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Venezuela claims ICSID arbitration victory over Panama’s OPIC Karimun Oil Company
30-May-2013 Latin American Herald Tribune
Venezuela reported a triumph at the World Bank’s International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes in a case brought by Panama’s OPIC Karimun Corporation on compensation for losses it sustained when Venezuela nationalized oil fields in 2007.
Fisheries talks raise alarm
30-May-2013 The Telegram
Opposition politicians in Newfoundland and in Ottawa are expressing concern about potential fisheries industry giveaways at the negotiating table on Canada-Europe free trade talks, but the province’s fisheries union said Tuesday that fewer trade barriers would be a good thing.
Companies weigh in ahead of talks on free trade agreement
30-May-2013 Irish Independent
Lobbying by EU and US companies is accelerating as the two continents prepare to negotiate on an agreement that will form the world’s largest free trade union.
Colombia, Panama work toward free trade agreement
30-May-2013 AFP
Colombia and Panama started the seventh round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on May 28 and talks will last for four days, according to Panama’s Trade and Industry Ministry.
Food culture clash: EU, US conflicting concepts for GIs; both covet Asian market
30-May-2013 IP Watch
A US trade association is raising concerns about the US and EU imposing their own approaches to GIs through FTAs, partiuclarly in Asia
EU-Cameroon trade deal a threat to central African development
30-May-2013 Euractiv
Citing concerns over development and integration in Central Africa, GUE/NGL MEPs today voted against the ratification of an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Cameroon in Brussels.
China-Norway free trade talks nearing agreement
28-May-2013 SCMP
China and Norway are close to the "final stage" of negotiations for a free-trade agreement, after talks were suspended for about two years following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to dissident Liu Xiaobo.
South American Silver lands international arbitration funding agreement
28-May-2013 Mining Weekly
Vancouver-based South American Silver (SAS), which early in May filed for arbitration against the Bolivian government over the cancellation of mineral tenements in 2012, has entered into a privileged arbitration funding agreement with an international investment fund specialising in such proceedings.
Ministry hails ’remarkable’ gains from FTA with Switzerland
28-May-2013 China Daily
Up to 99.7 percent of Chinese exports to Switzerland will receive zero tariffs after the FTA becomes effective, Assistant Minister of Commerce Yu Jianhua said
Coup d’etat to trade seen in billionaire toxic lead fight
28-May-2013 Bloomberg
Most of La Oroya’s children suffer elevated lead levels, according to the Peruvian government. Parents say some have symptoms — consistent with lead poisoning — that include anemia, convulsions, stunted growth, mental retardation.
Regional consolidation, cross-regional tie-ups, or multilateralization of East Asian FTAs?
27-May-2013 Vox EU
So far, research on the impacts of free trade agreements in east Asia assume the full utilisation of preferences. This column argues that newer evidence suggests that this assumption is made in error: estimated uptake is particularly low in east Asia. If we assume a more realistic utilisation rate in estimating impacts, results suggest that actual utilisation rates significantly diminish the benefits from preferential liberalisation, but in a non-linear way. In the absence of Doha, the multilateralisation of preferences, even without reciprocity, is the practical route that is most likely to deliver the greatest benefits to WTO members.
LA social movements map solidarity with ALBA alliance
27-May-2013 GLW
An important summit of global significance, held in Brazil May 16-20, has largely passed below the radar of most media outlets, including many left and progressive sources.
Would TPP be good or bad to Vietnam’s agriculture?
27-May-2013 VietNamNet
Analysts have warned that Vietnam’s agriculture, which has been protected with the high import tariffs, would suffer from TPP once the import tariffs are removed
CARICOM-US to sign trade accord
27-May-2013 Jamaica Observer
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries will sign a trade investment framework agreement with the United States during the visit of Vice President Joe Biden to Trinidad and Tobago next week.
EU trade chief to seek investment pact with China
27-May-2013 SMCP
The European Commission will seek the support of EU governments to launch talks with China on an investment pact that could be a precursor to a free-trade deal if Brussels and Beijing can overcome growing tensions.
UAE and India to conclude Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement soon
27-May-2013 Gulf News
The UAE and India have agreed in principle to start negotiation on Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement and conclude it at the earliest during Indian Finance Minister P.Chidamabaram’s official UAE visit yesterday, a top Indian diplomat told Gulf News yesterday.
At trade talks, US, EU ready for fight on genetically modified crops
26-May-2013 Washington Post
Opposition to US agricultural practices is threatening to become a major battle in discussions starting next month that could sweep away trade barriers between the United States and Europe.
Turkey fears being left out in the cold by EU free trade deals
26-May-2013
Frustrated with the slow progress of its bid to join the EU, the rash of free trade pacts Brussels is negotiating that leave Turkey out in the cold has Ankara threatening to tear up its customs union agreement.
Unfair, unsustainable, and under the radar
26-May-2013 Democracy Center
A new paper from the Democracy Center sheds an urgent public light on the system of international investment rules and arbitration tribunals that is being used by corporations to undermine citizen and government action on a range of urgent social and environmental issues.
Japan to join KL’s TPP talks in July
25-May-2013
Negotiators working on a trade agreement among 11 Asia-Pacific nations have completed a 17th round of talks in Peru for the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership, and say Japan will join the talks when they reconvene in Malaysia in July.