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Economic pact with EU causes discord among Sadc members
31-Jul-2009 Engineering News
One of the underlying principles of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community is that it should complement and support regional integration initiatives. However, the signing of the Interim EPA by some member states, and not by others, has generated uncertainty within the region.
East Africa may delay trade pact with EU: Tanzania
31-Jul-2009 Daily Nation
The East African Community bloc is likely to delay signing a new trade deal with the European Union because fresh issues have been introduced in the negotiations, Tanzania’s trade minister said.
EU and Papua New Guinea sign agreement
31-Jul-2009 se2009.eu
The EU and Papua New Guinea are today formally signing the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Honduran coup: Fiction and fact
30-Jul-2009 Upside Down World
Zelaya joined the Venezuelan proposed ALBA, a fair trade alternative to Washington’s now-defunct Free Trade Area of the Americas, but is no Chavez puppet, despite what the all-out PR war from Washington-based business groups claims
Possible US-Colombia military deal raises regional tensions
30-Jul-2009 CSM
A pending agreement that would give the US military broad access to several Colombian bases is rattling already shaky relations in the Andean region, where Venezuela "froze" relations with Colombia Tuesday. Uribe agreed to the deal in the hopes of finally winning approval of a free-trade agreement with the United States, according to critics.
Indonesian manufacturers urge govt to delay China-ASEAN FTA
30-Jul-2009 Reuters
Indonesian manufacturers have asked the government to delay a free-trade pact between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, as it may hurt local firms, a senior industry official said on Wednesday.
FTA turns Indonesia’s trade surplus with China into deficit
30-Jul-2009 Bernama
The implementation of its Free Trade Agreement with China has turned Indonesia’s trade surplus with the former into a deficit of US$3.61 billion, a chamber of commerce and industry official said.
EU-Canada FTA (CETA) - EC negotiating directive (proposal of April 2009)
28-Jul-2009
Explanatory memorandum in English and French. Text of proposed negotiating mandate in Spanish.
Calls for Namibia not to sign interim-EPA hold merit, says analyst
28-Jul-2009 Engineering News
A number of Namibian civil society organisations, as well as the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have supported the government’s decision not to sign the interim Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, amid concerns that it caused discord among Southern African Customs Union member States.
Study: Free trade spreading obesity
28-Jul-2009 UPI
An influx of US junk food into Central America as part of relaxed trade rules has led to Central American obesity and related illnesses, a study said Monday.
VS urges Manmohan to reconsider FTA decision
28-Jul-2009 The Hindu
The Chief Minister of the South Indian State of Kerala urges the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision to go ahead with an FTA with ASEAN countries fearing negative impacts on Indian agriculture and small farmers.
ASEAN and China FTA to ignite ‘tug of war in trade’
27-Jul-2009 Jakarta Post
A free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China (ASEAN-China FTA) will likely ignite a trade war between Indonesia and China, says the Indonesian Textile Association
Colombia romances US with PR campaign after trade deal stalls
26-Jul-2009 Bloomberg
The $800,000 effort, funded by both the government and groups such as the coffee and flower growers, is intended to alter the perception among some in the US that Colombia means drugs, violence and crime and isn’t intended to sway lawmakers on the trade accord, the campaign’s manager said
Kerala resents move to implement ASEAN free trade pact
26-Jul-2009 PTI
"The [Kerala State] government’s firm view is that implementation of the ASEAN agreement would trigger a grim crisis in the farm sector in the country in general and that of Kerala in particular,"an official spokesperson said.
No takers for Antony’s opposition to Indo-Asean FTA
25-Jul-2009 The Economic Times
One of India’s Ministers raised concerns about the proposed India-ASEAN FTA, concerned about the negative impacts it could have domestically in India and particularly on his home state Kerala; but not all in the Cabinet of Ministers seem to support that view.
Uganda raises concerns on asset protection plan
24-Jul-2009 Business Daily
Uganda on Thursday adopted a cautious stand as negotiations on a regional common market entered a sensitive phase in which experts sought to find the most appropriate deals on protection of foreign investments
Indian politicians oppose Asean-India FTA
24-Jul-2009 BERNAMA
Fearing millions of farmers will suffer, Indian politicians are vehemently objecting at the eleventh hour to the almost finalised Asean-India Free Trade Agreement.
Vietnam calls on US trade to treat Vietnam fairly
23-Jul-2009 Thanh Nien News
Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang has asked US trade representatives to consider antidumping lawsuits on Vietnamese products fairly and without prejudice
Brussels divided over Korean trade deal
23-Jul-2009 BusinessWeek
An agreement between the EU and South Korea worth billions of dollars has been put on hold after politicians balked at trade conditions
Obama should shift away from free trade deals -report
23-Jul-2009 Reuters
President Barack Obama should move US trade policy away from the Bush administration’s focus on bilateral free trade agreements to a new approach more in line with his economic and foreign policy goals, a report from the Democratic Leadership Coucil recommended Wednesday.