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Another non-report on human rights and free trade with Colombia
5-Jul-2013 Ottawa Citizen
On June 14th, the Canadian government quietly tabled its second report on the human rights impacts of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The report avoids any examination of the impact of Canadian investment — including oil, gas and mining – in Colombia.
Large protest rallies held in Busan over Korean FTA talks with China
5-Jul-2013 Busan Haps
There was a lot of tension in connection with the Korea-China FTA negotiations being held for three days in Busan this week. Rallies of opposition groups including farmers coincided with a visit from the Chinese trade delegation.
S. Korean farmers hold massive rally against FTA with China
5-Jul-2013 Yonhap
Thousands of South Korean farmers and fishermen rallied Tuesday to oppose a potential free trade deal with China as the two countries kicked off a new round of negotiations to tear down trade barriers between two of Asia’s biggest economies.
Korea: Farmers seek edge to prosper from China FTA
5-Jul-2013 Korea Herald
With Korean and Chinese policymakers due to wrap up the sixth round of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two countries in Busan on Thursday, thousands of agriculture workers from across the country have been marching through the city in protest.
Regional trade agreement more lopsided against Pacific
4-Jul-2013 Scoop
In the middle of July, Pacific Island Trade Ministers will meet in Samoa with their Australian and New Zealand counterparts to discuss whether or not to expand the negotiations of PACER-Plus to include services and investment, reports the Pacific Network on Globalisation.
TDM call for papers: "Reform of investor-state dispute settlement: In search of a roadmap"
4-Jul-2013 TDM
Transnational Dispute Management are pleased to announce a forthcoming special issue: "Reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement: In Search of A Roadmap."
Will European requirements for labeling GMO foods survive new trade negotiations?
4-Jul-2013 Huffington Post
Will US trade negotiators seek the elimination of GMO restrictions in Europe through the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership?
EU envoy prods Canada to finalize free trade deal
4-Jul-2013 Canadian Press
European access for Canadian beef still a sticking point
Fading trade timelines
4-Jul-2013 Business Standard
The timelines for a possible India-Europe bilateral trade and investment agreement are getting tight with both sides supposedly failing to close the deal on some critical issues.
Freeing trade between South Africa and Nigeria
4-Jul-2013 IPS
If a Free Trade Area were negotiated between Africa’s two largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, it would have a powerful effect across the sub-continent. However, there are concerns that such an FTA would give one-sided benefits to the South Africans.
Next round of EU-Malaysia FTA talks to resume in Q4, says envoy
4-Jul-2013 Bernama
The next round of negotiations on the EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement is expected to resume in the fourth quarter, says Ambassador & Head of Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, Luc Vandebon.
US pork industry counting on bilateral FTAs
4-Jul-2013 Whotv.com
The US pork industry has been restricted from exporting pork to the EU, the seocnd largest consumer group after China, through various tariff and non-tariff trade barriers that it wants to see eliminated
Trade secrets – Draft EU documents reveal trade agenda with US
3-Jul-2013 IATP
The only way civil society groups find out about trade negotiations are through one-way conversations or leaked negotiating documents. One such text came our way over the weekend, a set of position papers summarizing some of the EU’s initial goals on regulatory harmonization, writes IATP.
EU-US FTA (TTIP) - EU initial position papers (June 2013)
3-Jul-2013 IATP
Initial position papers from the Commission dated 20 June 2013 and leaked by IATP
Obama’s Africa trip bolsters US interests
3-Jul-2013 Al Jazeera
One major US-Africa issue was unresolved as Air Force One left Tanzania’s tarmac: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a tariff-free trade deal that was devised during Clinton’s administration and expires in 2015, writes James Reinl for Al Jazeera.
Philip Morris International welcomes decision by World Bank tribunal to hear treaty challenge to Uruguay’s excessive tobacco measures
3-Jul-2013 National Post
Philip Morris International (PMI) welcomed the decision by a World Bank arbitration tribunal to hear a claim that Uruguay violated multiple provisions of its Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Switzerland.
Japan Tobacco said it sued Thailand over health warnings
3-Jul-2013 Bloomberg
Japan Tobacco Inc., Asia’s biggest listed cigarette maker, sued the government of Thailand over a plan to increase the size of health warnings on cigarette packages, claiming the move is unconstitutional.
Trans-Pacific trade deal threatens access to affordable medicines
3-Jul-2013 MSF
As host to both the AIDS conference and TPP trade talks this month, Malaysia reportedly vows to reject a TPP trade agreement that harms access to medicines; other countries should follow suit, and Malaysia should be held to its pledge
Regional free trade agreement with Mexico enters into force
2-Jul-2013 Tico Times
A free trade agreement between Central America and Mexico entered into force this week, the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX) reported on Monday.
What are BITs, FTAs and the TPPA?
2-Jul-2013 Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia should learn from Peru’s experience and be most cautious about signing any BITs or FTAs that a company like Lynas may later use against Malaysia.