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Promoting women’s economic empowerment through gender responsive trade agreements experiences
This report is based on the research done by FEMNET to assess the extent to which trade arrangements between African countries and the European Union facilitate African women’s economic empowerment and realization of their economic rights.
US, Japan agree to negotiation on free trade agreement
The United States and Japan on Friday agreed on language aimed at giving Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe political cover to bring the world’s third-largest economy into negotiations on a US-led free trade agreement in the Asia Pacific region.
Cargill settles NAFTA dispute with Mexico
Cargill has reached a settlement with Mexico in a dispute that resulted in a $77 million arbitration award for the US agribusiness company
EU negotiator says Canada must give up more to get free-trade deal
Stark differences between Canada and the European Union in their free-trade talks came into focus Thursday when the EU’s chief negotiator said Canada isn’t offering enough concessions to conclude a deal.
Abe readying to announce Japan’s entry into TPP talks
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making final preparations to announce Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations after holding talks later Friday with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, government sources said.
Beyond tariffs: EU-EPA negotiations for Namibia
As the European Union economic partnership agreement negotiations gain momentum in southern Africa, countries which want to continue to benefit from EU market access will have to sign and fulfill obligations in line with the EPAs. If Namibia does not finalise a new EPA by 2016, it would fall under one of the schemes of the new Generalised System of Preference that affords it fewer trade concessions.
Libre-échange avec l’Europe: Ottawa doit modifier ses positions, dit Bruxelles
Le commissaire européen au Commerce de l’Union européenne (UE) dit espérer pouvoir conclure rapidement l’entente de libre-échange avec le Canada, mais que pour ce faire, Ottawa doit changer ses positions. Le commissaire n’a cependant donné aucun détail.
Trade Commissioner: EU to seek GIs in US FTA, but no new ACTA
EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht said he did not want to reopen the discussion on Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which he called “a nail to my coffin.” As long as there is no respective EU legislation with regard to copyright protection on the internet, he will not try to “bring it in through the backdoor,” he said.
Labor unions reject Colombia-South Korea FTA
The signing tomorrow of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Colombia and South Korea raised in Bogotá the rejection of the unions, which see it as an attack on the industry and the productive and agriculture sector.
Reko Diq saga: Balochistan wins again
Amidst continuing violence plaguing Balochistan, there is now a cause of joy for the Baloch people and the government.
Caricom maintains independence in external negotiations
The 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom) will be funding all future negotiations itself, according to Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. She recently informed the 65-seat National Assembly, current negotiations between Caricom and Canada for a Trade and Development Agreement are being funded by the region.
Pacific countries urged to weigh up EPAs
Pacific nations involved in negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union are being warned that while it’s important negotiations are soon concluded, it’s more important to get the right outcome.
Export flexibility with ROO
The rules of origin (ROO) in the context of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) provides Fijian exporters the maximum flexibility to export Fijian Made and Fijian Grown products into the European Union.
India seeks UK’s support to fast-track FTA with EU
India Tuesday sought Britain’s support for early conclusion of its much-discussed free trade deal with the European Union.
EPA talks at critical stage
The European Union has acknowledged the seriousness by both Fiji and her Pacific neighbors who are part of the African Caribbean and Pacific group to conclude negotiations into the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Investors running wild on land: the threats posed by international investment agreements
A recent briefing note by Traidcraft discusses the threats posed by current regulation of foreign investment in land highlighting that food security and other human rights concerns often come at the cost of excessive protection of foreign investors’ rights.
Plain packaging for cigarettes a legal minefield
Lawsuits are seen as the inevitable next step if plain packaging of cigarettes is brought in. The government will announce a decision on the matter in the next few days.
The EU’s free trade agreements – where are we?
Memo from the European Commission
EU Parliamentarians push RP FTA
Visiting EU Parliamentarians expect the bilateral free trade agreement between the Philippines and EU will be completed in one and a half years as the legislators urged for further opening of the domestic economy to shore up the country’s foreign direct investments and more trade.
Germany calls for sweeping EU-US free trade deal
German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler told Der Spiegel magazine on Sunday he and the German government want a sweeping free trade deal, while France and southern EU nations, by contrast, want to protect their agriculture industry with regulations and also keep out genetically modified US foodstuffs, the magazine said.