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Ever heard of Gaesung? Gear up for its products
The North Korean city of Gaesung will emerge as a major beneficiary of the India-South Korea comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) which is likely to be signed soon
Social organizations oppose signing economic agreement with China
Farmers, medium-sized and small businesses will lose out while capitalists will reap the most benefits if an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between Taiwan and China is signed. An ECFA is also a prelude to reunification.
S Korea, Peru to start free trade talks
South Korea and Peru will start their first round of free trade negotiations in Seoul next week, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Friday.
USIBC wants Bilateral Investment Treaty between India & US
The US India Business Council, which played a key role in the passage of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, wants the Obama administration to take the relationship between the two countries to the next level by signing a bilateral investment treaty, among other things.
Sealing the deal
After years of political wrangling, Syria’s long-delayed Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union is expected to be ratified by EU member states by the middle of the year.
India-EU free trade agreement: Should India open up banking sector?
This report questions the much-touted benefits of opening up banking sector under the India-EU FTA. Are big European banks going to augment the reach of the banking system to millions of Indians citizens who have no access to basic banking services? What specialization and experience do European banks have when it comes to providing basic banking services to landless rural workers and urban poor dwellers? Will the India-EU FTA reduce the domestic regulatory space?
Indonesia and Chile are exploring free trade agreement possibilities between the two countries
To meet the interest of Chile becoming a bridge between Asia-Pacific markets including Indonesian and South American, especially Latin America markets near to the Atlantic ocean, Indonesia and Chile are discussing the possibility of free trade agreements of both countries.
US to push back on SPS farm trade barriers -Kirk
The United States will make it a priority to get rid of barriers to US farm exports based on unjustified sanitary and phytosanitary concerns about human, animal and plant health — including the EU ban on GM crops — the designee for US Trade Representative said on Thursday.
New trade deal falls ’well short’: Truss
The new ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement falls well short of what could be considered a good deal for Australian industry, according to the Shadow Minister for Trade, Warren Truss.
Brussels pushing finance deregulation in third world
While EU and other global leaders have talked tough about re-regulating the financial sector in the wake of the economic crisis, they remain committed to pushing through banking deregulation in the developing world via trade deals.
Ending NAFTA Inspired Trucking Program Could Spark Retaliation
There is speculation that canceling the cross-border trucking program under NAFTA could set the tables for a showdown between the Obama administration and the Mexican government.
ECO declaration calls for free trade area
The 10th summit meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) on Wednesday reaffirmed its determination to move towards establishment of a free trade area in ECO region by 2015 as a priority task.
US lawmaker details obstacles to free trade deals
Panama, Colombia and South Korea need to resolve a number of outstanding concerns before Congress will approve free trade pacts with each of those countries, a US lawmaker said on Wednesday.
Seoul seeks ‘concrete measures‘ on free trade
South Korea is pushing for the G20 countries to support a moratorium on new import tariffs at next month’s meeting, according to President Lee Myung-bak.
NZ trade deal low on envoy’s to-do list
Don’t misread Kirk’s testimony to yesterday’s meeting of the US Senate Finance Committee as an omen that the last rites are imminent for New Zealand’s prospective regional free-trade deal with the world’s largest consumer nation. Instead focus on Kirk’s confident statement during his Senate confirmation hearing that President Barack Obama will seek renewed trade promotion authority (or fast-track) at the "appropriate time".
FTA with Seoul unacceptable, says USTR nominee
The US trade representative-designate on Monday said Washington’s free trade agreement with Seoul was unfair in its current state and warned his government could ditch the deal. The FTA "as it is just simply isn’t fair, and if we don’t get that right we’ll be prepared to step away from that," Ron Kirk said in his confirmation hearing at the US Senate Finance Committee.
Free Trade: Passing The Baton to Obama
When it comes to further advancing free trade initiatives, it really makes no difference which party controls, congress or the presidency.
China courts Costa Rica; expands its presence in Washington’s backyard
Costa Rica and China may seem to be an unlikely pairing; however, both governments have moved to deepen their ties and cement regional integration based on the pursuit of a free trade agreement, which was brought a step closer by the completion of the first round of negotiations on January 19.
India postpones FTA with ASEAN
Six years of negotiations have yet to convince India to sign a much-awaited free trade deal with ASEAN, as scheduled last week during the group’s summit. India would only ink a deal after it concludes its April general elections.