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Canada’s deal with Colombia ignores human rights abuses
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has joined with other labour and human rights organizations in condemning the Harper government’s approval of a free-trade deal with Colombia. The union is urging MPs in Ottawa to reject the tentative deal.
Pacific Governments want amendments to EPA
Pacific governments have given early indications they will not sign the current Economic Partnership Agreement with European Union without amendments.
Cote d’Ivoire, EU sign economic partnership agreement
Cote d’Ivoire and the European Union have signed an economic partnership agreement to promote bilateral trade, which the European bloc sees as an example for other West African countries to follow.
European Parliamentarian says Pacific EPAs must be changed
Concerns have been raised that the European Commission should allow Pacific countries to use export taxes for development purposes and that Economic Partnership Agreements should include adequate protection for infant industries.
Peru expects to conclude free trade agreement with Mexico by summer 2009
Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Mercedes Aráoz, confirmed today that Peru expects to finalize a free trade agreement with Mexico by summer next year.
SA farm, fish sectors face EU exports
Several hundred product lines, mostly in the agricultural, agro-processing and fishing sectors in South Africa, may face increased competition from the European Union.
Indian groups call for a halt on secret EU-India FTA negotiations
Indian organizations representing NGOs, farmers groups, trade unions, health groups and peoples’ movements are calling for an immediate halt to negotiations between India and the European Union on a far reaching Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will have an adverse impact on livelihoods, food security and access to healthcare.
S Korea, Japan to seek resumption of FTA talks
South Korea’s Trade Ministry said Wednesday that South Korea and Japan will launch working-level meeting next week to seek the resumption of negotiation over free trade agreement (FTA).
US wants to hold back FTA talks with Malaysia for a while
The United States wants to hold back the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks until its new government is in place by January next year, International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.
The trouble with our Africa trade negotiators
Agricultural and development economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are the flavour of the month. The global credit crisis, wide-scale economic meltdown and financial recession have sparked a wave of interest about the implications for Africa. It is crucial that this discussion happens.
Selling out Colombia’s ’tierra querida’
Colombian indigenous took their protest to Colombia’s capital Bogotá this weekend. Their struggle is about controlling the land in which they have lived and taken care of for hundreds of years.
EU, Syria to initial Association Agreement next month
The European Commission and Syria announced here Tuesday that they are set to initial the Association Agreement in Damascus on Dec. 14 after they agreed on all issues regarding the update of the draft document, which was reached in 2004.
After APEC, free trade orthodoxy questioned
Leaders of 21 nations that represent half the global economy fear a raft of new protectionist barriers will strangle commerce as the world slides into a frightening recession. There are growing signs that developing countries will erect protectionist barriers to weather the crisis, partly because they have seen that time after time, "free trade" agreements have focused chiefly on beating rivals to market.
Thailand and Peru plan FTA talks
Thailand and Peru are exploring a possible bilateral free trade pact as the Peruvian government would like to see see the surged trading between the two countries, according to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
India firm on signing FTA with Asean in Chiang Mai
India is firm in signing the much-awaited Asean-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, next month despite some teething problems that may further delay the trade pact, said a top trade official.
Farmers against FTA
More than 11,000 South Korean farmers rallied on Tuesday against a pending free-trade deal with the United States, saying the accord threatens their livelihoods.
Israel, Mexico signed the amended Israel-Mexico Free-Trade Agreement
The newly signed amendment allows for goods originating in Israel or Mexico to undergo minimal processing or storage in a third country such as the US or EU, and still retain duty-free status.
GCC and Europe FTA in few weeks
The Free Trade Agreement between European Union and GCC states will be signed within few weeks, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, has said.
Canadian Churches signal alarm over free trade deal with Colombia
KAIROS calls on the government of Canada to conduct a Human Rights Impact Assessment before proceeding any further.
Korea, Chile agree to form new multilateral FTA
President Bachelet reportedly asked her Korean counterpart to come to the negotiating table next March in Singapore, where countries including New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, the United States, India, Peru and Australia are expected to start negotiations on a multilateral FTA. According to Korean Presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan, President Lee gave a positive response to the proposal.