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Open letter from the Caribbean Conference of Churches
13-Sep-2008 Caribbean Net News
While it has been asserted that failure to conclude the agreement within the timeframe dictated by the E.C. would threaten Caribbean exports to Europe, we feel that our leaders should not be constrained to pursue a course of action which could prove to be adverse to our people in the long run.
Costa Rica court strikes down CAFTA bill for overlooking indigenous
12-Sep-2008 Tico Times
Costa Rica could miss its Oct. 1 deadline to pass law reforms needed to enter the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) because of a legal snag in the final bill on intellectual property: Nobody thought to ask the country’s indigenous people.
Costa Rica top court blocks US trade pact approval
12-Sep-2008 AP
Costa Rica’s highest court on Thursday overturned an intellectual property law demanded by the US prior to the enactment of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The Constitutional Court ruled that lawmakers improperly passed the bill — which included provisions on biodiversity — without consulting Indian groups.
India-EU trade agreement unlikely this year
12-Sep-2008 Business Standard
Negotiations for an ambitious free trade agreement between India and the European Union are on track but are unlikely to be completed by end of 2008, EC Ambassador to India said today.
FTA with Australia not moving as fast it should, says Rafidah
12-Sep-2008 Borneo Post
The conclusion of negotiations for the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may take longer than expected as Malaysia cannot agree to Australia’s requests which go beyond the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agenda, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said on Monday.
Gulf states set to start FTA talks with Iran
12-Sep-2008 Emirates Business 24/7
Gulf states have decided to accept an offer from Tehran to begin talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) that will add Iran to the list of many countries negotiating with the region for such a deal
S Korea looks into FTAs with Turkey, Peru
12-Sep-2008 Xinhua
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the country has started assessing the impact of free-trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey, and is also seriously considering to start formal talks for FTA with Peru, Korea Herald reported Thursday.
Malaysia hopeful to conclude CECA with India this year
12-Sep-2008 Hindu Business Line
Malaysia has expressed hope that the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India will be concluded this year.
Working conditions of foreign nurses in Japan ’exploitative’: study
12-Sep-2008 ABS-CBN
The Philippine government has used the annual entry of 400 Filipino nurses and 600 caregivers under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) as one of main reasons why the Senate should ratify the free trade accord. Yet foreign nurses and caregivers who want to work in Japan may find working conditions there exploitative or even discriminatory, according to a study.
EU, South Korea deal worries Turkey
12-Sep-2008 Turkish Daily News
A soon-to-be-finalized free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea is causing concern for Turkey, as its market will be indirectly opened to South Korean products due to its customs union agreement with the EU.
Ecuador likely to negotiate bilateral association agreement with EU
12-Sep-2008 ANDINA
Ecuador would agree with Peru and Colombia to negotiate a bilateral Association Agreement between the Andean Community (CAN) and the European Union (EU), stated Thursday Peru’s minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz.
Ecuador: Icsid panel claims it has jurisdiction in OXY case
11-Sep-2008 Dow Jones Newswires
A panel from the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, or Icsid, said late Tuesday that it has jurisdiction for the claim of the US-based oil company Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) against Ecuador.
An ominous week
11-Sep-2008 Starbroek News
To the man in the street, it seems that the EPA, and the debate on it, have split Caricom governments, and that the prospects for their arriving at some harmonious agreement at this week’s Caricom meeting are not good.
Protect and survive
11-Sep-2008 monbiot.com
Many are aware that the European equation of fair trade with free trade is nonsense, writes George Monbiot
Republicans prod Pelosi for action on trade deals
11-Sep-2008 Reuters
The Bush administration, Republican lawmakers and business groups pressed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday to allow votes on free trade pacts with Colombia, Panama and South Korea by the end of the year.
US House votes to end Mexican truck program
10-Sep-2008 Reuters
The US House of Representatives defied a White House veto threat on Tuesday by voting to end a controversial pilot program, begun last year under NAFTA, that gives long-haul commercial trucks from Mexico full access to US highways.
’Canada to focus on free trade pact with India’
9-Sep-2008 Business Today
Calling his country’s backing for India in getting the waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) last week a "turning point" in bilateral ties, Canadian foreign affairs parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai has said his country will now focus on a free trade agreement with New Delhi.
Trade battler tries to avoid a big crash
9-Sep-2008 IHT
Peter Mandelson once said he would be the last man standing in the marathon push for a global trade deal, but as his time as Europe’s trade chief ticks away, he may have to settle for smaller prizes.
Caribbean leaders urged to reject EU treaty
8-Sep-2008 RI
Church leaders in the Caribbean have urged regional governments to reject the Economic Partnership Agreement proposed by the European Union, saying the terms of the treaty would harm the economy, marginalize the poor, and undermine the Caribbean’s democratic institutions.
Japan expects EPA to be signed later this year
8-Sep-2008 Nhan Dan
A senior Japanese diplomat said he hoped that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and Vietnam will be signed by the end of this year to pave the way for the two countries to boost their trade and investment.