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Garment factories hit by high production costs
2-Feb-2009 Jordan Times
Some garment factories in Jordan’s Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) are relocating to other countries because of high production costs
Trade roller-coaster: The ups and downs in 2008 and the road ahead
2-Feb-2009 Focus
It was a dizzying roller coaster-year for trade. As the multilateral trade talks faltered, bilateral and regional free trade and economic partnership agreements on the other hand surged, fueled mainly by the aggressive push by the most powerful economies - the US, EU, Japan and China - of their respective brands of commercial diplomacy.
Australia, S Korea a step closer to FTA
2-Feb-2009 AAP
South Korea and Australia have taken another step towards signing a free trade agreement (FTA), despite the ongoing global economic crisis.
Small Mexican towns hurt as global economy goes south
2-Feb-2009 Houston Chronicle
Amid the worldwide economic slump, many in Los Rodriguez and communities like it across Mexico that have heavily invested in trade with the United States are starting to feel - and fear - globalization’s sting.
Econo-protests paralyze Mexico City, Juárez-El Paso bridge
1-Feb-2009 WW4 Report
Thousands of campesinos from across Mexico blocked central avenues of the capital Jan. 30, many having traveled for days for the protest directed at President Felipe Calderón. Protesters decried that Calderón has instated a freeze on petrol prices, but not diesel-on which tractors and other farm equipment run. They also rejected Calderón’s free trade policies, which they say hurts the farm sector.
AJCEP implementation to enhance Malaysia-Japan relations
1-Feb-2009 Bernama
Implementation of the Asean-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) is expected enhance bilateral economic relations and industrial cooperation between Malaysia and Japan under the Malaysia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (MJEPA). The AJCEP comes into force for Malaysia and Japan from today.
Indonesian asks ASEAN to postpone signing FTA agreements with Australia, New Zealand
31-Jan-2009 People’s Daily
The Indonesian Industry Ministry demanded a postponement of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to protect Indonesian local industry, said an official here on Thursday.
New Syrian-Turkish economic ties forged
31-Jan-2009 IWPR
Syria and Turkey have recently bolstered economic relations by signing new agreements on trade, investment and finance.. Experts say the growing ties are in part a result of Ankara’s ambitions to expand into Arab markets via Syria.
Social movements meet with presidents
31-Jan-2009 ALAI
At the World Social Forum taking place in Belem, Brasil, Latin American social movements held a dialogue on regional integration from a peoples’ perspective, with the leaders of four South American progressive governments. Presidents Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Fernando Lugo (Paraguay), Evo Morales (Bolivia) and Rafael Correa (Ecuador), met with 1500 representatives of social movements to exchange about past and future collaboration around integration initiatives such as the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA) as solutions to the global economic crisis.
“The job will be to ‘court’ specific manufacturers to Georgia”
31-Jan-2009 Georgian Business Week
An interview with Amy Denman, the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
Japanese delegation arrives in February to evaluate start of FTA with Peru
31-Jan-2009 Andina
In the first two weeks of February, an official Japanese delegation will arrive in Peru to evaluate the beginning and modalities of a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both countries
’Buy American’ stimulus plan riles trade partners
30-Jan-2009 AFP
A new "Buy American" push in President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan is sparking protests about protectionism from US trading partners.
Ramphal warns against ’devaluing goals’ of CSME
29-Jan-2009
Sir Shridath Ramphal has warned against the danger of "devaluing the goals" of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and is urging the region’s decision makers to avoid a course that could only be "to our peril" at a time of enormous economic challenges.
Aussie plea on US trade restrictions
29-Jan-2009
Australian officials are intensively lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reconsider new "Buy American" provisions that were attached to the $US819 billion ($1.25 trillion) stimulus package passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, amid fears that they will usher in a new era of protectionism and harm Australia’s steel exports to the US.
Ottawa involved in AbitibiBowater dispute, Day says
29-Jan-2009
The federal government has confirmed it is now playing a part to help resolve a dispute between AbitibiBowater and the Newfoundland and Labrador government.
FMM: Restart US FTA talks
29-Jan-2009
Datuk Mustafa Mansur, president of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) wants the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions with the United States to be restarted to strengthen market access. “The FTA with the US will open up a big market for us,” says Mustafa.
EU responds to demands with more demands
29-Jan-2009 Gulof News
The demands which stood as obstacles to signing an EU-GCC FTA are non-commercial demands, although GCC countries made a great leap in updating and modernising economic and commercial laws in the past years, thinking this would meet EU requirements in this respect.
Eurochambres favours EU-Central America association agreement
29-Jan-2009 Europolitics
Speaking at the EU-Central America Private Sector Forum, in Brussels on 28 January, Eurochambres’ Secretary-General Arnaldo Abruzzini urged political leaders not to miss the favourable momentum to conclude an association agreement (AA) between the EU and Central America, to the benefit of businesses in both regions.
Bush deals last-minute insults to workers’ rights
29-Jan-2009 AFL-CIO
In Bush’s final hours in office, he implemented a trade agreement with Peru despite calls by Congress, unions, environmental and human rights groups to delay action to ensure that Peru’s laws meet its commitments before the agreement enters into force. At the same time, the Bush Labor Department’s Office of Trade & Labor Affairs rejected a petition, the first of its kind, under the labor provisions of the Central America Free Trade Act (CAFTA).
Ramming the matter home: Peru-US FTA rushed, diluted and finagled
29-Jan-2009 COHA
Two weeks ago, as the Peruvian Congress buoyantly rushed to amend labor, health, and environmental requirements in order to implement the long pending bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, former President George W. Bush and Peruvian President Alan García could not afford any further delays. As Barack Obama moved into the White House, it was clear that the Bush and García Administrations’ priority was to declare the FTA in effect regardless of what had been previously negotiated and amended in the halls of the Peruvian Congress.