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EU wants provinces on board before talks start
22-May-2008 Embassy Magazine
After years of exploring the feasibility of a free trade agreement with the European Union, Canadian politicians and officials are now turning their attention to the next Canada-EU summit, in Montreal in October, as the venue for finally launching official talks.
Muhyiddin suggests a pre-negotiation discussion to move forward FTA deal with US
22-May-2008
Malaysia and US should have a pre-negotiation discussion on some of the contentious issues that have delayed the progress of the Free Trade Agreement with the US, International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Wednesday.
BITs and peace: The connection
22-May-2008
How beneficial are Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) for Contracting states remains a hotly debated issue, threatening to eclipse the success due to misgivings generated largely by the Latin American experience.
India wants trade deal by end of next year
21-May-2008
Australia and India should aim to complete a free trade agreement by the end of next year, says India’s influential Commerce and Industry Minister, Kamal Nath.
EU urges India to offer more in bilateral trade talks
21-May-2008
The European Commission called on India on Tuesday to go further with its plans to open up its economy to European exports under a planned bilateral trade deal between the two trade powers.
Comesa ministers root for common policy
21-May-2008
Comesa trade ministers are rooting for a crash programme to harmonise intra-regional policies before the December 2008 deadline of signing a joint Customs Union (CU).
The EPA conundrum
21-May-2008
There are strident calls for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), due to be signed by Cariforum in July, to be amended, varied or simply not signed. Any possible renegotiation of the treaty, it is acknowledged, might come at a potentially intolerable cost.
Whither regional integration?
21-May-2008
As a result of the free trade agreements with the European Union, called economic partnership agreements, regional integration in Southern Africa is in tatters. The question arises: what kind of integration would engender broad-based development?
People’s Summit: Linking Alternatives III declaration
21-May-2008 Radio Mundo Real
We reject the project of Association Agreements proposed by the European Union and backed by diverse Latin American and Caribbean governments which only aim to deepen and perpetuate the current system of domination which has caused so much harm to our peoples.
Venezuela proposes food crisis fund at controversial trans-Atlantic summit
21-May-2008 Venezuela Analysis
Of primary emphasis at the summit were the EU’s trade deals, termed “association accords,” with South America’s Andean Community of Nations (CAN) and the southern free trade block MERCOSUR.
Nigeria: Country to lose $478.4 million revenue to EPA
21-May-2008 Afrika News Update
The country will lose an average of $478.4 million revenue in 2008 if it implements the degree of import liberalization as demanded by the Europeans through the Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, a top official of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Chibuzo Nwoke has warned.
Europe aims to build links with Mediterranean neighbors
21-May-2008
A new body should reinvigorate the proposal for a Euro-Mediterranean free trade zone by 2010, a new European Commission document says.
Malaysia urges US to drop contentious issues from free trade talks
21-May-2008 IHT
Malaysia urged the United States on Wednesday to drop contentious issues from their free trade talks so that a deal can be forged.
Partisan strife continues over FTA, US beef
21-May-2008 Yonhap
Political tension over Seoul’s controversial trade pacts with Washington heightened on Wednesday, just three days before the last session of the outgoing parliament is scheduled to close.
EU-Central America FTA (draft, 2008)
21-May-2008
Don’t be rushed into trade deal with EU, think-tank warns
21-May-2008
Independent think-tank IBON Foundation said that the Philippine government should not rush into negotiations for a partnership cooperation agreement with the European Union.
EU gives cautious welcome to India’s free trade proposals
21-May-2008 Khaleej Times
India has delivered "useful" proposals for a free trade agreement with Europe but a lot of work remains to be done, a European Commission spokesman said Tuesday.
India, Brunei to sign bilateral investment agreement
20-May-2008 IRIS
India and Brunei Darussalam will be signing an agreement on bilateral investment and protection and three other MoUs in different areas to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation.
Food crisis key to trade talks with Japanese
19-May-2008 NZ Herald
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the impact of the international food crisis is the key reason why the Japanese Government has agreed to a ground-breaking study on the benefits of a bilateral free trade agreement.
S Korea, US continue consultations on beef: envoy
19-May-2008 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States are continuing consultations on the controversial issue of beef trade, with public protests here over a related deal showing no signs of abating, the top U.S. envoy here said Monday.