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European officials consulted business leaders on trade pact
Long before trade negotiations began with the United States this summer, European officials were consulting with business leaders from both sides of the Atlantic on how to structure a free-trade pact.
Hoffa: Secret US-Euro backroom trade talks are more of the same
An article in today’s New York Times details how corporate leaders met last year with European officials on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) months before trade negotiations officially began.
Malaysia can still walk away from TPPA, says analyst
Malaysia is still able to walk out from the contentious Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, says RAM Holdings group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng
Australia: All eyes on China FTA
Ongoing regulatory uncertainty and political friction towards investment in Australian agribusiness by foreign state-owned entities could jeopardise plans to conclude Australia’s stalled free trade agreement (FTA) with China over the next year.
Calm before the storm? Secretive TTIP talks on hold
Thanks to the unexpected government shutdown in the US, this week’s Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks have been postponed. Nevertheless, the EU Trade Commissioner Karl De Gucht said that this “in no way distracts from our overall aim of acheiving an ambitious trade and investment deal”, though the duration of the US government shutdown remains unclear.
APRN calls on governments to drop destructive free trade deal
The Asia Pacific Research Network calls on participating governments to drop the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement altogether after they failed to sign an agreement at the sidelines of the APEC talks in Bali, Indonesia.
RI, Japan agree to renegotiate economic partnership deals
Indonesia and Japan have agreed to renegotiate their economic partnership agreements amid growing concern that the deals had failed to benefit both parties equally.
Ecuador establishes commission to audit investment treaties
Ecuador has established a special commission to audit bilateral investment treaties, or BITs, signed with different countries and by several governments, the country’s Foreign Minister said.
Thailand: Assembly of the Poor demanding Thai-EU FTA Talk must not restrain freedom of seed
Over 100 farmers from Assembly of the Poor gathered in front of Thai Government House in Bangkok late September in a campaign action to scrutinize the implications for farmers’ seeds of the second round of Thai-EU FTA negotiations going on in Chiangmai
US trade official says to seek TPP deal by year-end
World trade ministers may discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization meeting that starts on Dec. 3, with a goal of reaching a deal by year-end.
Protest against APEC by Gerak Lawan in Indonesia
The Indonesian civil society movement coalition, Gerak Lawan, held a protest on 7 October 2013 in front of the Ministry of Finance as a symbol of the struggle against the liberalization agenda in Indonesia.
TTIP: Health sector braced for ’damage control’
While EU-US trade talks are expected to generate great economic benefits on both sides of the Atlantic, the impact of a trade agreement on the EU’s healthcare systems will surely be negative, experts warn.
India-ASEAN trade pact on services by year-end
India and the 10-nation ASEAN are set to formally sign a free trade agreement on services and investments by the end of 2013 and implement the ambitious agreement by July 2014, a top official said Monday.
US Commerce Secretary pledges TPP transparency, but not now
US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker defended the secrecy of the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks on Sunday, responding to questions from Indonesian reporters on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali.
Amid shutdown, US cancels trade talks with the EU
Trade talks between the United States and the European Union set for next week have been nixed because of the government shutdown.
EU-US trade deal will lead to a race to the bottom where only big business wins, warns new report
As the second round of negotiations on the proposed EU-US trade agreement kick off in Brussels next week, a new report published by the Seattle to Brussels Network today reveals the true human and environmental costs of an EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Asia-Pacific heads to hash out trade deal as clock ticks
Asia-Pacific leaders will seek momentum on talks for a sweeping 12-nation trade pact when they meet in Bali in coming days, trying to overcome concessions sought by countries that threaten to further delay completion.