected to raise issues relating to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and bilateral investment agreement (BIA) in the meeting.
ECI last call
16-Sep-2015
TPP protesters arrested in Wellington
16-Sep-2015
A large group of protesters battling against the controversial Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal have been arrested for trespassing in Wellington this afternoon.
Positive effects of TTIP tribunals for investment unclear
16-Sep-2015 Euractiv
According to EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, "no direct relationship" can be seen between the controversial arbitration tribunals in the draft EU-US trade agreement and increased investment, adding fuel to its critics’ fires.
Cairn Energy set to go to ICJ against India
15-Sep-2015 Financial Express
Cairn Energy is set to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ), asking it to appoint an arbitrator on behalf of the Indian government in its $1.6 bn...
Gov’t accuses Marsans group of ’selling’ ICSID lawsuit to vulture fund
15-Sep-2015 Buenos Aires Herald
Litigation finance treats litigation claims as financeable assets, just like real estate or receivables
Uruguay decision to exit controversial trade deal talks with US appropriate
15-Sep-2015 Sputnik
Former Uruguayan senator Alberto Couriel said that there is "no free trade" in the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), promoted by the United States.
India likely to sign FTA with Australia, Chile soon
15-Sep-2015 The Economic Times
India are very close to signing FTA with Chile and having next level discussion with Australia for FTA agreement according to Department of Commerce Joint Secretary Dammu Ravi on the sidelines of industry consultation meeting on RCEP Negotiations.
Australia’s stance in IP negotiations: ‘That didn’t work, let’s do it again.’
14-Sep-2015 Crikey
Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is meant to be one definition of insanity. It’s also a pretty good definition of poor policymaking.
Towards post-Western investment law?
14-Sep-2015 Voelkerrechtsblog
International Investment Law (IIL) has always been a battleground of competing paradigms and imaginations of economic world order. Today, the old battles between North and South over the rules of global investment are considered history.
Auto parts differences between Japan, U.S. and others seen clouding prospects for next TPP ministerial talks
14-Sep-2015 The Japan Times
The 12 countries taking part in Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations are likely to face difficulties in arranging a ministerial meeting as Japan, the United States and others were unable to narrow the gap over the automotive sector in recent working-level talks.
How many jobs? The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will create hardly any
14-Sep-2015 The Age
The free trade deal is now about jobs, except the government has got the number all wrong.
Impacts of the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement on plant varieties, biodiversity and food security
14-Sep-2015 Biothai
If Thailand accepts the intellectual property law in the course of the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement of EU-Thai, this will have several impacts on farmers, biodiversity and food security.
Update on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement – NGO briefing
14-Sep-2015 AFTINET
While RCEP was initially framed as an agreement that would be more flexible for low and middle income countries, there is evidence that some governments from industrialised countries are seeking to pursue aspects which would be very damaging for developing countries.
Australia’s treaty-making process is broken. The China free trade deal is a case in point
13-Sep-2015 The Guardian
By the time a free trade agreement like Chafta reaches parliament it has already been agreed to. Democracy demands more than a ‘take it or leave it’ approach
East Africa: region’s exports to EU face tough conditions
13-Sep-2015 All Africa
Mistrust has emerged among the East African Community partner states over Tanzania’s commitment to the Economic Partnership Agreement that would give the region’s goods duty-free access to European markets.