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EU-India deal could spell disaster
16-Dec-2011 IPS
As the Eighth Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation kicked off in Geneva this week, a group of NGOs exposed the devastating potential of a free trade agreement currently being negotiated between the European Union and India. If passed, they say the deal would make a mockery of all WTO rules and regulations.
STOP TPPA negotiations
15-Dec-2011
Sign on to reach the goal of 25,000 signatures before 26 December 2011
EU agrees to start trade negotiations with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia
15-Dec-2011 EIN
The European Commission welcomes today’s decision of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to authorise the opening of trade negotiations with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia as soon as the necessary preparatory process is completed.
Tensions grow ahead of EU-Ukraine summit
15-Dec-2011 Euractiv.com
Days before a crunch EU-Ukraine summit on 19 December, Kyiv is under increased pressure as Brussels urges its leaders to release political prisoners and Russia moves to take control of its gas pipeline network, diplomats told EurActiv.
Taiwan, New Zealand move closer to trade pact: MOFA
15-Dec-2011 Taiwan News
Taiwan and New Zealand are taking the next step in their efforts to sign a bilateral economic cooperation agreement (ECA), moving now to a second feasibility study
NGO asks European Commission not to push India to accept IP provisions in EU-India FTA
15-Dec-2011 PharmaBiz
As the 14th round of negotiations on the EU-India free trade agreement is held in Delhi, an NGO working in the health sector has urged the European Union not to push India to accept IP provisions in the deal
Pacific trade negotiators urged to create a path for Japan role
15-Dec-2011 Bloomberg
Negotiators from nine Pacific nations seeking a trade agreement should create a path for countries including Japan to join eventually, most likely after an initial accord is reached, Representative Kevin Brady said.
Labor, environmental activists to protest World Bank’s CAFTA tribunal
15-Dec-2011 AFL-CIO
Tomorrow, the AFL-CIO will join the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and activists from a range of labor and environmental groups to converge on the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., for a noon protest in opposition to a CAFTA case being brought against the Salvadoran government by Pacific Rim.
Lawmaker urges US pursue trade pact with Egypt
15-Dec-2011 Reuters
A top Republican lawmaker urged President Barack Obama’s administration on Wednesday to pursue trade talks with Egypt to help shape the nascent democracy after a tumultuous year.
Canada and Japan explore bilateral trade deal
15-Dec-2011 Reuters
Canada and Japan have agreed to decide soon whether to negotiate a bilateral economic partnership agreement, and Canada also aims to complete a free trade agreement with India by 2013, government officials said on Wednesday.
Study: Pact with EU to lead to poorer health services
15-Dec-2011
A study done by research group IBON showed that a free trade deal with the European Union (EU) will lead to poorer access to health services and more unaffordable medicines as well as undermine government revenues including public health spending.
Noda to prod ROK on FTAs
15-Dec-2011
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will likely urge South Korean President Lee Myung Bak to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two countries plus China, when Lee visits Tokyo this weekend, top Democratic Party of Japan policymaker Seiji Maehara said Wednesday.
Partnership deal on track; bilateral trade pact next?
14-Dec-2011
The Philippines is not ready to commit to negotiations but is still “very serious” about pursing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union, seen as a major export market and investment partner.
Peru-Panama FTA to come into force in 1Q 2012
14-Dec-2011
Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Jose Luis Silva on Wednesday said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with Panama will come into effect in the first quarter of 2012 after being approved by the National Assembly of said Central American country on Tuesday.
Occupy Seoul activists rally against neoliberalism on day of action
14-Dec-2011 Socialist Worker Online
Occupy Seoul has helped to revitalise the campaign against the neoliberal Korea-US Free Trade Agreement
PJEPA review reset to January
14-Dec-2011 Manila Bulletin
Negotiations for the general review of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, originally scheduled this month, have been moved to January next year.
MOIT: Russia considers FTA with Vietnam a breakthrough in Asean
14-Dec-2011 VietnamNet
Vietnam has agreed to kick off the negotiation for FTA with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in 2012
Harper’s attempt to quietly sign the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union
14-Dec-2011 CKUT
An audio report from a protest against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Quebec City
Turkey mulls suspension of free trade agreement with Syria
13-Dec-2011 Xinhua
Turkey’s Economy Ministry has drafted a decree on suspension of free trade agreement with Syria amid ongoing bilateral diplomatic friction, Turkish semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Friday.
Thousands of Koreans stage street protest against free trade deal with US
13-Dec-2011 Yonhap
Thousands of people rallied in downtown Seoul Saturday in protest of a free trade agreement (FTA) South Korea has signed with the United States, arguing that it unfairly favors Washington.