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India’s imports gained while exports grew negligibly from FTAs: ASSOCHAM study
After signing 15 regional and bilateral free trade agreements, India’s exports to these partner countries either stagnated or registered minimal growth, according to a study by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.
Putin expects Vietnam and CU to conclude agreement on FTA
Russian President Vladimir Putin set a task of doubling goods turnover in trade with Vietnam within six years. This was stated by the Russian Head of State in an article published by Vietnamese media on Monday ahead of Putin’s visit to Hanoi on November 12.
The Efta court clashes with Norway’s Supreme Court
Norway’s Supreme Court was wrong to rule that companies posting workers to the Norwegian shipbuilding industry must pay their travel, board and lodging expenses, argues the Efta Court’s President in a general attack on the Supreme Court. He accuses it of being disloyal to the EEA agreement and indicates the last word may still not been had.
Phl seeks flexibility on TPP membership
The Philippines may seek for flexibility from members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to be allowed to join the trade pact without having to amend the Constitution.
FTA needs sweetener
Local farmers need better access to sell sugar to American businesses and consumers for Australia to quickly accept a regional free trade agreement, Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has told his US counterpart.
Israeli investors seek damages from Hungary in international arbitration court
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), in Washington, DC, will hear a case by Israeli investors seeking more than 100 billion forints (EUR 337m) in damages from the state of Hungary because of a failed casino investment, daily Magyar Nemzet said on its website on Saturday.
Former vice president to push Taiwan’s TPP bid in Washington
Former Vice President Vincent Siew will lead a business delegation on a visit to the United States later this month to drum up support for Taiwan’s efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), according to Taipei’s representative office in the U.S Wednesday.
PH well positioned for free trade deal with EU
The Philippines is now in a position to start working on free trade agreements with the European Union, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport).
Thai-India FTA signing soon
Thailand and India are scheduled to sign their long-awaited comprehensive free-trade agreement (FTA) at the World Trade Organisation meeting next month after reaching an agreement on service-sector liberalisation.
CETA is more about corporate rights than free trade
Since announcing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) two weeks ago Harper’s Conservatives have repeatedly labelled those questioning the deal as “anti-trade”. But this Canada-European Union accord is one part trade and four parts ‘corporate bill of rights’.
Honduras accepts Canadian pork, beef, signs FTA
Honduras has granted full market access to Canada’s pork and beef as the two countries move to sign a new free trade pact.
Support early conclusion of FTA with GCC: India to Kuwait
India today urged Kuwait to support its efforts for early conclusion of talks for the proposed free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Stephen Harper says EU-style deal not possible with China
A sweeping trade deal similar to the tentative agreement Canada has with the European Union wouldn’t be possible with China, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday.
ASTEP increases bilateral investment, trade: minister
The economic partnership agreement between Taiwan and Singapore inked yesterday is likely to benefit manufacturing as well as to promote bilateral investment and trade, Economic Affairs Minister Chang Chia-juch (張家祝) said yesterday.
RBC and Capital Economics challenge Harper’s CETA claims
Harper’s slam-dunk argument for the Canada-European Union ’free trade’ agreement, often uncritically reported in the media, is that the ’Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement’ is key to Canada’s economic prosperity. The Canadian Press reports, "The government continues to quote a joint study on the impact, conducted five years ago, projecting a possible $12 billion boost to economic activity in Canada — $16 billion for the EU — and the creation of about 80,000 jobs. ...Trade Minister Ed Fast said that, if anything, the joint study underestimated the gains."
Firm Comesa Trade Laws Needed, Says Veep
Vice-President Guy Scott has said there is need to put in place a strong legal framework that will promote free and fair trade within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Govt to cough up Rs90m for ICSID case
The federal government, which is facing financial crisis and seeking loans from IMF and other financial institutes, is willing to pay Rs90 million to a Pakistani law firm to plead its case in an international court.
Plea to extend Comesa tariffs
Former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has asked the government to seek an extension of the Comesa safeguards to protect the local sugar industry from excessive imports from the Comesa region.
Inclusion of labour norms on the rise in FTAs: ILO study
As the world moves into a regime where free trade agreements (FTAs) govern 5.5 per cent of global trade compared with 0.6 per cent in 1995, a new ILO report finds a marked rise in inclusion of labour provisions in bilateral and regional pacts.
Commerce min says all’s well with FTAs
The ministry of commerce is under pressure to review its policy of signing foreign trade agreements (FTAs) with other nations as they have been seen to be having a negative impact on trade dynamics.