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Protests by farmers and trade unions against the mega FTA RCEP
2-Dec-2014
As negotiators from 16 nations meet in New Delhi for 5 day consultations on the Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP), farmers, trade unions, retailers groups, and civil society organisations protested outside the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida. RCEP is a complex North South Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that India is negotiating with the 10 member ASEAN block plus Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
TFTA - COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite FTA
1-Dec-2014 tralac
As published by tralac
The poison in the EPA
1-Dec-2014 Business Day
Africa must seek other viable alternatives in its quest for economic development, argue the editors of Business Day in Nigeria.
Indian farmers, trade unions slam RCEP free trade talks
1-Dec-2014 Business World
Activists say the RCEP free trade pact will damage Indian manufacturing, dairy and agriculture sectors
Africa regional blocs eye joint pact
1-Dec-2014 New Vision
Most of the clauses in the agreement — to be signed this month in Cairo — have been finalised, apart from the preamble and the rules of origin.
Farmers, trade unions and CSOs call to halt RCEP negotiations
1-Dec-2014 ICCFM
In the backdrop of 6th Round of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations scheduled to take place from 1-5 December 2014 in Greater Noida, India farmers’ organizations, trade unions and civil society organizations expressed serious concern over the very idea of free trade agreement (FTA), lack of transparency and the absence of socio economic impact assessments to asses the impact of the proposed FTA.
Sigmar Gabriel: ‘Germany will approve CETA’
28-Nov-2014 EurActiv
German Minister of Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel is clashing with his own party over the EU’s planned free trade agreement with Canada (CETA), calling on Bundestag members to approve the deal despite the controversial investor protection provision.
Self-driving cars sink the case for TTIP
28-Nov-2014 Huffington Post
The EU’s case for the Transatlantic trade and Investment Partnership is mostly about cars but fails to take into account what the industry will look like ten years from now.
More dialogue, fewer fear tactics needed in discussion of FTAs
27-Nov-2014 The China Post
The government of Taiwan must do a better job to convince the public, instead of relying on “scare tactics,” merely pointing to the hazards that Taiwan will face without FTAs.
Full TTIP transparency: much more than opening a door
27-Nov-2014 Greens/EFA
The European Commission has announced that new transparency measures have been adopted for the TTIP talks — but not for citizens.
Thailand to lose share of China market under FTA, survey suggests
27-Nov-2014 The Nation
It is projected that ASEAN could face an annual trade deficit with China as high as US$30 billion within five years under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement
The TISA threat to food and agriculture
26-Nov-2014 IUF
Agriculture depends on a whole complex of services – water, credit, research, testing, marketing – which may be privatised by TISA, warns Peter Rossman.
Online protest delays EU plan to resolve US trade row
26-Nov-2014 Reuters
EU officials say the Commission is divided over how to draw conclusions from the public consultation it held on investor-state disputes under the proposed EU-US trade accord, which is now delaying negotiations.
Luxembourg: Foreign Minister supports TTIP but “not at all cost”
26-Nov-2014 Luxemburger Wort
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister says that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership presents an opportunity but EU should not enter the agreement “at all cost.”
Korea, US evaluate current state of FTA
26-Nov-2014 Business Korea
The two sides discussed the adoption of appeal instead of a single trial in the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) but failed to reach an agreement.
Warning talks on TPP may get ugly
26-Nov-2014 Stuff
Dairy markets could become one of the make or break issues in TPP and "get quite ugly", New Zealand’s ambassador to Japan warns.
Where are the EU sanctions on Israel?
26-Nov-2014 Al Jazeera
EU inaction is likely to further bolster the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement if it is seen as the only effective avenue for European rejection of Israeli policies.
Protecting profits over people
25-Nov-2014 Myanmar Times
Burma is in the process of formulating an investment law which would give investors full compensation if government regulations impact their profits
Japan, Turkey to begin FTA talks next week
25-Nov-2014 Kyodo
Japan and Turkey will hold the first round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement next week in Tokyo, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
It’s about a better life for all people
25-Nov-2014 EESC
The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee held its first meeting on 13 and 14 November 2014.