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S. Korea reaffirms beef issue not on table in FTA talks
South Korea will risk indefinitely delaying the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the United States if Washington insists on an "unacceptable" demand that Seoul opens its market wider to US beef, a senior government official said Wednesday.
Farmers fear economic fallout from Pacific FTA
Japanese farmers voiced concerns Tuesday about the day’s decision by the Cabinet to begin consultations with the United States and other countries to forge a trans-Pacific free-trade agreement, saying further liberalization of trade would deal them a heavy blow.
Chrysler joins Ford against Korean pact
Chrysler today voiced its opposition – along with Ford – to passage of a free trade agreement between the US and Korea as written in 2007.
The new EU’s 2020 trade strategy will reinforce the policies responsible for the economic, social and environmental crises
Today the European Commission launched its new trade policy as a core component of the EU’s 2020 strategy, which will replace the 2006 Trade Strategy ‘Global Europe – competing in the world’ but has nothing new to add.
Arrêt des négociations sur un accord de libre-échange agricole - maintenant et définitivement
Le Parlement fédéral aura la possibilité de prendre une décision de planification, soumise au référendum, sur l’arrêt des négociations entre la Suisse et l’UE
Opposition DP opposes ratification of FTA with US
Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party voiced strong opposition Tuesday to the government’s move to revise the text of a free trade agreement signed between Korea and the United States in 2007 to ease environmental standards for American-made automobiles.
India favours trade-opening pact with US
Enthused by the success of US President Barack Obama’s visit, India on Tuesday said it is time to “seriously consider” a trade-opening agreement with America, similar to the ones entered with the ASEAN and South Korea.
S Korea, US to hold further talks to resolve pending FTA issues
Top trade officials from South Korea and the United States will hold further talks on Wednesday as the countries are struggling to resolve outstanding issues that have stalled the ratification of their free trade agreement signed more than three years ago, a Seoul trade official said.
Mexico, Brazil launch talks toward bilateral trade deal
Brazil and Mexico said on Monday they would start talks toward a bilateral trade deal in a bid to draw Latin America’s top two economies closer together.
Top APEC officials lay groundwork for regional FTA
Senior regional officials concluded their meeting Monday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama with a decision to pursue a regionwide free-trade zone.
Gov’t pressed to start free trade talks with European Union
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday renewed calls for the government to start negotiating a free trade deal with the European Union, after noting that more Southeast Asian neighbors have begun talks with the Western bloc.
Fiji stops Pacific sugar exports to meet EU quota
Fiji has ceased exporting sugar to the Pacific region in order to meet its export quota to the UK (meaning Tate & Lyle) under preferential prices of the Economic Partnership Agreement.
In depth: EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies
How a trade deal being brokered between Europe and India could cut off the developing world’s supply of cheap medicines. Al Jazeera reports.
APEC debates becoming body that can forge FTA
Pacific Rim economies are debating whether to change the informal Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum so that it can negotiate the creation of a Pacific-wide free trade zone.
Thousands protest in Seoul before G20 summit
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Seoul on Sunday in a largely peaceful protest against this week’s G20 summit as the city went on heightened alert for the meeting of world leaders.
Protesters call for end to APEC meets
"Japan is talking about a free-trade agreement for the Asia-Pacific region. But for Asian laborers, realization of this goal will mean increased unemployment or the shedding of full-time employees in favor of contract workers and the lowering of wages and salaries," union representatives say
Washington to push Seoul on bilateral deal
This week’s talks are likely to try to come up with a side letter about the car market rather than attempt to re­open fundamentally the draft deal, a course of action to which Seoul is vehemently opposed.
Jane Kelsey: Trading sovereignty for short-term advantage
The TPPA would impose the most far-reaching obligations on New Zealand since the Closer Economic Relations agreement with Australia, deepening our commitment to free market policies that affect our jobs, our social and cultural well-being, and ultimately the sovereignty to make decisions as a nation.
Obama’s trip to India: Don’t rush into a bilateral investment treaty
The negotiations over a US-India bilaterals investment treaty were begun by the Bush administration. Obama officials have said they won’t complete the deal until they finish up a review of the US model BIT.
Farmers take Japan’s place at TPP bargaining table
The Japanese government did not clearly state its stance in the basic FTA policy it set out Saturday and only stipulated that it will start approaching the countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks.