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Handled with tact, FTAs can do what WTO can’t
20-Apr-2008 China Daily
Compared with a multilateral organization like the WTO, FTAs are much more convenient for China in several aspects.
Dealing with the Proliferation of Bilateral Trade Agreements
19-Apr-2008
In this paper, we consider the various options proposed in dealing with the spaghetti bowl, and assess their ability to do so.
US-SKorea free trade pact still in limbo after beef deal
19-Apr-2008 AFP
The United States and South Korea may have ended a longstanding row over beef but the headway seems insufficient to convince the Democratic-controlled Congress to ratify a free trade agreement between the two allies.
USTR fact sheet on opening South Korea to US beef
19-Apr-2008 USTR
The United States and Korea concluded an agreement on April 18, 2008 to fully reopen South Korea’s market to all US beef and beef products irrespective of whether or not the FTA is ratified
Businesses warily eye Democrats’ trade position
18-Apr-2008 Reuters
As the race to select a US Democratic presidential nominee drags on, corporate chieftains and some trade groups are raising concerns about the candidates’ free trade positions.
South Korea relaxes US beef import rules
18-Apr-2008 Washington Post
South Korea on Friday agreed to open up to U.S. beef imports after Washington pledged to raise safety standards, boosting prospects for a sweeping trade deal ahead of a summit between leaders of the allies later in the day.
Human rights vow over trade talks
18-Apr-2008
Human rights issues will be high on the agenda in negotiations between the European Union and the GCC on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a senior official declared in Bahrain last night.
Emirates persists on US trade agreement
18-Apr-2008
The United States has not dropped the ball on a free-trade agreement with the UAE, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, told delegates at the Middle East-Asia Leadership Forum in Dubai.
Handled with tact, FTAs can do what WTO can’t
18-Apr-2008
On April 7, China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement (FTA) covering trade in goods and services as well as investment, making it the first FTA reached by China with a developed country.
Food safety on the butcher’s block
18-Apr-2008 FPIP
The United States is using bilateral trade agreements to arm-twist weaker countries into accepting its food safety standards as a tool to expand the market control of US corporations. South Korea is the latest victim.
Pacific trade ministers slam EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson
18-Apr-2008 Pacific Network on Globalisation
New letters show extent of dissent among Pacific trade ministers as ministers accuse top EU trade official of being "domineering" and using divide and rule tactics to split the region.
Trade dept backs proposal for trade rep office
17-Apr-2008
A proposal to create an Office of the Philippine Trade Representative (OPTR) is being supported by the Department of Trade and Industry as a means to help strengthen the country’s capability to negotiate external trade.
Free trade agreement not to blame - Cullen
17-Apr-2008
The Government was stung by suggestions yesterday that its much vaunted free trade agreement with China was linked to the loss of 430 jobs in Fisher and Paykel’s Mosgiel dishdrawer plant and hit back at the company.
A fairly thorough analysis of the NZ-China FTA
17-Apr-2008 Scoop
China will now be seeking to extrapolate figures upwards in every other developed country FTA — starting with Australia — into very significant numbers, based on what we, with our tiny population, were willing to concede.
Lee to link US beef import to visa waiver
17-Apr-2008 Korea Times
President Lee Myung-bak is expected to promise a full opening of the domestic beef market to the United States in exchange for U.S. authorization of South Koreans to tour the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
EU Free Trade Agreements Manual
17-Apr-2008 Oxfam GB
Eight briefings on the European Union’s approach to Free Trade Agreements published jointly by ActionAid, Christian Aid, and Oxfam
New free trade accord with China soon: Musharraf
17-Apr-2008 Dawn
President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that Pakistan and China were close to signing another Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on trade and services that would further boost their economic and commercial ties.
New Zealand-China FTA (2008)
17-Apr-2008 NZ-China FTA website
Arroyo can’t pressure Senate on JPEPA—Senator Pia Cayetano
16-Apr-2008 PDI
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should not be pressuring the Senate to ratify the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), Senator Pia Cayetano said Wednesday. "Anyone attending the hearings on JPEPA would have concluded that this agreement has so many loopholes and that the government panel miserably failed to secure terms favorable to Filipinos."
Industry group urges Congress to unfreeze Colombia trade agreement
16-Apr-2008 Market Wire
The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) called on Congressional leaders to approve the trade pact claiming considerable progress in Colombian government efforts to protect trade unionists.