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The Wrong Way to Free Trade
25-Jul-2011
Late last week, a longstanding debate over free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama — deals that were negotiated under President George W. Bush but never finalized — stalled once again. President Obama supports the agreements, but only if more retraining for workers is part of the deal, a condition Republican leaders are resisting.
Clinton terms Korea-US FTA ’model agreement’
25-Jul-2011
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that the country’s free trade deal with South Korea is a "model agreement" for the world’s largest economy.
Exporters urged to use lower tariffs under free trade deal
25-Jul-2011
Filipino exporters are encouraged to take advantage of reduced tariffs under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) to increase their exports of goods and services to Australia, the world’s 13th largest economy.
Caution needed on EU free trade
25-Jul-2011
Free trade talks between Canada and the European Union are well on the way to a successful outcome, according to officials in Ottawa. There are still points of disagreement that could derail the process, but it seems probable that in the next 24 months, a deal will be done.
Local CETA water concerns linger
25-Jul-2011
The Harper government says it’s successfully concluded an eighth round of free trade negotiations with the European Union, and despite reassurances from provincial, and recently federal, government officials that water is not on the bargaining table, several Sea to Sky residents are extremely concerned.
Govt urged to put marble products in FTA with China
25-Jul-2011
All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association (APMMPIEA) demanded the government make semi-processed/un-finished tiles, slabs, some marble and granite and onyx products, part of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.
EU/Mercosur agreement: “too much fear from both sides”
25-Jul-2011 MercoPress
A trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union would significantly expand European investment given the increase in bilateral trade, but ‘there’s too much fear from both sides’, according to Adrian van den Hover head of international relations for Business Europe.
Impact Assessment of CETA IPR chapter
25-Jul-2011 ULB
CETA IPR chapter will likely have a slight positive effect on specific industries in the EU, such as agri-food companies using geographical indications. It would also benefit the Canadian publishing industry and the innovative pharmaceutical industry. At the same time, an IPR chapter in CETA could lead to notable negative effects in Canada, for example via higher prices on educational and pharmaceutical products.
Free trade agreement will help boost UAE-India economic ties
22-Jul-2011
A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UAE would help increase bilateral trade flow between the two countries, a top Non-Resident Indian businessman said.
Trading our future: Tax cheating and the Panama free trade agreement
22-Jul-2011 Huffington Post
From World War II until NAFTA, US trading policies were based on geopolitical needs and what would increase prosperity for America. Since NAFTA, however, the mantra of free trade has been warped to generate rights for international capital and nothing else.
Negotiations over Dhaka-Washington TECF deal to be concluded soon
22-Jul-2011 Financial Express
In Bangladesh, the Prime Minister’s Office has asked the ministry of commerce to expedite the process of negotiations with the United States to finalise the proposed Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum deal immediately, sources said.
Key talks up TPP free trade deal in US
22-Jul-2011
Prime Minister John Key is trying to drum up enthusiasm for a free trade deal on his visit to the United States.
Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations On Track
21-Jul-2011
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations are ongoing while efforts are at an advanced stage to consolidate and harmonise market access arrangements for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), reported Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Tjekero Tweya in Parliament last Thursday.
Colombia FTA: violence, potential job losses hang over deal
21-Jul-2011 Huffington Post
How will the US-Colombia free trade agreement affect Colombians? Opinions from a sugar cane worker, shop steward and a Colombian labor expert.
The tripartite FTA - Snags in Africa’s grand plan
21-Jul-2011
At the Chirundu border, along the north-south transport corridor between Zimbabwe and Zambia, commercial trucks used to wait five days to get clearance. Now, they can get through in a matter of hours.
WTO Chief Blasts Small Pacts, Says They Hamper Global Opportunities
21-Jul-2011
The World Trade Organization’s chief on Wednesday took aim at the growing number of small free-trade deals being signed among the group’s 153 member nations, saying such deals could limit opportunities with countries outside the group.
Free-trade agreements said to be delayed by Obama amid worker-aid dispute
21-Jul-2011 Bloomberg
President Barack Obama will delay sending free-trade agreements to Congress until lawmakers return from an August recess as a dispute with Republicans over a worker-aid program remains unresolved, according to people familiar with the decision.
Free trade is not what Africa needs, Mr Cameron
20-Jul-2011
On his trip to South Africa yesterday, David Cameron talked of the need to go beyond debt cancellation and aid "to make African free trade the common purpose of the continent". He lamented there has never once been "a march or a concert to call for … an African free trade area". He pointed to the need for more inter-African trade to facilitate the growth that would mean "businesses growing, new jobs on offer, families on the up, living standards transformed".
Free trade jitters in region
20-Jul-2011
An indigenous group from the Northeast today added steam to the dissent against the European Union-India Free Trade Agreement demanding transparency in the talks which have been held under “secrecy” for the last four years.
Opposition party suggests new proposal on FTA with US
20-Jul-2011
The main opposition Democratic Party confirmed Tuesday its “10+2 negotiation proposal” for the free trade agreement with the U.S., or 10 items needing renegotiations and two others items that involve supplementary measures.