bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Articles by language


TTIP: A charter for deregulation, an attack on jobs, an end to democracy.
This new booklet, written by John Hilary, Executive Director of War on Want, explains in short what TTIP is and how it will affect the lives of all of us if it comes into force.
South Africa: FAQs on foreign direct investment featured
Foreign direct investment (FDI) has recently been a hot topic in South Africa, following the government’s unilateral cancellation of bilateral investment treaties with the European Union and the release of the draft Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill. But what is FDI, and why is it important?
China to accelerate Australia free trade agreement
China will "accelerate" negotiations for a free trade agreement with Australia, Premier Li Keqiang has said in his opening speech to the National People’s Congress.
USTR sets 2014 as goal of signing Pacific free trade deal
"The administration will work to conclude negotiations of the TPP in 2014," the office of the US Trade Representative said in a document attached to President Barack Obama’s budget blueprint for fiscal 2015.
Costa Rica & Colombia approve free trade agreement
The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica has approved the country’s Free Trade Agreement with Colombia, a prerequisite for Costa Rica to gain admittance into the Pacific Alliance group, composed of Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile.
EU-US FTA: "Free trade agreement must immediately stop"
IG Metall leader Detlef Wetzel fears disadvantages for workers and consumers if the EU and the US create a free trade zone. "The negotiations must be stopped," he states categorically.
NAFTA partners pushing North American competitiveness integration agenda
The growing domestic and international opposition to the secret trade talks have put the Globalists plan to use the TPP to upgrade and expand NAFTA to more countries in serious jeopardy.
US back ECOWAS’ efforts to attain borderless trade status
Countries in the West African sub-region were yesterday reassured of the support of the United States in their quest to establishing a borderless trade environment in the ECOWAS region.
Let us seal FTA early, Prime Minister tells regional club
Urging the seven-member BIMSTEC grouping to fast-track trade and economic cooperation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday called for “early conclusion” of the BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement and said it should be extended to investment and services.
Turkish firm’’s claim: government seeks 20 days to file reply
Pakistan has sought a 20-day extension to file its reply to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) against a damage claim of $2.1 billion filed by Turkish firm M/s Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim. The sources said Pakistan had to submit its reply to the international body by February 28, 2014 but it was delayed due to a change in legal firm.
Japan, Denmark eye cooperation on maritime security, FTA
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Danish counterpart Helle Thorning-Schmidt agreed Tuesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation on maritime security and pledged to seek the early conclusion of a free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union.
Lessons from Vodafone tax case: Govt to rewrite BIPA to exclude taxation, intellectual property right issues
India has readied a new draft to negotiate bilateral investment treaties in the future, keeping taxation and intellectual property right issues out of its ambit
BIMSTEC leaders today resolved to expeditiously
BIMSTEC leaders today resolved to expeditiously conclude an agreement on trade in goods to promote commerce among member nations India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.
Dairy groups ’running out of patience’ on TPP
The US Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Producers Federation suggest moving forward with Trans Pacific Partnership without Canada and Japan on the basis of the countries’ dairy policies
AFL-CIO, more than 40 other organizations call for public consultations on investor rights in trade deals
Millions of Americans are hoping the US government will immediately initiate open and fruitful discussions on ISDS.
In for messy litigation
Several local newspapers misread the recent decision by the Washington-based International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) as a verdict forcing the Indonesian government to pay over US$1 billion in compensation to the plaintiff, London-listed Churchill Mining Plc, in regard to its coal mining concessions in East Kalimantan.
US welcomes Taiwan membership in TPP if island fulfills criteria: diplomat
The United States would welcome Taiwan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership as long as it meets the high standards set by TPP members, Taipei’s diplomat to Washington was cited as saying yesterday.
Russia FTA could be delayed - Key
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says a free-trade agreement with Russia could be delayed because of the escalating situation between the superpower and Ukraine.
Uganda: EU sets EPA deadline signing for October
“The EAC states wont access European markets if we don’t sign EPA by October 1 but how prepared are we when some clauses are still not agreed upon?” Jane Nalunga, SEATINI Uganda country director, asks.
Trade deals a closely held secret, shared by more than 500 advisers
The details of the Obama administration’s proposals for a massive 12-nation trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region are off limits to most Americans, held close by negotiators who worry that too much openness would make it impossible to reach a deal. But a chosen few have been allowed to peek behind the curtain and share some of the most sensitive documents.