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India-EU free trade agreement: Should India open up banking sector?
14-Mar-2009
This report questions the much-touted benefits of opening up banking sector under the India-EU FTA. Are big European banks going to augment the reach of the banking system to millions of Indians citizens who have no access to basic banking services? What specialization and experience do European banks have when it comes to providing basic banking services to landless rural workers and urban poor dwellers? Will the India-EU FTA reduce the domestic regulatory space?
Indonesia and Chile are exploring free trade agreement possibilities between the two countries
13-Mar-2009 RRI
To meet the interest of Chile becoming a bridge between Asia-Pacific markets including Indonesian and South American, especially Latin America markets near to the Atlantic ocean, Indonesia and Chile are discussing the possibility of free trade agreements of both countries.
US to push back on SPS farm trade barriers -Kirk
13-Mar-2009 Reuters
The United States will make it a priority to get rid of barriers to US farm exports based on unjustified sanitary and phytosanitary concerns about human, animal and plant health — including the EU ban on GM crops — the designee for US Trade Representative said on Thursday.
New trade deal falls ’well short’: Truss
13-Mar-2009 S&L
The new ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement falls well short of what could be considered a good deal for Australian industry, according to the Shadow Minister for Trade, Warren Truss.
Brussels pushing finance deregulation in third world
12-Mar-2009 EU Observer
While EU and other global leaders have talked tough about re-regulating the financial sector in the wake of the economic crisis, they remain committed to pushing through banking deregulation in the developing world via trade deals.
Ending NAFTA Inspired Trucking Program Could Spark Retaliation
12-Mar-2009 Border Fire Report
There is speculation that canceling the cross-border trucking program under NAFTA could set the tables for a showdown between the Obama administration and the Mexican government.
ECO declaration calls for free trade area
12-Mar-2009 APP
The 10th summit meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) on Wednesday reaffirmed its determination to move towards establishment of a free trade area in ECO region by 2015 as a priority task.
US lawmaker details obstacles to free trade deals
12-Mar-2009 Reuters
Panama, Colombia and South Korea need to resolve a number of outstanding concerns before Congress will approve free trade pacts with each of those countries, a US lawmaker said on Wednesday.
Seoul seeks ‘concrete measures‘ on free trade
12-Mar-2009 FT
South Korea is pushing for the G20 countries to support a moratorium on new import tariffs at next month’s meeting, according to President Lee Myung-bak.
EU-India FTA - trade in goods chapter (draft Oct 2007)
11-Mar-2009
NZ trade deal low on envoy’s to-do list
11-Mar-2009 NZ Herald
Don’t misread Kirk’s testimony to yesterday’s meeting of the US Senate Finance Committee as an omen that the last rites are imminent for New Zealand’s prospective regional free-trade deal with the world’s largest consumer nation. Instead focus on Kirk’s confident statement during his Senate confirmation hearing that President Barack Obama will seek renewed trade promotion authority (or fast-track) at the "appropriate time".
FTA with Seoul unacceptable, says USTR nominee
11-Mar-2009 Chosun Ilbo
The US trade representative-designate on Monday said Washington’s free trade agreement with Seoul was unfair in its current state and warned his government could ditch the deal. The FTA "as it is just simply isn’t fair, and if we don’t get that right we’ll be prepared to step away from that," Ron Kirk said in his confirmation hearing at the US Senate Finance Committee.
Free Trade: Passing The Baton to Obama
10-Mar-2009
When it comes to further advancing free trade initiatives, it really makes no difference which party controls, congress or the presidency.
China courts Costa Rica; expands its presence in Washington’s backyard
10-Mar-2009 COHA
Costa Rica and China may seem to be an unlikely pairing; however, both governments have moved to deepen their ties and cement regional integration based on the pursuit of a free trade agreement, which was brought a step closer by the completion of the first round of negotiations on January 19.
India postpones FTA with ASEAN
10-Mar-2009 Jakarta Post
Six years of negotiations have yet to convince India to sign a much-awaited free trade deal with ASEAN, as scheduled last week during the group’s summit. India would only ink a deal after it concludes its April general elections.
US postpones free trade negotiations with NZ
9-Mar-2009 Scoop
New Zealand research and education network ARENA today welcomed news that the United States has postponed trade negotiations with New Zealand pending an overall review of US trade policy, and says that the New Zealand government should follow suit.
Nepal asks India for trade treaty with longer shelf life
9-Mar-2009 The Hindu
India and Nepal are seeking to update their nearly 60-year-old trade treaty with the new draft expected to be ready before India goes to staggered polls from April 16.
Taiwan’s China opening aided by opposition scandal
9-Mar-2009 Taiwan News
Taiwan’s main opposition party vehemently opposes President Ma Ying-jeou’s push for closer relations with China, including a proposed FTA. But the Democratic Progressive Party is so enfeebled that it can’t do much about it.
In the United States, 350 civil groups oppose FTA
9-Mar-2009 La Estrella
Around 350 US national, state and local groups from religious to environmental sectors, representing a combined total membership of 18 million, sent a letter to the House of Representatives asking lawmakers not to ratify the free trade agreement between Panama and the United States, insisting that Panama’s economy thrives on banking secrecy and money laundering
MoI positive for completion of Pak-US BIT draft in April
8-Mar-2009 Daily Times
Pakistan’s Ministry of Investment (MoI) is hopeful for the completion of mutually agreed final draft of Pak-US Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) by April this year, as bilateral consultations on unresolved issues have already started afresh.