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Vietnam, Customs Union kick off FTA talks
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission’s Board Viktor Borisovich Khristenko, on March 28, officially launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
EU-US FTA (TTIP) - EU negotiating mandate (draft Mar 2013)
On 13 March 2013, the EU Commission adopted a recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on a comprehensive trade and investment agreement, called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, between the EU and the US
Long line for big free-trade club
What is behind the current eagerness to sign free-trade agreements considering that the European Union and the United States also have their own behemoth in sight and what does China have to gain or lose from them?
India-EU FTA may be in jeopardy if April 15 meeting fails
The future of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and EU will now depend on a meeting between commerce minister Anand Sharma and EU trade commissioner Karl De Gucht at Brussels on April 15.
Closing free talks with deal to be harder than opening negotiations for SKorea, China, Japan
Progress toward a free trade zone that would be the world’s third largest could easily be interrupted by any flare-up in political tensions.
Final Push for a Canada-EU CETA and the Coming NAFTA-EU Free Trade Zone
Just like any of the other so-called next-generation trade and investment deals, CETA is based on the failed NAFTA model with the same false promises. These secretive and binding international agreements are not really about trade, but are in fact designed to reshape regulatory and policy frameworks to further increase the rights of corporations and investors.
EU-India FTA - IP chapter text (draft, date unknown)
Negotiating text on intellectual property for the EU-India FTA. It does not include Article 6 (patents) or have any text for Article 9 (GIs). Date unknown.
Moldova can sign free trade agreement with EU in no less than year
An agreement on Moldova’s admission to a free trade zone with the European Union (DCFTA) will be signed no sooner than a year’s time, Moldova’s Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar said at a Wednesday press conference.
New hospital in Shenzhen fails to impress Cepa critics
Critics of Hong Kong’s free-trade deal with the mainland maintained their reservations about the scheme as the first wholly Hong Kong-owned hospital in Shenzhen opened yesterday.
India-SACU PTA talks likely to conclude this year
India and South African nations are expected to conclude a preferential trade agreement by the end of this year, aimed at reducing tariffs on certain items traded between the two sides.
Indian pharma sector fears India-European Union FTA could imperil local industry
Drugmakers and healthcare activists are worried that the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is in the works, may contain a provision that could imperil local industry and have urged the government to keep patent infringement issues out of FTAs.
TPP declaration fuels other talks / European nations grow more eager to reach trade deals with Japan
Shinzo Abe’s recent announcement that Japan aims to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations has sparked life into other trade talks Japan has aimed to start, with those for an economic partnership agreement with the European Union the latest example.
Government moves to protect rooibos in EU — eight years on
A French company’s attempt to claim "rooibos" as its own intellectual property has galvanised the South African government into action to protect the term under its talks with Brussels over the EU-South Africa EPA.
See you in court: Russians may sue over Cyprus losses
Russian businesses and banks that face losses from the European Union’s bailout of Cyprus are considering legal action but may have a hard time making a case, say lawyers who are combing through treaties find strategies to recover funds.
Experts call for BRICS free trade pact
"BRICS should consider proposing a free trade agreement at the summit, regardless of whether it’s feasible right now," said Wang Junwen, chairman of the China Association of International Trade.
Amul requests for a relook at EU-India FTA
India’s largest dairy co-operative - Amul - has requested the commerce ministry to relook at the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.
Turkey demands place at table as part of FTA talks
Turkish economy minister said that Turkey needed a place at the table as part of free trade agreement talks between the European Union and the US.
How NAFTA, FIPA and other investment deals put democracy and the environment at risk
A US-funded energy firm, Lone Pine Resources, is using investor rights provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to challenge Quebec’s 2011 moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.
Government moves forward with plain packaging of tobacco products
There is a risk that tobacco companies will try and mount legal challenges against any legislation, as we have seen in Australia. The Government will wait and see what happens with Australia’s legal cases, making it a possibility that if necessary, enactment of New Zealand legislation and/or regulations could be delayed pending those outcomes.
Regional FTA quests playing off each other
Japan is entering a new stage in its pursuit of free-trade agreements as it begins bilateral and multilateral FTA negotiations involving its three major trade partners — the United States, the European Union and China.