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Complex trade pacts promote land grabs
2-Jul-2013 The Guardian
Multiplicity of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) leave room for some investors to take advantage of African resources, it has been asserted at a CUTS meeting in Geneva last week
US-EU FTA: the food safety boomerang
1-Jul-2013 JDLE
As the EU has just approved the use of lactic acid to decontaminate beef, it will not be able to oppose the entry of US beef produced this way under the EU-US FTA
ACP states dismayed at EU decision to cut sugar quotas in 2017
1-Jul-2013 ACP Secretariat
ACP sugar supplying states are appalled by the decision reached by the EU institutions on Wednesday to abolish EU beet and isoglucose sugar quotas in 2017. Once again, the concerns and expectations of the ACP have not been taken into account in spite of their numerous submissions over the past years.
Turkey aims to complete talks for FTA with Ukraine
1-Jul-2013 World Bulletin
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey aims to complete the talks for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Ukraine as of 2015.
Premier promotes creation of FTA with EU
1-Jul-2013 China Daily
China would "welcome" the creation of a free trade agreement with the European Union, its largest trading partner, but it could "take time" to be established, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.
Gulf states take harder line with EU over free-trade agreement
1-Jul-2013 The National
The GCC will not sign a new joint cooperation programme with the EU that involves sharing information on topics ranging from finance to climate change until both sides resolve differences over a trade agreement, the Kuwait News Agency quoted Ghanim Al Buainain, Bahrain’s minister of state for foreign affairs, as saying.
European Union says US spying claims could affect free trade
1-Jul-2013 Raw Story
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding on Sunday warned that landmark negotiations with the United States to create a vast free trade zone could be affected if media reports that Washington had bugged EU premises proved true.
GCC-EU free trade agreement soon
1-Jul-2013 TradeArabia
"Almost 99 per cent of the items have being agreed and only one issue related to export duties is currently being reviewed before any decision is reached,” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said.
Will Asia’s largest FTA make a difference?
1-Jul-2013 Jakarta Post
Unless there is enough political will to close potential loopholes disguised as “flexibility” and pursue reforms deeper than those ever before attempted, RCEP may be seen as serving the geopolitical interests of a few players, to little economic effect.
Investment agreements: A new threat to health and TRIPS flexibilities?
30-Jun-2013 South Centre
Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) may be a threat to access to medicines as shown by a recent legal suit by a drug multinational against Canada for invalidating a patent, writes Carlos Correa
US cut of trade privilege angers Bangladesh
28-Jun-2013 AJE
Bangladesh has criticised the decision by the United States to cut trade privileges in the wake of a deadly garment factory collapse, insisting it had taken concrete action to improve safety.
US suspends trade benefits for Bangladesh over safety
28-Jun-2013 Reuters
President Barack Obama cut off long-time US trade benefits for Bangladesh on Thursday in a mostly symbolic response to conditions in the country’s garment industry that have cost more than 1,200 lives in the past year.
US-ASEAN businessmen lobby Indonesia on TPP
28-Jun-2013 Jakarta Post
US businessmen grouped under the United States-ASEAN Business Council are seeking ways to access the Southeast Asian market, which its population of 620 million, through a Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Canada, India conclude latest EPA talks
28-Jun-2013 Tax News
Canada and India have concluded an eighth round of talks toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the the Canadian Government saying that it has identified core economic opportunities in India in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure and education sectors.
Mozambique and Japan pen investment treaty
28-Jun-2013 This is Africa
Japan signs its first bilateral investment treaty with a sub-Saharan African country, aimed at increased Japanese investment flows into Mozambique’s infrastructure, agriculture and agri-processing and sectors.
China, ROK agree to push for completion of free trade pact
28-Jun-2013 Xinhua
China and Korea, during talks held Thursday between Presidents Xi Jinping and Park Geun-hye, agreed to push for the completion of a bilateral free trade agreement.
Australia’s Rudd urges China to act on trade deal
28-Jun-2013 Reuters
Australia’s newly reinstalled Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged China - the country’s largest trading partner - to conclude the stalled bilateral free trade deal
Free trade with Switzerland seen
28-Jun-2013 BusinessWorld
A possible free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and Switzerland may push through as the two countries are set to sign a separate agreement creating a commission to lower tariffs and increase trade.
Ecuador waives US trade rights over Edward Snowden asylum request
27-Jun-2013 Reuters
Ecuador said it was waiving preferential rights under a US trade agreement to demonstrate its principled approach to the asylum request of former American spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.
Le Honduras et le Pérou font un pas vers un traité de libre échange
27-Jun-2013 Le Courrier d’Espagne
Le Honduras et le Pérou font un pas vers la signature d’un Traité de libre échange en créant un conseil patronal pour développer les relations commerciales entre les deux pays.