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Expectations, Burma case derail FTA
28-Dec-2009 Business Mirror
Continuing political turmoil in the military-ruled Burma have caused major hurdles in the proposed free-trade deals being negotiated by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with the European Union, Canada and the United States.
In Southeast Asia, unease over free trade zone
28-Dec-2009 New York Times
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, China and 10 Southeast Asian nations will usher in the world’s third-largest free trade area. While many industries are eager for tariffs to fall on everything from textiles and rubber to vegetable oils and steel, a few are nervously waiting to see whether the agreement will mean boom or bust for their businesses.
Peru to negotiate FTA with Central America in May
28-Dec-2009 Andina
Peru will begin negotiations to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Central America in May next year, Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism
UAE, S Korea sign economic cooperation pact
28-Dec-2009 Arabian Business
South Korea said on Sunday it had signed an enhanced economic cooperation agreement with the UAE as the two get set to mark their 30-year relationship anniversary next year.
Spain to boost EU-L.America ties during its EU presidency
27-Dec-2009 Xinhua
Spain will seek close association agreements between the EU and Central America, boost trade agreements between the EU and Colombia and Peru and resume talks between the EU and the Common Market of the South, during Madrid’s rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2010
Government plans safeguards for farmers
27-Dec-2009 Bangkok Post
Thai authorities are taking precautions to shield businesses and farmers from the fall in farm product prices after tariffs are cut under the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) at the start of 2010.
S Korea, Japan fail to agree on resuming free trade negotiations
23-Dec-2009 Xinhua
South Korea and Japan failed to pin down the exact date to resume bilateral free trade negotiations during their latest talks.
HK, Europe to start trade talks
23-Dec-2009 Straits Times
Hong Kong and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, are set to begin talks aimed at hammering out a free trade pact in early 2010.
China negotiator: Taiwan trade pact "long process"
23-Dec-2009 AP
The comments from Chen Yunlin appeared to be aimed at assuaging opposition concerns that the pact could undermine Taiwanese sovereignty and lead to significant job losses on the island of 23 million people.
Mexico seeks Brazil free-trade accord by 2012, official says
23-Dec-2009 Bloomberg
Mexico’s government aims to sign a free-trade agreement with Brazil by the end of President Felipe Calderon’s administration in 2012, said Rogelio Granguillhome, head of economic relations at Mexico’s Foreign Ministry.
EU to launch FTA negotiations with individual ASEAN countries, beginning with Singapore
23-Dec-2009 EU
"While we don’t lose sight of our ultimate goal of achieving an agreement within a regional framework, I welcome today’s decision which will allow us to move forward and re-engage with this important region through negotiations with individual ASEAN member states," EU Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
Singapore, EU agree to start FTA talks
23-Dec-2009 AFP
Singapore and the European Union have agreed to begin talks for a free trade agreement, "paving the way for an EU-ASEAN FTA."
EU-Canada FTA (CETA) - draft IP chapter (2009)
22-Dec-2009 Wikileaks
Geist: EU demands in free trade talks would retool our copyright laws
22-Dec-2009 Toronto Star
Earlier this year, Canada and the European Union announced plans to negotiate a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), possibly the biggest Canadian trade negotiations since NAFTA. The first round of talks took place in Ottawa in October, yet the treaty has generated practically no public scrutiny. That may change following the leak last week of the European Union’s proposed intellectual property chapter.
South Africa: Fisheries pact with EU has to wait
22-Dec-2009 Business Day
The conclusion of a fisheries agreement between SA and the European Union has had to take second place to other considerations, even though SA’s fish exports to the EU are attracting duties that some other countries’ are not.
EU-Morocco: Accord on agricultural trade liberalisation
22-Dec-2009 ANSAmed
The accord, Brussels explained, reinforces the position of European exporters in the Moroccan market, above all in the processed food sector.
China envoy’s Taiwan visit stirs backlash
22-Dec-2009 AP
A senior Chinese envoy’s visit to Taiwan for trade talks has sparked a backlash among critics who fear the Taiwanese government’s China-friendly policies are opening the door to eventual unification with the mainland.
Washington awaits KL’s decision on TPP
21-Dec-2009 Bernama
The United States is still awaiting Malaysia’s decision on whether to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiations.
Cosmetics association asks for exemption from FTA
21-Dec-2009 Jakarta Globe
Indonesian cosmetics and herbal medicine producers are calling for an exemption for their products from the Asean-China free trade agreement. “It is not because we are not ready. The question is our products are even now having to compete with illegal Chinese imports which are usually cheaper but of questionable quality.”
Thousands protest in Taiwan over China trade talks
21-Dec-2009 Reuters
Thousands of people marched in Taiwan on Sunday to protest against warming ties with political rival China, a day before Beijing’s top negotiator arrives on the island for talks on a landmark free trade pact.