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BIMSTEC can be a bridge between South & Southeast Asia
1-Sep-2008 Energy Bangla
Bangladesh feels that the BIMSTEC has immense potential for creating greater economic interaction, flow of trade and investment among the member states, though its FTA has yet to be finalised.
The struggle continues over EPAs
1-Sep-2008
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs) are being given a bad name for nothing, according to Ghanaian parliamentarian JB Danquah.
Danger ahead! Back door US deal threatens all remaining foreign investment rules
1-Sep-2008 Foreign Control Watchdog
The NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade recently announced the opening of negotiations with Singapore, Chile and Brunei to extend a two year old trade and investment agreement (the grandly named Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership - often known as the P4) into investment and financial services.
Union, Alliance blast ASEAN FTA
31-Aug-2008
The Maritime Union has blasted a new free trade agreement between New Zealand, Australia and the ASEAN nations, saying it is bad for workers because it includes Burma.
India-ASEAN FTA not to hit southern farmers, says Nath
30-Aug-2008 PTI
Allaying fears of the Left-ruled Kerala that an FTA with ASEAN could harm farmers’ interest in the southern states, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today said India cannot get isolated in the growing economies of east Asia. "They don’t even know what the agreement is," Nath said when asked to comment on Kerala’s opposition to the FTA.
S. Korea, EU fail to make progress in FTA talks
30-Aug-2008 Xinhua
South Korea and the European Union failed to narrow their gap in their free trade agreement (FTA) talks, South Korean Trade Ministry said on Friday.
ASEAN chief says proposed ASEAN-EU free trade pact "challenging"
29-Aug-2008 Channel News Asia
A proposed free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union is "one of the most challenging" ASEAN is negotiating, the bloc’s chief said on Thursday. The two parties had agreed on a schedule for discussions, but were having problems making headway due to the complexity of the talks.
EPA deadline a moving target - It’s October 31 or nothing, says EU
29-Aug-2008 Jamaica Gleaner
A senior European Union diplomat in Kingston warned Wednesday that Caribbean countries that fail to sign a trade pact the region negotiated with EU by the October 31 deadline will lose preferential access for their product into the European market.
Free trade including Myanmar dictatorship is a slow motion disaster for workers and democracy in both nations
29-Aug-2008 Scoop
The Alliance Party says the news that New Zealand has negotiated a free trade deal with ASEAN nations that include the fascist dictatorship of Myanmar is a disgrace of historical proportions and is a slow motion disaster for workers in New Zealand and in Myanmar.
Maritime Union criticizes Myanmar connection in free trade deal
29-Aug-2008 Voxy
The Maritime Union of New Zealand says a free trade deal signed with ASEAN nations including the military dictatorship of Myanmar is bad for workers as it will boost the violently anti-worker regime in Myanmar and threatens workers rights.
EPA, worst thing since slavery - NWU
28-Aug-2008 Radio Jamaica
One of Jamaica’s major trade unions is insisting that Jamaica could be heading down a dangerous path if it goes ahead and signs the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
‘Don’t vote on JPEPA until sure pact complies with Charter’
28-Aug-2008 Inquirer
Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday said she will ask Senate President Manuel Villar to postpone voting on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) until after a formal exchange of notes that will guarantee the treaty does not violate the Constitution.
ASEAN concludes FTA with Australia, New Zealand
28-Aug-2008 Kyodo
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded Thursday a free trade accord with Australia and New Zealand that will link up the 10-member grouping with the latter’s free trade pact, the sides said.
ASEAN concludes free trade deal with India
28-Aug-2008 AFP
ASEAN nations have concluded a deal for free trade in goods with India, the bloc’s seventh-largest trading partner, ministers said Thursday.
ASEAN pledges to ratify FTA with Japan soon
28-Aug-2008 MCOT
Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, meeting in Hanoi, have pledged to work for the speedy ratification of an economic partnership agreement with Japan that is expected to take effect before the end of this year. A Philippine official says the pact will come into force on 1 October.
ASEAN, China make substantive progress on investment pact
28-Aug-2008 Xinhua
The Southeast Asian bloc and China announced here Wednesday that they made substantive progress in the negotiations on the bilateral investment pact which is expected to be signed at the Bangkok Summit in December this year.
Jamaica: Trade unions want EPA signing delayed
28-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) says it will seek to delay the signing of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), between CARIFORUM and the European Union, to allow for a review and possible renegotiation of the agreement.
’RP gave too many concessions to Japan in free trade deal’
28-Aug-2008 ABS-CBN
A former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law on Wednesday criticized as unconstitutional the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) for allowing Japanese citizens to own land, practice certain professions and operate and administer educational institutions in the Philippines.
Honduras: Joining ALBA ‘a step towards the centre-left,’ says president
27-Aug-2008 IPS
Honduras has joined the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), amid criticism from the business community and right-wing political sectors.
Peru-China free trade negotiations could close in November
27-Aug-2008 LIP
Peru’s minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz, considered today the possibility that negotiations with China in order to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could end in November.