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Hoyer says trade deal vote this year doubtful
23-Apr-2010
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Thursday it was doubtful that the House this year will take up pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
Zuma urges Sacu to tackle EPA negotiations as united front
23-Apr-2010
Speaking at the 100th anniversary of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) celebration held in Namibia on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said that the future of the customs union was "undoubtedly in question", if it could not "pursue the unfinished business of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations as a united group".
Korea-China FTA - The Deal Needs Steps to Protect Farmers, Small Firms
23-Apr-2010
A Korea-China free trade agreement will be a definite plus for the country at least statistically. The governing camp must risk in losing votes from angry farmers, fishermen and small-and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
Malaysia and Canada may join TPP trolley
23-Apr-2010 Eyes on Trade
As the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) train begins to chug along the track a little faster, more countries are signaling that they want to jump on the bandwagon. Last month Colombia indicated its interest in joining the TPP talks and now Malaysia and Canada are doing the same.
Taiwan’s priority list more comprehensive than China’s: MOEA
22-Apr-2010
A priority "early harvest" list prepared by Taiwan as part of negotiations on an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China is more comprehensive than China’s, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said Thursday.
Govt says it won’t scrap Pharmac for free-trade deal
22-Apr-2010
The New Zealand government has dismissed the possibility it would scrap its drug-funding system as part of the price of a free-trade deal with the United States.
Pharma dept says no to IP clauses in FTAs
22-Apr-2010
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has firmly declined the commerce ministry proposal to incorporate intellectual property (IP) protection clauses, which go beyond the existing rules, as part of the free trade agreements (FTAs) being negotiated with the European Union (EU) and Japan.
Pharmac reforms expected
22-Apr-2010
The medicines industry says reforms are likely be needed to the way the Government’s drug-buying agency Pharmac operates if New Zealand is to reach a free trade deal with the United States.
America misses another Asian opportunity
22-Apr-2010
The eight-country "Trans-Pacific Partnership" is now the main face of the Obama administration’s trade policy. It was personally endorsed by the president in November and followed up last month by the first detailed discussions in Melbourne. But a closer look at the actual deal shows how little there is to be excited about.
Like EU, Japan FTA also a priority
22-Apr-2010
The government seems in a hurry to conclude its key free trade agreements (FTAs) in 2010. Apart from aggressively aiming to conclude the EU FTA this year, not withstanding apprehensions of European parliamentarians or activists from Thailand, India and Brazil, the Japan FTA is also high on the radar.
UAE to push GCC-EU free trade plan
22-Apr-2010
The UAE will push for a long-awaited free trade agreement between the GCC and the European Union during the Emirates presidency of the Gulf states’ bloc next year, said the Foreign Minister.
Boeing chief urges quick US action on trade deals
22-Apr-2010
The United States risks losing significant export sales to the European Union, Canada and other countries unless it approves three long-delayed free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, Boeing (BA.N) Chief Executive James McNerney said on Thursday.
Unlevel Playing Field Under Asean-China FTA, Say Aluminium Makers
22-Apr-2010
An unlevel playing field exists under the Asean-China free trade agreement (FTA), according to the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Aluminium Manufacturers Group (FMM AMGM).
Access: Fighting free trade agreements
22-Apr-2010 MSF
Fatima Mello of the Brazil Network for the Integration of Peoples worked with other civil society groups across South America in order to bring down the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. Here she discusses the campaign and lessons learned:
Uribe pushes for US trade vote before leaving office
22-Apr-2010 Reuters
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe is pushing President Barack Obama to win congressional approval of a long-delayed free trade deal before Uribe leaves office in August, the top Colombian trade official said on Wednesday.
Draft trade agreement worries technology companies
22-Apr-2010 AP
Technology companies and public interest groups are warning that an international trade agreement being drafted could expose Internet access providers, Web search engines and other online businesses to damaging legal risks.
The Caracas Manifesto reaffirms the agreement to strengthen the sovereignty of the people
21-Apr-2010 ADITAL
"The time has come for us to take on an Economic Plan that places greater emphasis on projects and transnational companies, the People’s Trade Treaty, the sucre and the Bank of Alba as the foundational pillars for a common economic area."
Civil society groups in India and across the world protest against EU-India FTA
21-Apr-2010
Civil society and public health groups from India, Brazil and several other countries today vehemently objected to the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Colombia-Canada FTA in final stages
21-Apr-2010 Colombia Reports
Colombia’s minister of trade, industry and tourism, Luis Guillermo Plata, announced Tuesday that the country has reached the "final stages" of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada, reports Caracol Radio.
Canada - Door open for beef to Colombia
21-Apr-2010 Meat Trade News
The Colombian market for Canadian beef, worth about $6 million per year, has just been reopened in the context of the proposed Canada-Colombia FTA, after being closed since 2003 due to BSE in Canadian cattle.