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India, EU finalise give-&-take in FTA
22-Nov-2011 Business Standard
Negotiations for the ambitious India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) is on in “full steam” and in the final stages of “give-and-take”, even as the euro zone crisis has gripped all its 27 member-countries.
Malaysia hopes to sign several FTAs by end-2012
22-Nov-2011 Bernama
Malaysia is actively participating in free trade agreement negotiations and is optimistic of signing several FTAs by end-2012, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
Seoul votes a chaotic yes to free trade with US
22-Nov-2011 NY Times
Members of President Lee Myung-bak’s governing party, coughing from tear gas sprayed by an opposition legislator, rammed a free-trade agreement between South Korea and the United States through Parliament on Tuesday, ratifying a deal that has sharpened a political divide between the government and the opposition and between big business and voters unhappy with deepening economic inequality.
Korea’s National Assembly Ratifies KORUS FTA
22-Nov-2011
Korean lawmakers ratified the long-pending Korea-United States free trade agreement Tuesday afternoon, about 50 days after the US Congress approved the deal.
As confrontation looms, GNP calls for ISD clarification from DP
22-Nov-2011
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) placed pressure on the Democratic Party on Monday to state how it would respond if a written agreement for investor-state dispute (ISD) provision renegotiations for the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) were received from the South Korean and U.S. trade officials.
Amendment to Panama FTA appendix approved
22-Nov-2011
The legislature yesterday approved an amendment to the appendix of the Taiwan-Panama free-trade agreement (FTA) allowing Panama to take full control of quota-setting and granting zero-tariff status to all in-quota sugar exports to Taiwan.
Presidential office welcomes parliamentary approval of U.S. FTA
22-Nov-2011
South Korea’s presidential office welcomed the parliamentary approval of the free trade agreement with the United States, saying the government will continue to come up with support measures for farmers and others.
Different trade agreements will not divide ASEAN: RI
21-Nov-2011
Despite different stances on the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact, Southeast Asian nations will stay together to consolidate trade deals they already have with six partner countries to boost trade within the group, an Indonesian official says.
ASEAN’s free trade links with US gain prominence
21-Nov-2011
President Barack Obama’s presence at the East Asia trade summit in Bali has reinforced US efforts to engage with Asia.
Cigarette plain packaging laws pass Parliament
21-Nov-2011
The Federal Government’s plain packaging laws for cigarettes have now passed both houses of Parliament but are facing their first legal challenge.
Sadc, EAC, Comesa free trade talks begin in December
20-Nov-2011
First round of negotiations to establish the $1 trillion Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) covering 27 countries in eastern and southern Africa are scheduled to start next month, the head of the taskforce spearheading the process has said.
Trade pact with South Africa Customs Union by next year
20-Nov-2011
India is expected to sign the much-awaited preferential trade agreement (PTA) with South Africa Customs Union (SACU) by the first quarter of 2012, as both sides are currently engaged in active negotiations on seeking greater access of each others’ markets and easier movement of professionals.
Beware the limits of latest free trade deal
20-Nov-2011
Despite claims to the contrary by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the nine-country Trans-Pacific Partnership announced this week is not good news for Australia.
Japan reneges on JPEPA commitment
19-Nov-2011
The local automotive industry has asked the government to remind Japan of its commitment to bring in fresh investments into the Philippines under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.
Harper government should heed calls for freer trade in dairy, poultry
19-Nov-2011
The Harper government should bite the political bullet and agree to start dismantling the controversial supply-management system for dairy, poultry and egg farmers to boost Canada’s access to robust Asia-Pacific markets, analysts said Wednesday.
Mercosur is not moving but Uruguay “will not stay put licking its wounds”
19-Nov-2011
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica said that Mercosur “is not moving forward or backwards” but is certainly working much better than the European Union where old experienced nations “made a mess of it”. Nevertheless, Uruguay will not stay put “licking its wounds”, it will look for other trade links.
PM sets March 2012 deadline for services FTA with Asean
19-Nov-2011
There are few places in Southeast Asia that carry as deep an imprint of India’s civilisational links as Bali, a majority Hindu island in a country that has the world’s largest Islamic population.
Discussions Start On Industrial Policy
19-Nov-2011
The country’s draft policy on industrialisation is finally ready for public discussion after years of private sector grousing over its absence and the consequent devastating effects on Namibia’s overall market competitiveness.
Botswana stands to lose billions in SACU revenues
19-Nov-2011
The global economic crisis, along with other evolving structural factors within SACU, could cut a P5-billion permanent hole in revenues that Botswana receives from the customs union, the IMF estimates.
U.S. has never agreed to detrimental FTA revision: study
19-Nov-2011
An examination of past free trade agreements ratified by the United States showed there have been no post-ratification amendments detrimental to the United States.