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Mercosur-China FTA could be "extraordinary", says Argentine FM
4-Sep-2011
Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman Saturday urged to boost the south American country ’s trade ties with China, saying a free trade agreement (FTA) between Beijing and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) could be "extraordinary".
China mulls free trade zone among SCO member states
3-Sep-2011 Xinhua
Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should consider setting up a free trade agreement which, once in place, would cover about three fifths of the Eurasia’s landmass.
Pacific’s Chief Trade Advisor resigns with a warning for Australia
2-Sep-2011 Radio Australia
The Pacific’s Chief Trade Advisor has resigned with a warning that unless Australia and New Zealand act soon to put something of value on the table for the PACER plus trade negotiations, the talks risk falling over.
Free Trade in Africa, For Better or Worse?
2-Sep-2011
It is not certain that an African free trade area will further regional integration or deepen the existing inequality between countries.
Capital controls and the Trans-Pacific Partnership
2-Sep-2011 IPS
US negotiators are hardliners against capital controls in current Trans-Pacific trade talks with eight other countries.
India plans to delete 48 apparel items from sensitive list to allow Bangladesh garment sector duty-free access
2-Sep-2011
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and chief ministers of eastern and northeastern states will push for a thaw in relations with Bangladesh by talking trade next week. And trade with Bangladesh invariably means textiles.
Rival parties agree to handle FTA with U.S. in same pace with U.S. Congress
2-Sep-2011
Rival parties agreed Thursday to begin the ratification process for the long-pending free trade agreement with the United States at the same pace with the U.S. Congress, officials said.
Chevron wins $96 million for 1990s Ecuador oil dispute
2-Sep-2011 Bloomberg
Chevron Corp., the second-largest U.S. energy company, said it won a $96 million judgment against Ecuador in an international arbitration case stemming from a 1990s oil-export dispute with the Latin American nation.
New trade agreement threatens Australia’s laws on medicines and tobacco
1-Sep-2011 Crikey
Australia leads the world in many areas of public health but the Federal Government could be negotiating our achievements away, according to Dr Patricia Ranald, Convenor, Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network
North Asia free-trade area agreement enormously beneficial but years away
1-Sep-2011 China Daily
A free-trade area among China, Japan and South Korea would bring enormous benefits to the regional economy, but it will take many years before such an agreement can be signed, officials and experts said on Wednesday.
Korea/US FTA: Washington source says US Congress have reportedly postponed voting on pact until October
1-Sep-2011 Arirang
According to an anonymous source in Washington Thursdaythe US House of Representatives has tentatively agreed to vote on the country’s three pending trade deals with Korea, Colombia and Panama in mid October.
Francine Raynault would like to reopen NAFTA
31-Aug-2011 L’Action
A Member of Parliament is reckoning bringing the case of Kruger before the Canadian Parliament.
No progress on access to European markets
31-Aug-2011 IPS
Weariness surrounds the negotiations on an Economic Partnership Agreement regulating trade access between Southern Africa and the European Union.
US rights to export variety of cheeses to Korea upheld
31-Aug-2011 NMPF
In June, the US and South Korean governments clarified that US cheese manufacturers will be able to continuing shipping to Korea a wide variety of cheeses of importance to the US dairy industry despite the EU-Korea FTA’s provisions on geographical indications
Poland looks to Ukraine for strategic depth
31-Aug-2011
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich arrived in Poland on Tuesday to meet with his Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski. The two leaders centered their discussion around Ukraine’s ongoing negotiations toward an association and free trade agreement with the European Union and ways that Poland can help facilitate this process.
Commerce secretary Rahul Khullar heads to LatAm in Panama and Colombia for FTA talks
31-Aug-2011
After shunning Latin America two years ago, the government is now seeking closer economic ties with the region as part of its initiative to diversify markets for Indian merchandise.
EU saw no need for 2002 trade deal
31-Aug-2011
The European Union had no interest in negotiating a freetrade agreement with Canada nine years ago, despite heavy lobbying from the federal government, according to a newly leaked diplomatic cable.
Liberalizing the economy may crush the culture of one small island
31-Aug-2011 Conducive Chronicle
Opening up the Korean market to cheap US citrus imports would simply wipe out most of the farm economy on Jeju Island.
Advancing US-Canada economic, energy and security integration
30-Aug-2011 Be Your Own Leader
At a news conference following her meeting with Minister Baird, Secretary Clinton stressed that, “it’s critical that we ensure our border remains a safe, vibrant connector of people, trade, and energy." It is interesting that Clinton brought up energy as this is also an intrical part of North American integration which is being further advanced through the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue, as well as other initiatives.
Chicago activists will protest Asia-Pacific trade deal
29-Aug-2011 Reuters
An umbrella group of activists opposed to a proposed U.S. trade deal with eight countries in the Asia Pacific region said Friday they aim to raise public awareness of its potential effects on jobs and the environment when negotiators meet next month in Chicago.