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GCC, India closer on FTA deal
17-Sep-2008
Talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and India made substantial progress yesterday with the two sides committing to conclude the FTA as early as possible.
JPEPA’s New Side ‘Agreement’: A Deceptive Exchange of Notes
17-Sep-2008 JPEPA’s New Side ‘Agreement’: A Deceptive Exchange of Notes
The mountain labored hard and managed to produce a mouse out of the so-called “exchange of notes” on the anti-Constitutional Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
Opinion of the Office of the Ombudsperson of Costa Rica on the Budapest Treaty
17-Sep-2008 Office of the Ombudsperson of Costa Rica
The Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure is not in line with the norms and ethical principles of Costa Rica. Civil society, the scientific community and the different congregations should have had a more broad discussion on this Treaty including its ethical, environmental, social, economic and legal implications. Unfortunately, this did not happen and the decision to vote the US-DR-CAFTA, with its obligation for Costa Rica to accede to the Budapest Treaty, at referendum was not taken with a generalized prior informed consent.
David and Goliath battle
17-Sep-2008 Fiji Times
This article explores the current crisis in the EU’s negotiations for new Economic Partnership Agreements with 76 ACP countries. In particular, this article highlights the rejection of most components of an EPA by Pacific nations — who are demanding a reduced ’comprehensive EPA’. This has implications for Africa and the Caribbean, where governments are trying to back away from a full EPA with the EU — to pursue only what might be required for WTO-compatibility.
Colombia deal has better shot under Obama, say trade lobbyists, union reps
17-Sep-2008 The Hill
Both sides in the debate over the controversial trade deal with Colombia believe the pact has a better chance of passing next year if Barack Obama is elected president. The irony is that Obama has been an opponent of the deal, while Republican presidential candidate John McCain is a staunch supporter of the accord.
Panama’s president continues push for free trade pact passage
17-Sep-2008 Dow Jones Newswires
A day ahead of a scheduled meeting with US President George W Bush, Panamanian President Martin Torrijos continued pushing Tuesday for approval of a free trade deal between the countries. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. also vowed to continue fighting for passage of the agreement and pledged to continue that fight for years, if necessary.
Chile FTA poses horti threat
17-Sep-2008 Weekly Times
Horticulture has been the sacrificial lamb in the Chilean Free Trade Agreement, Australian industry leaders say.
Counterfeit democracy
17-Sep-2008 Znet
The US Trade Representative’s officials say there is no reason to be worried: ACTA (a secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) won’t require more than existing US free trade agreements, they say. Meanwhile, business groups are explicit that they believe ACTA should do far more than existing US free trade agreements. Are they having their way?
Uribe and Garcia break negotiations between the EU and the CAN
16-Sep-2008 RECALCA (Spanish original)
In perfect coordination, worthy of the political affinity between Alvaro Uribe and Alan García, the two presidents sent identical letters on 9 September 2008 to the President of the European Commission, in which, unilaterally and without consulting their partners in the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), they terminated the Association Agreement negotiations between the CAN and the EU. What they seek is quite serious: to force bilateral negotiations with the European Union, excluding both Bolivia and Ecuador.
García reiterates Peruvian interest to sign trade agreement with EU
16-Sep-2008 ANDINA
Peru’s president, Alan García, confirmed today Peruvian interest to sign trade agreement with the European Union (EU); however, he recognized the initial obstacles for consensus in the Andean Community of Nations (CAN).
CARIFORUM agrees to sign EPA
16-Sep-2008 Barnacle Grenada
Thirteen of the 15 Member States indicated their readiness to sign the Agreement at the Third Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of CARIFORUM held at the Sherbourne Centre, Barbados on Wednesday. Haiti indicated that there were reservations which had to be cleared at the Presidential level before signature of the document, while Guyana stated that it was not in a position to sign the EPA.
Final offensive for US-Colombia FTA is stark contrast to other developments in the hemisphere
16-Sep-2008 Colombia Journal
While the eyes of the world focus on the internal crisis in Bolivia and the unfolding tensions in the Andean region, the pro-Bush government of Colombia is engaged in one of its most intensive lobbying efforts in recent memory, a full court press that will culminate with the visit next week of President Alvaro Uribe to Washington.
EU plans two-track approach for FTA
15-Sep-2008 Bangkok Post
The European Union (EU) under the French presidency will focus on bilateral approaches in parallel with a bloc-to-bloc discussions with Asean on a free trade agreement, according to the French ambassador to Thailand.
Uruguay favors more trade accords, with or without Mercosur
15-Sep-2008 MercoPress
Uruguay formally proposed its Mercosur partners to begin a round of negotiations geared to reach trade agreements with the European Union, United States, South Korea and Canada.
RI eyes benefits from India pact
15-Sep-2008 Jakarta Post
Indonesia may see robust growth in exports to India following the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between India and members of ASEAN, mainly crude palm oil.
Fonterra caught in China milk powder scandal
15-Sep-2008 Epoch Times
New Zealand’s dairy giant Fonterra is caught up in the latest food scandal in China as the contaminated milk powder crisis reveals weeks of delay before the public was informed. NZ Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said “We signed up for a free trade agreement with no rules around environment or health, and so we are exposing ourselves and our companies to these types of scandals.”
EU to sign Asean amity, cooperation treaty
14-Sep-2008 The Nation
Despite Thailand’s political uncertainty the European Union remains keen to negotiate a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) with the Kingdom as a way to facilitate progress on a wider Asean-EU FTA.
New Delhi plans to join Investment Disputes Convention
13-Sep-2008 Economic Times
New Delhi is considering a proposal to join the World Bank convention, International Convention on Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Open letter from the Caribbean Conference of Churches
13-Sep-2008 Caribbean Net News
While it has been asserted that failure to conclude the agreement within the timeframe dictated by the E.C. would threaten Caribbean exports to Europe, we feel that our leaders should not be constrained to pursue a course of action which could prove to be adverse to our people in the long run.
Costa Rica court strikes down CAFTA bill for overlooking indigenous
12-Sep-2008 Tico Times
Costa Rica could miss its Oct. 1 deadline to pass law reforms needed to enter the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) because of a legal snag in the final bill on intellectual property: Nobody thought to ask the country’s indigenous people.