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Dominican Republic-U.S. trade deficit jumps to US$688M on imports
13-May-2008
In the first three months this year the country posted a trade deficit with the United States of US$688 million, much higher than the US$426 million in the year earlier period, reports newspaper Hoy.
Amid trade talks, MPs visit Colombia’s refugees
13-May-2008
A group of Canadian MPs travelled to Colombia Monday to get a first-hand look at one of the hemisphere’s most volatile countries before Ottawa finalizes a free trade deal with its government.
Canada’s unwitting role in Colombia
13-May-2008
Parliament is currently debating whether to approve the still-undisclosed text of a future free-trade agreement with Colombia. Canada’s expected gains are increased access for agricultural and mining goods, plus better legal protection for Canadian companies investing in Colombia. Colombian gains are rather small, however - concentrated on flowers and textiles, since 80 per cent of what is sold to Canada already enters free of duty.
High powered push for Japan trade deal
13-May-2008
It’s time to get serious about doing a trade deal with Japan, says free trade and business lobbyists, who say we’ve been neglecting our relationship with the world’s second biggest economy.
Parties collide over US beef at FTA hearing
13-May-2008 Yonhap
South Korea’s political parties collided over the scheduled import of US beef Tuesday, as opposition parties continued their move to link the beef accord with ratification of a free trade deal with Washington.
Second round of negotiations on CEPA starts in Islamabad today
12-May-2008
The second round of negotiations between Srilanka and Pakistan on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) starts in Islamabad today (Tuesday).
Pakistan, Mauritius to activate FTA in 18 months
12-May-2008
Pakistan and Mauritius agreed to operationalise a free trade agreement between the two countries within 18 months to boost South-South trade. Addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Commerce after the conclusion of a three-day 7th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, Anand Priyay Neewoor, the head of Mauritius delegation, said the issue of sensitive products would be settled once the FTA became operational between the two countries.
Laing: Telecom, real estate excluded from EPA negotiations
12-May-2008 Bahama Journal
Telecommunications and real estate in The Bahamas are two sectors that are, for now, off limits for negotiations under the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and CARIFORUM, State Minister for Finance Zhivargo Laing reported yesterday.
Tate & Lyle enters into long-term agreement on the supply of raw sugar with Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd
12-May-2008 NPI
Tate & Lyle has entered into a long-term agreement on the supply of raw sugar for preferential import into the European Union under the provisions of the Economic Partnership Agreement between Fiji and the European Union.
India, Lanka services pact soon
12-May-2008 Business Standard
Talks for an agreement on enhanced market access for service sectors between India and Sri Lanka are at an advanced stage and are likely to be concluded by the month-end.
USTR releases annual "Special 301 Report" of IP trade barriers
12-May-2008 PIJIP Blogs
PIJIP has compared the US Trade Representative’s 2008 Special 301 Report to input it received from the copyright-owner and pharmaceutical industries. The Special 301 Report identifies IP policies and practices in foreign countries which the US government considers harmful to American IP owners. The PIJIP comparison shows that the US government is fairly responsive to industry, although some industry recommendations carry more weight than others.
Preliminary comments on the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEPA)
12-May-2008
Brief analysis of the AJCEPA text
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to be signed in July
12-May-2008 Jamaica Gleaner
The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Commission and the Caribbean states will be signed in July. The decision was made at the 26th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development which ended in Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday.
Govt asks EU to lift ‘paranoid’ health-related trade barriers
12-May-2008 Financial Express
In a move that may help negotiators to move ahead with the proposed India-European Union free-trade agreement (FTA), the Indian government has forwarded two significant suggestions to the EU to settle the wrangling on it’s health-related trade rules.
Opposition party threatens to scuttle KORUS FTA over beef
12-May-2008 Donga
Korea’s main opposition United Democratic Party yesterday said it will refuse to ratify the free trade deal with the United States unless both countries renegotiate their beef import agreement.
Kenya tea loses its flavour in Pakistan
11-May-2008
A tactical manoeuvre by Pakistan into bilateral free trade arrangements with several Asian neighbours is threatening to throw its multi-billion shilling-a-year-tea trade with Kenya into a spin.
Flexible approach to drive EU-Asean FTA negotiations
11-May-2008
A flexible approach within the regional framework of the European Union (EU)-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) will help drive the negotiations forward, according to EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.
Thai-Indian FTA almost ready to sign
11-May-2008
India and Thailand are likely to be able to sign the much anticipated free trade agreement within two or three months as most of the key issues have been resolved, says India’s commerce minister.
7th FTA talks with EU start in Belgium today
11-May-2008
Delegations from South Korea and the European Union will get together for a new round of the free trade agreement (FTA) talks starting today in Brussels, Belgium.
Textile Union Welcomes Tariff Freeze
10-May-2008
Today’s announcement by Commerce Minister, Lianne Dalziel, of a freeze on general tariff reductions for two years from July 2009 has been welcomed by the National Distribution Union. The NDU represents workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industries.