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Public forum on anti-people “trade” deal
13-Feb-2014 CPA
As the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement hurtles towards an indecently fast and secret finalisation between the states of 12 countries and a number of large transnational corporations, concerned citizens around the globe have been organising a resistance to this anti-democratic and anti-people “free trade” agreement.
Pacific Alliance to eliminate tariffs with new free trade agreement
13-Feb-2014 PanAm Post
On February 8-10, the Pacific Alliance holds its eighth summit in Cartagena, Colombia. During the event, the presidents of Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico will sign a free trade agreement to eliminate tariffs on 92 percent of trade goods between the countries. The notable exclusion is agriculture.
Talks on BIT require new template, US tells Pakistan
13-Feb-2014 Business Recorder
The United States has conveyed to the Pakistan Muslim League government that future negotiations on Bilateral Investment Treaty will be held on the basis of a new template as the old template lapsed in 2012.
European Trade Union: voters will sanction secret trade giveaways
13-Feb-2014 ETUC
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) today warned European decision makers that voters in the forthcoming European elections would be scrutinising EU trade arrangements, in particular the current negotiations with the United States, and "would not overlook" any deals that did not put European jobs and standards first.
The TTIP, corporatism, and GMOs
11-Feb-2014 Voltility
Opening up Europe to the full onslaught of US agricultural products and systems is the main goal of the US in pushing for TTIP in the first place.
India-SACU free trade agreement needs ‘fine-tuning’
11-Feb-2014
The increasing amount of trade between Namibia and India is expected to balloon even further once the India-Southern African Customs Union Preferential Free Trade Agreement is finalised.
‘Industry has been ruined by FTAs’
11-Feb-2014
The manufacturing sector in India has shrunk in the last two years, from 17 to 14.5 per cent of GDP. This is because of FTAs, due to which companies come and set up plants here, they don’t manufacture anything, they just assemble, says Baba Kalyani, chairman of the $2.5 billion Kalyani Group
Karkey files another $2.1b damages claim against Pakistan
11-Feb-2014
Karkey Karadeniz Electricity Production Corporation (Karkey) has filed a memorial to the World Bank’s International Centre for Investment Disputes (ICSID) claiming $2.1 billion damages against government of Pakistan.
Exporters ramp up push for S. Korea trade pact
11-Feb-2014
A wide array of manufacturing groups and companies is urging the federal government to reach a free-trade agreement with South Korea, warning Canada is being beaten by rivals in the race to do business with the fast-growing country.
Malaysia-Pakistan FTA to be reviewed by month-end, says Mustapa
11-Feb-2014
Malaysia and Pakistan will review the free trade agreement (FTA) between both countries by month-end, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
EU-Canada free trade deal ‘opens door to environmental lawsuits’
11-Feb-2014 EurActiv
Multinationals will have wide-ranging powers to sue EU states that enact health or environmental laws breaching their "legitimate expectations" of profit, according to a leaked ‘investment chapter’ from the Canada-EU free trade agreement. A separate ‘nature and scope’ document for EU-US free trade talks, which EurActiv has seen, makes clear that similar parameters are foreseen for TTIP.
EU seeks wider free trade agreement with Egypt
11-Feb-2014 Reuters
The European Union wants to restart talks with Egypt over a wider free trade deal that could help double the value of commercial exchanges in the next few years, the EU ambassador to Cairo said on Monday.
EU ready to lift duties on most US goods for trade pact
10-Feb-2014 Reuters
EU shows it’s keenness for TTIP by offering to lift nearly all tariffs on goods imported from the US.
Kenya steps up lobbying for sugar safeguards deal
10-Feb-2014
A technical team from the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism last week held a meeting with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Secretariat over the progress of the local sugar industry.
Diplomats of Belarus, Egypt discuss FTA between Egypt and CU
10-Feb-2014
Belarus’ Ambassador to Egypt Sergei Rachkov and Egypt’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Maghdi Radi have discussed a possibility to establish a free trade area (FTA) between Egypt and the Customs Union (CU) at a meeting in Egypt on 10 February, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
Is EAC at gunpoint over EU trade agreement?
10-Feb-2014 The New Times
There’s a strong feeling among experts in East Africa that by insisting on the inclusion of the "most favoured nation", the EU is holding the region at gunpoint to accept a clause that would legally tie their hands regarding who to trade with besides Europe.
Free trade deal with Japan took priority over whaling dispute, says Trade Minister Andrew Robb
10-Feb-2014 Sydney Morning Herald
Australia’s federal government has prioritised a free trade deal with Japan before a dispute between the two countries over whaling in the Southern Ocean, says Trade Minister Andrew Robb.
Jordan, EU urge more Arab states to join Agadir Agreement
10-Feb-2014 Jordan Times
Jordan and the European Union on Thursday called on Arab Mediterranean countries to join Agadir free trade agreement between the Kingdom, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.
EJN cautions ECOWAS over EPA
7-Feb-2014 Spy Ghana
After over 10 years of objecting to demands by the European Union in the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations, ECOWAS, last week, suddenly reversed its position and made serious and incomprehensible concessions to the EU.
Doubt over Canada-Caricom trade talks
7-Feb-2014 Trinidad Express
Negotiations on a trade agreement between Canada and Caricom countries have limped along for over five year and could fizzle out by the end of June—a “drop-dead” date now accepted by both sides.