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Ibsa partners boost trade, gird themselves for global crisis
3-Nov-2011
South Africa is achieving significant success in trade with its Ibsa part- ner countries, India and Brazil, President Jacob Zuma highlighted at a press conference in Pretoria last week. (South Africa hosted the fifth Ibsa Dialogue Forum summit on October 17 and 18.)
Sacu-Mercosur Pta Gets Cautionary Thumbs-Up
3-Nov-2011
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Tjekero Tweya, tabled a motion in Parliament on Thursday for the ratification of a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and South America’s trade bloc, called the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).
Timing may be everything in TPP
3-Nov-2011
As emerging Asian economies facilitate growth in the region and increasingly stand out as important players in global trade, the United States appears intent on getting its own share of the pie in the form of taking a leadership role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade framework.
Ruling party rules out using speaker’s authority for FTA vote
3-Nov-2011
The floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Wednesday opposed using the Assembly speaker’s authority to pass the long-pending free trade deal with the United States on the floor, saying a unilateral passage would cause distrust in party politics.
As Pak finally relents, MFN to boost India ties
2-Nov-2011
Pakistan on Wednesday approved a proposal granting India the status of “most favoured nation” which would pave the way for direct import and export of goods and services. Textile, automobile and auto component trade through the land route with easier tariffs and quota restrictions are a distinct possibility.
Czechs could delay EU trade deal over visa issue
2-Nov-2011
The Czech government is indicating it could delay the ratification of a Canada-EU free trade agreement, a deal that would be larger in scope than the North American Free Trade Agreement, if the Canadian government doesn’t scrap a visa requirement it imposed on Czech citizens in 2009.
In Japan, possible free trade deal comes with an argument
1-Nov-2011 Washington Post
In an upscale neighborhood where Japanese buy their handbags and smartphones, furious farmers drove their tractors down the main road last week in their latest protest against a controversial regionwide free-trade pact.
Final KORUS FTA battle centers on investor-state dispute provision
1-Nov-2011 Hankyoreh
Korea’s Democratic Party says ISD could harm socially vulnerable groups as the Grand National Party opposes measures that will require agreement from US Congress
Imminent FTA action
31-Oct-2011
Few would be surprised if the ruling Grand National Party resorted to its majority power to ram the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement bill through the National Assembly at any time. The GNP must believe it has accumulated enough justification to do so while the main opposition party has weak logic to ask for public support for its rejection of the bill. Rep. Chung Dong-young is in the center of the DP’s illogical and unreasonable behavior in the KORUS FTA tussle.
Free-trade agreement between the European Union and Canada: CORPORATIONS MUST NOT MAKE THE LAW
31-Oct-2011
We, the undersigned unions and civil society organizations, ask our political leaders to stopimmediately the current negotiations for a free-trade agreement between the European Union and Canada. This agreement, called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), would encourage the privatization of the public sector, weaken and prevent social, health and environmental regulations, and protect even more investors’ rights at the expense of democratic rights.
FTA clash looms
31-Oct-2011 Hankyoreh
In South Korea, the ruling and opposition parties are now braced for physical clashes over KORUS FTA ratification.
A total lack of transparency
28-Oct-2011 Canadian Lawyer
Why responsible companies and governments should avoid the revised ICC Rules in arbitrations involving states.
11 million signatures gathered in Japan against free trade pact
27-Oct-2011 DPA
Japanese farmers groups submitted 11.67 million signatures to the government Monday on a petition opposing Japan’s participation in trade liberalization talks with other Pacific Rim countries.
Reformist Japan farmers urge free trade to spur change
27-Oct-2011 Reuters
With farmers like Saito outnumbered by those who fear opening up Japan’s farm market, Prime Minister Noda must face down opposition inside his Democratic Party of Japan if he is to tell US President Barack Obama that Tokyo wants to join the talks when they meet at a Nov. 12-13 Asia-Pacific summit in Hawaii.
Japanese farmers protest against possible trade pact
26-Oct-2011 Reuters
Thousands of Japanese farmers marched through central Tokyo on Wednesday to push the government not to join a regional free trade pact that will likely hit the nation’s small farmers.
Canada-EU trade agreement a threat to family farms
26-Oct-2011 Redeye
Terry Boehm, president of Canada’s National Farmers Union, says this agreement is not about trade, it’s about a fundamental restructuring of the role of governments and their ability to act in the public’s interest.
Anti-TPP rallies around Japan
26-Oct-2011 NHK
Agricultural and medical groups in Japan have held rallies to oppose the country’s participation in the talks for a free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region.
Seoul inches closer to KORUS FTA endorsement
26-Oct-2011 Korea Times
Seoul has inched closer to endorsing the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA), with the ruling camp pushing to make it a done deal by the end of the month despite resistance from the opposition parties.
Free trade triumvirate next coup for NZ
26-Oct-2011 NZ Herald
After China and Hong Kong, New Zealand will now seek a free trade agreement with Taiwan
Tar sands and the CETA
25-Oct-2011 CCPA
The recent decision by the European Union (EU) to disregard Canadian government pressure and forge ahead with regulations that recognise the higher green-house-gas intensity of fuel produced from tar sands and oil shale is encouraging