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FTA talks between Vietnam, EU almost stalled
19-May-2011 VNN
The progress in negotiations over a free trade agreement between Vietnam and EU has almost ground to a halt since senior officials of both sides early last year agreed to start the talks.
Business world wrings hands over TPP delay
19-May-2011 Yomiuri Shimbun
Business circles are increasingly worried a delay in Japan’s entry into the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact would exacerbate the hollowing out of domestic industries.
28 Senators write Obama urging strong IP chapter in Trans Pacific Partnership
19-May-2011 infojustice
A group of 28 US Senators has written President Obama urging his administration to include “the highest level of IP protections” in the Trans Pacific Partnership.
The Push for a Single Unified North American Regulatory Regime
18-May-2011 Be Your Own Leader
The proposed Canada-U.S. trade and security perimeter agreement supports the process of deregulation. This new bilateral undertaking is being sold as vital to the safety and prosperity of both countries. A North American security perimeter goes well beyond keeping the U.S. safe from any perceived threats. It is a means to secure trade, resources and corporate interests. Much like the whole deep integration agenda, regulatory harmonization is taking incremental steps with the goal of achieving a single unified North American regulatory regime.
Kirk asks trade panel to investigate Guatemala labor rights
17-May-2011 Bloomberg
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk asked an international commission to investigate Guatemala’s alleged failure to enforce worker protections, the first labor case brought by the US against a trade-accord partner.
Signing of Peru FTA eyed for end of May
17-May-2011 Japan Times
Japan and Peru plan to sign a bilateral free-trade agreement around the end of this month during a visit to Japan by a Peruvian minister, according to sources in both governments.
Fears for FTA as Japan stalls on Pacific bloc: a US-backed trade group is heading for the ’too hard’ basket
17-May-2011 The Australian
Japan has finally admitted it will not be able to decide by next month whether it should join the emerging US-backed trade bloc, the Trans Pacific Partnership.
EU-Japan trade deal - rhetoric not reality
17-May-2011 PSE
Despite warm words about providing aid during Japan’s hour of need, substantial steps towards a free trade agreement with the European Union are unlikely to come out of the bilateral summit at the end of May, says Public Service Europe
Is America mis-thinking its 21st Century trade strategy?
17-May-2011 Vox
In the bilateral game, the US has enormous advantages – its huge market for imports, and its huge willingness to internationalise its supply chain via FDI, offshoring, etc. But it also has the big disadvantages – its agriculture and labour interests.
Groser optimistic about TPP progress
17-May-2011
Trade Minister Tim Groser is optimistic key elements of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement will be hammered out at a meeting of Apec trade ministers in the United States this week.
Free trade pact with EU likely to include auto
17-May-2011
India’s proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union could include tariff reduction on import of vehicles as well as automotive components.
Chiquita & the Colombia FTA — Murder in the interest of profit
17-May-2011 Huffington Post
Recent documents obtained by the National Security Archive at George Washington University from the US Justice Department show that Chiquita Brands International, in direct contradiction of the claims of both Chiquita and the US government for many years, made illegal payments to both guerrilla groups and then AUC death squads over the course of about 14 years in return for security from these groups.
GNP, Blue House stress urgency of passing FTA
16-May-2011
The ruling Grand National Party and the Blue House increasingly raised their voices yesterday to stress that Korea’s legislature should approve the long-pending Korea-U.S. free trade agreement before August.
White House threatens to hold up key trade deals
16-May-2011
The White House is threatening to hold up final passage of three coveted free trade agreements unless lawmakers expand retraining assistance for American workers who lose their jobs because of foreign competition.
FTA talks with EU and TPP progressing well, says Trade Minister Lim
16-May-2011
Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said Singapore’s negotiations for Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and the nine-member Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are progressing well since talks began last year.
MINBYUN calls for disclosure about KORUS FTA visas
16-May-2011
South Korean civic organization MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society filed an administrative lawsuit against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) on May 15, demanding that the ministry make public a letter on professional worker visa quotas that former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Hyun-chong is said to have received from the U.S. administration.
A trade pact with Bhutan
16-May-2011 Himalayan Times
Nepal and Bhutan will sign a trade agreement during the second joint secretary level meeting scheduled for May 24-25.
DTI seeks improved benefits from free trade agreements
16-May-2011 BusinessWorld
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry has started a series of consultations with the public and stakeholders on the possibility of a preferential trade agreement between the Philippines and the EU.
Japan should join TPP to boost reconstruction
16-May-2011 Yomiuri Shimbun
The government should promptly decide to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and implement bold agricultural reforms in the disaster-hit Tohoku region, writes the Yomiuri Shimbun
EU refines trade strategy
16-May-2011 Bangkok Post
With Asean FTA off the table, country-by-country talks are moving slowly, with some major sticking points