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Trade unions in TPP countries call for a fairer trade framework friendly to working people
29-Mar-2010 NZCTU
In an historic move, peak bodies of Trans Pacific trade unions have called for a new and fairer framework for trade and investment agreements.
Malaysia, India may ink free-trade deal by year-end
29-Mar-2010 AFP
Malaysia and India are on target to sign a free-trade agreement by year-end as the two countries readied for a third round of talks.
Talk of the day — ECFA debate still raging
29-Mar-2010 CNA
The debate on whether Taiwan should sign an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China continues to rage in local society, as the government has stepped up its efforts to gain public support for the pact and the opposition is pushing for a referendum on the proposed deal.
Namibia inspires NGOs’ anti-EPA campaign
26-Mar-2010 New Era
So impressed by Namibia are non-government organisations that they suggest mounting mass demonstrations in southern Africa and Brussels, the seat of the European Union Commission.
Peru, EFTA to sign FTA in June
26-Mar-2010 Andina
Peru will sign the final text of its free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association, consisting of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, in June.
NTA sees danger in administrations plans for TPP Agreement
26-Mar-2010 NTA
The US National Textile Association is worried that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement could undermine the basis for textile rules of origin in US FTAs and that if more APEC members join the US will be outvoted.
Mercosur-Israel free trade agreement becomes effective
25-Mar-2010 MercoPress
The free trade agreement between Mercosur and Israel, the first out of the region for the South American block, became effective this week for Paraguay. For the rest of Mercosur full members, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay the official date is April first.
Proposed Colombia trade pact amended
25-Mar-2010 CBC
The federal government has agreed to add a new element to Canada’s proposed free-trade agreement with Colombia. "It will be the first FTA in the world to require an annual human-rights assessment to be tabled in both countries’ parliaments," the amendment’s author says.
Negotiations for Peru to join P4 to take at least two years
25-Mar-2010 Andina
The negotiations for Peru to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, known as P4, could take at least two years because of different interests among the eight countries who participate in the negotiations.
No timetable for ECFA to become FTA
25-Mar-2010 Taipei Times
Many WTO members have expressed support for a China-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and would be happy to see it happen, says Taiwan’s permanent representative to WTO.
Peru: Signing away too many rights?
25-Mar-2010 IPS
Peru is enthusiastically espousing free trade, and has signed six tariff-lowering agreements in the space of a year. But it has not matched them with the internal policies needed to reduce their impact on labour rights, the environment, and sensitive areas like agriculture, social organisations and experts say.
Natural Dairy buys four farms, eyes more in NZ plan
24-Mar-2010 Bloomberg
The deal shows “the gate on the New Zealand-China free trade agreement swings both ways,” a Federated Farmers official said. Natural Dairy, formerly China Jin Hui Mining Corporation, agreed to buy four farms in New Zealand and is in talks for 24 more as part of a NZ$1.5bn (US$1.1bn) expansion in the world’s biggest dairy exporter.
Open statement to EU Trade Commissioner on the EU-India FTA
24-Mar-2010
The Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) is calling on the EU Trade Commissioner to come clean on the demands and pressures being placed by the European Union on the Government of India to accept TRIPS-plus measures that will have a severe, adverse impact on access to safe, effective and affordable medicines in India and across the developing world.
NZ rejects US senators’ claims on dairy trade
24-Mar-2010 AP
New Zealand on Monday hit back at a group of 30 U.S. senators who accused the country’s dairy industry of anticompetitive practices, as a first round of talks ended for a free trade agreement.
A prescription for failure: Health and intellectual property in the Dominican Republic.
23-Mar-2010 Georgetown Law
A group of nine Georgetown Law students have written a report, "Prescription for Failure: Health and Intellectual Property in the Dominican Republic," which finds that U.S. efforts to increase intellectual property protections in the Dominican Republic may lead to sharp increases in the cost of lifesaving drugs and, as a result, the declining health and even deaths of those who may be unable to afford them.
Hong Kong free trade agreement to be signed
23-Mar-2010
Trade Minister Tim Groser will sign a free trade agreement with Hong Kong when he visits there on Monday.
EU trade pact won’t hit Indian generic drug cos: Sharma
23-Mar-2010
Commerce minister Anand Sharma said on Monday that a proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) would not hurt the generic drugs industry. The minister also said India would attract the same amount of foreign direct investment as last year.
Why bother with a US FTA?
23-Mar-2010 NZ Herald
Many New Zealanders simply don’t understand the brazenness and the power of the industry lobby groups in America to influence their government and get involved in foreign affairs.
TPP as backdoor Colombia FTA?
23-Mar-2010 Eyes on Trade
The possible entry of Colombia into the TPP illustrates the unprecedented nature of the TPP.
EU boosts Israel ties, ignores illegal settlements
23-Mar-2010 IPS
Diplomats representing the European Union have drawn up a new plan for strengthening their relations with Israel despite the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.