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Verdict still out on trade pact with Europe
14-May-2010 IPS
A year and a half after Caribbean leaders inked a controversial and sweeping free trade pact with the European Union, concerns are emerging that the region is lagging in accessing some of its benefits
FTA? Nothing free about it
14-May-2010 The Times of India
Growing chorus of voices against the FTAs India is lining up and why
FTA with Europe should be postponed: Comptroller General
14-May-2010 Colombia Reports
Colombia’s comptroller general says that the free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), which is set to be officially signed next week in Madrid, should not be signed until the new Colombian government takes office, Portofolio reported Thursday.
Agriculture minister admits EU FTA will hurt dairy farmers
14-May-2010 Colombia Reports
Colombian Agriculture Minister Andres Fernandez admitted Thursday that his country’s free trade agreement with the European Union, due to be signed next week, will adversely affect more than 400,000 farming families across Colombia, reports Caracol.
Malaysia gets German support for FTA with EU
14-May-2010 Bernama
Germany is one of the largest foreign investors in Malaysia and supports the country in its bid to conclude the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement
Canada seeks full access to Saudi beef market
13-May-2010 Arab News
Canada, which lost millions of dollars in beef trade opportunities with Saudi Arabia following the outbreak of mad-cow disease, is now seeking full access to this lucrative Saudi market. There is also talk of possibly holding negotiations for a free trade agreement and a general investment protection accord with the Gulf states.
Farmers from both sides of the Atlantic unite for food sovereignty
12-May-2010 Via Campesina
The European Union is eager to sign free-trade agreements under the Spanish presidency between the EU and MERCOSUR, Central America and Peru and Colombia. Farmer’s organizations from both Latin American countries and Europe are united in their opposition to the talks.
’An India-Australia FTA could have huge gains for both sides’
12-May-2010
Australian trade minister Simon Crean is here to push a free trade agreement with India. Besides, he is talking to Australian companies in India to get an assessment of the barriers they face. In an interview, he also tells Sidhartha the new mining tax would not affect foreign investors looking at Australia. Edited excerpts:
Pan American Energy takes Bolivia to ICSID over nationalization of Chaco Petroleum
12-May-2010 ITN
Anglo-Argentinean energy firm Pan American Energy has initiated arbitration against Bolivia over the nationalization of its subsidiary Chaco Petroleum by the Morales government in 2009.
Brazil eyes French arms deal as Mercosur bargaining chip
12-May-2010 UPI
Brazil is positioning itself to use talks with France on a multibillion-dollar arms deal as a bargaining chip in Latin America’s fight for better terms for Mercosur agricultural exports to Europe, officials said.
Nepal invites US official to sign TIFA
12-May-2010 República
Nepal has invited Deputy US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis for signing Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which the two countries negotiated out last month.
Ten EU nations protest resumption of Mercosur talks
12-May-2010 AFP
Ten EU nations, led by France, protested in a statement to the entire EU Council that the resumption of free trade talks with the Latin American bloc Mercosur sends "a highly negative signal" for Europe’s struggling farm sector.
Free trade pact with Mongolia on the cards
12-May-2010 China Daily
China has initiated feasibility studies for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Mongolia to further strengthen bilateral trade ties between the two nations, a top official from the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.
Thai cabinet approves draft of free trade agreement with Chile
12-May-2010 Dow Jones
The draft will be proposed for the approval of parliament before negotiations kick off.
Business leaders to step up push for Asia-Pacific free trade area
12-May-2010 CNA
APEC’s business lobby, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council, will urge 21 government leaders to set a timetable for the creation of a regional free trade area later this year
President hopes to sign FTA with Japan
11-May-2010
President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that Japan is a major trading partner of Taiwan and that he hopes the two countries can sign a free trade agreement (FTA).
Taiwan opponents of ECFA with China to stage 3-day protest from May 20
11-May-2010 Taiwan News
A 3-day protest in Taiwan against the proposed ECFA with China will begin 20 May 2010.
EU seeks extensive Mercosur trade deal
11-May-2010 Irish Independent
"When these negotiations last broke down, due to the lack of benefits for the wider EU economy, Mercosur was seeking a 300,000t beef quota and the EU was at a formal offer of 100,000t," Meat Industry Ireland’s Cormac Healy said.
Tweet-In for Colombia – Stop the free trade agreement
11-May-2010 CUPE
The time is now to stop the Conservatives and Liberals who are trying to rush through a harmful free trade agreement with Colombia without properly assessing its potential impact on human rights, workers and the environment.
How to resolve free trade issues with EU, by ECOWAS ministers
10-May-2010
Knotty issues impeding conclusive negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) can be resolved if the private sector in West Africa is involved in the process, according to ministers from the sub-region in charge of the talks.