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Bahrain: Best Yet To Come
9-Aug-2008
Two years down the track, Bahrain’s free trade agreement (FTA) with the US has garnered mixed reviews, with some hailing it as an overwhelming success while others say it has yet to reach its full potential.
South Koreans fill streets of Seoul to continue protest sgainst US beef imports
9-Aug-2008 DN!
For the past two months, protesters have been filling the streets of Seoul condemning a decision to lift a ban on imported beef from the United States. We speak with Michael Hansen, senior scientist for Consumers Union.
Viewpoint: Labour mobility deals
9-Aug-2008 Islands Business
Under pressure to sign on to new free trade agreements, Pacific Islands governments interested in securing positive outcomes for their peoples see deals on labour mobility as potential development gains. But is this the right approach? And what are the potential costs?
Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between India, Syria
9-Aug-2008 Economic Times
The Union Cabinet on Friday gave its ex post facto approval for the signing of a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA) between India and Syria
India to sign labour agreements with Malaysia, Oman and Bahrain
9-Aug-2008 PIB
India has clinched labour agreements with Malaysia, Oman and Bahrain for protection and welfare of Indian emigrants in these countries.
JCTU urges gov’t to postpone EPA signing
8-Aug-2008 Go-Jamaica
The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions has joined in the call for the government to postpone signing the Economic Partnership Agreement recently negotiated with the European Union.
Two years target for FTA conclusion with EU very ambitious, says Asean Sec-Gen
8-Aug-2008 Bernama
Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan today shot down the possibility of a speedy conclusion of the European Union-Asean Free Trade Agreement
Issues stalling free trade pact with Asean resolved
8-Aug-2008
India has concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), with the deadlock over certain ‘outstanding issues’ that were stalling the pact from taking off being finally resolved.
Asean, India agree on FTA
7-Aug-2008
After three years of strenuous talks, negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA) between Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) and India were finally concluded Thursday.
Unresolved issues aplenty before India-Japan FTA
7-Aug-2008
Despite India’s hope of concluding the Indo-Japan free trade agreement (FTA) in the next round of talks in New Delhi in September this year, there still remains a whole gamut of unresolved issues concerning market access for Indian exports to Japan.
Bush visit prompts nationwide protests
7-Aug-2008 Hankyoreh
Korean citizens voice opposition to US beef deal, Afghan troop deployment and KORUS FTA
Calling for solidarity - Lee Myung-bak government repression against the KCTU and Fundamental Trade Union Rights
7-Aug-2008 KCTU
When KCTU called for general strike on July 2nd, renegotiation of the April 18 Protocol on US beef import to reflect food safety concerns was declared as one of priorities of strike aims. The Ministry of Labor and prosecutor explained that this was the main reason that it was illegal. This is a repetition of the South Korean government’s very narrow interpretation that the only legal aims of strikes be related to wages and working conditions.
US dairy industry set to resist push for NZ FTA
7-Aug-2008 NZBR
The United States’ dairy sector is looming as a major stumbling block for any New Zealand-USA free trade agreement as American farm lobbyists worry that NZ dairy exports could flood their domestic market.
EU-Asean minus FTA expected in three years’ time
6-Aug-2008 Bernama
An EU-Asean Minus Free Trade Agreement — likely to exclude Laos, Burma and Cambodia — is expected to be established within the next two to three years’ time, a European Commission official in Indonesia said.
Great expectations from expanded customs union
6-Aug-2008
A top businessman and some economists in Namibia are optimistic that the proposed Southern African Development Community (SADC) Customs Union will break down trade barriers in the region and create competition that will benefit the ordinary consumer.
Colombia deal side agreements under microscope
6-Aug-2008 Embassy Magazine
With the Canada-Colombia deal done, but the text still kept secret, some say that the provisions on labour and the environment at least establish a record of commitment, while others say that without enforceable complaint mechanisms the side agreements amount to little more than lip service.
Step up competitive edge to cope with liberalisation challenges, says Muhyiddin
6-Aug-2008
Local companies must step up their competitive edge to compete with products of foreign companies that will enter the Malaysian market in the goods and services sector under the liberalisation process of the World Trade Organization, Free Trade Agreements and Asean Framework Agreement on Services.
Japan pushing JPEPA due to WTO collapse
6-Aug-2008
The collapse of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks last week are pushing Japan to become even more aggressive in seeking bilateral and regional trade deals that advance its big corporate interests.
Sri Lankan MPs clash over CEPA with India
6-Aug-2008 Economic Times
Sparks flew in the Sri Lankan parliament as supporters and critics clashed over the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India.
CKUT - Off the hour - collapse of WTO talks
6-Aug-2008
Interview with Aziz Choudry on the collapse of WTO talks in Geneva, and what’s happening with FTAs, aired on CKUT Radio’s Off the Hour, Tuesday edition, 5 August 2008.