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Megaprojects and militarization: A perfect storm in Mexico
1-Jun-2009 WW4 Report
As Mexican security budgets inflate with US aid-to combat the rising power of drug trafficking and organized crime-rights groups say these funds are increasingly being used to protect the interests of multinational corporations.
Peru: Indigenous protests force government negotiation
31-May-2009 Green Left Weekly
Since April 9, indigenous communities have shut down oil fields and gas pipelines, and blocked roads, rivers, airports and other installations. These actions are in protest at government decrees that open access to indigenous people’s lands to facilitate oil, mining, logging and agricultural companies. Garcia decreed the laws under special powers awarded to him by Congress to bring Peruvian law into line with a free trade agreement (FTA) signed with the United States in December 2007.
Trade diplomat taps his deal-making past
31-May-2009 NY Times
Ron Kirk, the new US Trade Representative, said that he did not have “deal fever,” indicating no rush to slam together new trade pacts even if the local politician in him hates for issues with solutions to drag on.
Southern Africa still kicking against controversial EPA
29-May-2009 IPS
High-level talks at a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) meeting in Gaborone last week failed to produce an agreement on the signing of the interim economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
Canada-Colombia FTA removed from legislative agenda: Canada steps towards dignity
29-May-2009
Public pressure has forced a victory in the fight to stop the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA). Sources from Canada’s three opposition parties have confirmed that the ruling Conservative Party has removed Bill C-23, implementing legislation for the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, from the government’s current legislative agenda.
Asean-Japan FTA will enhance JTEPA
29-May-2009 The Nation
The Asean-Japan Free-Trade Agreement will take effect for Thailand early next month, and the Kingdom will see enhanced benefits on top of its own bilateral trade pact, a senior commercial officer said yesterday.
Joint statement of USTR and Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry
28-May-2009 USTR
The US and Egypt have signed a "Plan for a Strategic Partnership" to develop bilateral trade and investment
US, Egypt aim to bolster trade and investment ties
28-May-2009 Dow Jones
US and Egyptian officials signed agreements Wednesday aimed at strengthening trade and investment links between the two nations, a move that comes a week ahead of a trip to Egypt by US President Barack Obama.
India firm on duty-free access to EU market
28-May-2009 Business Standard
India will stick to its demand for duty-free access to 95 per cent of the outward trade from India to the European Union (EU), against 90 per cent of that from the EU to India, for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a top government official from the commerce ministry said.
Unions to flex muscle with Australia’s Labor govt
28-May-2009 Reuters
Unions will urge Rudd’s Labor government at a national conference next week to end future free trade deals and give local firms a price advantage when bidding for government contracts, Australia’s top union boss Sharan Burrow said.
Cross-Strait matrix: The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement
28-May-2009 Jamestown Foundation
The possibility of China and Taiwan reaching a formal free trade agreement in 2009 or later depends on complex bilateral (i.e. China and Taiwan), triangular (i.e. China, Taiwan and the United State), multilateral (e.g. ASEAN, WTO), and even global forces (e.g. the global recession and the G-20 response).
EU-Andean talks inch forward, but Ecuador threatens to pull out
27-May-2009 ICTSD
Negotiations toward a trade-opening deal between the EU and a group of Andean countries hit another snag this week when Ecuador’s president publicly denounced the talks, calling them ‘biased’.
EPA lessons and Canadian FTA
27-May-2009 Norman Girvan
Lessons from the EU-Caribbean FTA negotiating process in view of a possible Canada-CARICOM FTA, by Norman Girvan
Amazonian Indigenous protest provokes Peruvian government reprisals
27-May-2009 ENS
After more than six weeks of protests by Peru’s Amazonian indigenous groups that have included blockades of major roads and waterways and the shutting down an oil pipeline pumping station, the Peruvian government has begun to crack down.
EU free trade secondary to Asia pacts: Al Mansouri
27-May-2009 Gulf News
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is concentrating on trade talks with East Asia after negotiations with the European Union stalled, Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said.
Panama wrong choice for Obama’s first trade deal
27-May-2009 Seattle Times
This trade deal — largely based on the North American Free Trade Agreement model — was written by and for multinational companies. It enables companies to increase their profits while skipping town on taxes.
Free trade agreements pushed by Grassley, pork produce
27-May-2009 Brownfield
The National Pork Producers Council is pushing for passage of the Panama Free Trade Agreement, saying it will level the playing field for U.S. pork producers.
Mainland expects to start talk on cross-Strait economic pact
27-May-2009 China.org
The Chinese mainland expects talks about a cross-Strait economic cooperation agreement to start in the latter half of this year, said President Hu Jintao Tuesday.
Soy group checks out Central, South American markets
27-May-2009 Farm Futures
The pending free trade agreement for Colombia could increase market access for soy products, but what would the impact really be? That was one of the goals of a fact-finding mission conducted by two US soybean farmers that participated in a Free Trade Agreement fact-finding mission to the South American country last week.
ECOWAS, EU free trade agreement on a cliff hanger
27-May-2009 The Guardian
There were strong indications last week that the free trade agreement between Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union may not be signed before its subsisting deadline-June 30th 2009 because of the need to protect the collective regional interest of ECOWAS States.