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Obama tells Congress US will pursue Asia trade
“TPP is about re-establishing the role of the US in the Asian region,” Calman Cohen, president of the Washington-based Emergency Committee for American Trade, told reporters Dec. 11. “If they get it right, it can be a real shot in the arm.”
RI-China FTA rules unlikely to be delayed: China says
While local industries are seeking a delay in the full implementation of the free trade agreement (FRA) with China, to start in January, China says this stands little chance of succeeding.
Nigeria & Thailand negotiate bilateral trade agreement for rice production
Recently the Thai Commerce Minister visited Nigeria were he discussed the proposal of a Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement — primarily involving agricultural development — with the Nigerian Minister for Commerce and Industry.
EU and Port-au-Prince sign economic partnership agreement
By signing, on 11 December, an economic partnership agreement with the EU, Haiti has jointed the fourteen other member states of Cariforum, the organisation of Caribbean countries, that signed the EPA in October 2008.
House approves renewal of Andean trade benefits
The US House of Representatives on Monday approved a one-year extension of soon-to-expire trade benefits for Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and a long list of other developing countries.
US-NZ trade talks expected to start in March
US trade officials have formally notified the US Congress of President Barack Obama’s intention to negotiate a regional free trade deal with Vietnam, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and three other countries in the Asia Pacific area.
RP elections cast cloud on trade pact
Philippine elections pose uncertainty in the regional tariff regime, with neighbors wondering whether the new government next year can live up to its free-trade commitments with member-countrie
China may displace the US as main trading partner of Peru
On December 7, Peru’s government ratified a free trade agreement with China, noting that this decision "favors Peru’s interests." Peru is one of China’s major trading partners in Latin America.
Colombia’s dubious strategy to push through an FTA with the European Union
The ITUC is appalled at the strategy used by the Colombian government to discredit the ITUC Colombian affiliates – CUT, CGT and CTC – and the National Trade Union School by sending incendiary information from a completely unrepresentative trade union to European Union Members of Parliament.
Haiti signs the CARIFORUM–EU Economic Partnership Agreement
Haiti today signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and joins the fourteen Caribbean States that signed the EPA in October 2008.
Single currency a step closer for ALBA nations
The creation of a regional currency among Latin American countries drew closer over the weekend as Cuba agreed to pay for a shipment of Venezuelan rice in sucres – the new currency.
Nigeria, Thailand partner on rice production
Nigeria and Thailand have commenced negotiation and signing of a bilateral investment agreement in commercial agriculture in Nigeria, particularly in rice production and processing. The cooperation will be in the establishment of rice farms by the Thais in Nigeria’s free trade zones.
India seeks demand list from Asean nations
India has taken the first concrete step towards concluding a deal with the Asean for liberalising trade in services, including cross-border movement of professionals, sending a request list to all Asean members pointing out where exactly the country wants greater access.
Chinese VP hopes to see S. Korea-China FTA
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, widely seen as in line to succeed President Hu Jintao in 2012, said he would like to see a free trade agreement between his country and South Korea in the near future.
Fiji joins EU-Pacific regional trade agreement
Fiji has today in Copenhagen signed on to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the countries of the Pacific.
A brief Q&A with the US trade representative
Ron Kirk offers a status report on pending trade agreements and an overview of the administration’s trade strategy
EU: Negotiations between the EU, Central America and the Andean countries concerning patents
According to Latin American trade unions and organisations, patenting has had devastating consequences for biological diversity in several Latin American countries. Yet neither the patent rules proposed in the association agreement between the EU and Central America nor the bilateral trade negotiations taking place between the EU and Colombia and Peru have taken account of such criticism.
FTAs could hurt farmers, too
After generic drugmakers, it’s the farmers who are feeling the heat of the intellectual property (IP) regime.
EU: Free trade area around the Mediterranean a priority at trade ministers’ meeting
The EuroMed meeting in Brussels today adopted a roadmap for the establishment of a free trade area around the Mediterranean starting in 2010. Support was also given for a regional convention with uniform rules on the origin of goods.
EU urged to suspend trade talks with Colombia
Senior British MEP Richard Howitt has urged the EU to suspend free trade agreement talks with Colombia because of the country´s "profound" human rights "crisis."