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India, South Africa to discuss free trade pact
21-Feb-2008 AFP
The quest for a free trade pact would be high on the agenda this week of high-level talks between South Africa and India in Pretoria, a government official said Thursday.
The launch of a book on the impact of ICSID on human rights
21-Feb-2008 Bolpress
In its introduction the book explains how international financial institutions act like tailors charged with fitting out transnationals with tailor-made suits.
Morocco: Anger rises with prices
21-Feb-2008 IPS
The move to embrace a free trade economy has brought a sharp increase in the price of basic goods across Morocco. This is causing hardship, and threatening social stability.
"Via Campesina, from anti-WTO to anti-FTA"
21-Feb-2008 VOP
Interview with Jun Gi-Hoan, General Secretary of Korean Peasants League
Canada, Jordan start free trade talks
20-Feb-2008 Alberta Farmer Express
Canada and Jordan on Wednesday officially launched negotiations toward a free trade agreement (FTA) that could boost ag trade between the two countries.
No free trade pact with India for now: US
20-Feb-2008 Thaindian News
It is “premature” for the US to consider a free trade agreement with India, United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab said Wednesday
Peru declares state of emergency on farm protests
19-Feb-2008 Bloomberg
Peru’s government declared a state of emergency after a farmers’ protest left at least four dead and more than 700 under arrest. Farmers called the nationwide protest to push for state subsidies as part of a free-trade agreement with the US, for lower prices for fertilizers and for a halt to farm seizures by banks. "The government has lost all credibility,’’ protest organisers said.
US, Rwanda sign investment agreement
19-Feb-2008 UPI
The presidents of the United States and Rwanda signed a trade agreement Tuesday, saying the pact urges US companies to consider Rwanda a good investment.
Yemen lost $145m due to Arab Free Trade Zone
19-Feb-2008 AME Info
Yemen lost $154m during 2005-2007 due to gradual reduction for customs and tax tariff within the agreement of the biggest Arab Free Trade Zone
Southern Africa: African nations endorse plan to merge trade blocs
19-Feb-2008 AllAfrica.com
Trade ministers from Comesa have passed a resolution setting the stage for the establishment of what would be Africa’s largest common market. The ministers want trade regimes within the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) harmonised.
Bangladesh: FTA offers little benefits to weaker economies
19-Feb-2008 The Independent Bangladesh
"There is no compelling case for an FTA with India" warns Dr Hamid Rashid, director general of the Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs
Sri Lanka: The cost of free trade
19-Feb-2008 The Island
India’s Minister of Commerce was in Colombo last week. He had the usual few words to say about the benefits that are supposed to have accrued to pretty much everybody since the entry into force of the free trade agreement with Sri Lanka in 2000. Unfortunately, the story isn’t so simple. Taking a closer look at what has happened in practice would prompt even the most ardent believer to question the undoubtedly beguiling theory of free trade.
Striking farmers shut access to Peru’s Machu Picchu
19-Feb-2008 Reuters
Peruvian farmers upset over a free trade deal with the United States blocked rail service to the famous Inca ruins at Machu Picchu on Monday and paralyzed vast swaths of the Andean country by halting traffic on key highways.
FTA approval could be held up by unconstitutional clauses
19-Feb-2008 Hankyoreh
A South Korean parliamentary report says that some of the clauses of a free trade agreement with the United States — National Assembly’s right to dictate taxable items and tax rates — may be unconstitutional.
US-Korea Understanding on Agricultural Biotechnology (2007)
18-Feb-2008 Korean Advanced Farmers Federation
Negotiated on the sidelines of the US-Korea FTA, in March 2007.
Premier forum d’investissement des Etats membres de l’Accord d’Agadir
18-Feb-2008 Business News
L’objectif général du forum serait d’accroître le flux des investissements européens dans les pays de l’Espace Agadir
US Treasury Dept outlines open investment campaign to ward off protectionism
18-Feb-2008 Forbes
Developing a policy response to the concerns surrounding sovereign wealth funds, addressing the national security aspect of foreign investment, and negotiating bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are ’at the forefront of an open investment campaign that must be waged to hold the forces of protectionism at bay,’ a US Treasury Department official said today.
Talks focus on copyright laws
16-Feb-2008 Kuwait Times
Government officials in Kuwait expressed their keenness over signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States but a senior US economic representative recently noted that talks with regards to the issue are ongoing.
US labor leaders to Bush: No trade deal with murderers
16-Feb-2008 PWW
Top labor leaders ended a trip to Colombia Feb. 13 by telling that country’s president, Alvaro Uribe, that American unions will not support the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the killing of union members by right-wing death squads there is put to a stop.
Talks with US on for Bipa-like trade treaty
14-Feb-2008 Economic Times
India and the US have begun discussions this week on an agreement to promote bilateral investment. The negotiations are expected to be protracted as the US agenda is highly ambitious.