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Lone Star is back in town, armed with the investor-state dispute system

5-Jun-2012
In a May 31 press release, the US private equity fund Lone Star said it was planning to request investor state dispute (ISD) arbitration for losses suffered due to "unlawful" interference by the South Korean government.

Provinces join forces to keep EU free-trade deal from upping drug costs
5-Jun-2012
The provincial premiers have undertaken a letter-writing campaign to demand compensation from the federal government for any increase in drug costs that might results from a free-trade agreement with Europe.
Central America and the EU - An asymmetric agreement
5-Jun-2012 IPS
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will face major challenges when the Association Agreement to be signed in late June with the European Union, including commitments on trade, political dialogue and cooperation, comes into effect.
Mongolia, Japan launch Economic Partnership Agreement talks
5-Jun-2012 Xinhua
Mongolia and Japan launched the first round of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on Monday.
Sugar quota stays, US assures PHL
4-Jun-2012
The United States has assured the Philippines it will not renegotiate sugar access with countries that have concluded free-trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States. Manila had feared that rival exporters would take advantage of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks to get a bigger slice of the world sugar market.
Malaysia-Bangladesh FTA on the cards
4-Jun-2012 Bernama
Malaysia and Bangladesh are expected to commence negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in the near future, said Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia, A.K.M. Atiqur Rahman.
Canada loses NAFTA battle to Exxon
4-Jun-2012 Globe and Mail
The case is a win for oil companies in their tug-of-war over revenues with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. But it also illustrates how Ottawa always ends up with the bill when provinces violate the terms of trade agreements that they didn’t sign.
Canadian miner’s complaint can proceed under El Salvador law
4-Jun-2012 Reuters
Canadian company Pacific Rim can move forward under El Salvador law with a case against that country’s government for blocking a gold mining project, but cannot file suit under a regional trade agreement, a World Bank arbitration panel ruled.
CSOs ambush Hannah Tetteh over EPA loose talk
1-Jun-2012
The Hannah Tetteh-led Ministry of Trade and Industry is pushing Ghana to sign up the ever-controversial Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the 27-member European Union (EU).
Don’t sell Africa back into slavery
1-Jun-2012
Europe has been knocking at the door of Africa in the last decade for Africa leaders to sign the so called Economic partnership Agreement. The partnership Europe has been touting substantially means perpetually subordinating raw-material producing Africa to the economic demands of hyper-industrialized Europe. This is consistent with the euro-America design formulated and religiously pursued since the 16th century.
Ensuring Free Trade Agreements don’t impede access to HIV treatments
1-Jun-2012
The UN’s top agency for HIV-AIDS has warned that million of lives could be at risk, if intellectual property and other trade agreements impede access to treatment.
Rushing to finish a global free-trade deal
1-Jun-2012 Businessweek
To avoid gridlock over a major free-trade pact, the US and eight other Pacific nations have told Japan, Canada, and Mexico to wait.
Trade Ministry allays fear over EPAs
1-Jun-2012
There are renewed calls on the Government to call the bluff of the European Union which is threatening sanctions if Ghana fails to finalize the Economic Partnership Agreement by 2014.
Craig Emerson certain FTA deal with Japan is close
1-Jun-2012
Momentum and political will on sealing the long-awaited free trade agreement with Australia are building in Japan, Trade Minister Craig Emerson said yesterday.
Analysis: The free trade pact that’s costing crude buyers
1-Jun-2012 Reuters
Buried in the small print of an obscure trade agreement between Europe and South Korea is a clause which is costing oil consumers around the world money.
EU ministers approve free trade deal with Colombia & Peru
1-Jun-2012 Bernama
European Union trade ministers Thursday approved the signing and provisional application of a multipartite free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru.
TIFA talks may resume by year end if beef row ends: official
1-Jun-2012 CNA
Vice Economics Minister Francis Liang said Thursday if Taiwan can resolve its beef dispute with the United States, the two sides will be able to resume talks this year under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
EU to negotiate FTA with Vietnam
1-Jun-2012 Tax News
The European Council finally gave the green light on May 31 for the European Commission to start negotiations with Vietnam on a free trade agreement.
Van Rompuy wants early start of Japan-EU FTA talks: Hatoyama
31-May-2012 Mainichi
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy plans to visit Japan in July for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in the hope of declaring a start of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday.
AIT denies tying beef to TIFA, visa waiver
31-May-2012 Taipei Times
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denied that the AIT was “menacing” Taiwan, as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) put it, by tying a resumption of trade talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to the US beef issue.