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Indonesia experience debunks claims of JPEPA advocates of increased economic gains
4-Sep-2008 IBON
As proponents of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) continue to warn against the possibility of being left out if the pact is not ratified, the experience of Indonesia shows that its own bilateral deal with Japan has not resulted in increased economic gains.
The Southern Bank: the result of the struggle of movements
4-Sep-2008 Choike
The Southern Bank is not just a bank, not even a further development bank. It is the expression of the struggle against a model that takes out resources from the poorest nations. If this bank no longer manages to represent such expression and becomes more of the same, the movement will have a new institution to resist.
Central America, the Caribbean and the impact of the European trade agenda
4-Sep-2008 RMR
Latin American businessmen have long been lobbying for free trade agreements with the EU.
Jamaica: EPA debate sparks Opposition walkout of Parliament
4-Sep-2008 Radio Jamaica
A marathon debate on the contentious Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Bill ended in disarray in Jamaica Tuesday night after Members of the Opposition walked out of Parliament. The walkout was the first of its kind in almost 30 years but it failed to prevent the passage of the Bill which was done before the end of the sitting.
Peru and the US to finish implementing free trade deal at APEC summit
4-Sep-2008 LIP
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and the United Stated is expected to come into force starting January 2009, after both presidents Alan García and George W. Bush announce the completion of this implementation process during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) to be held in November in Lima, Peru.
US pushing Pakistan to accept draft of investment treaty
4-Sep-2008 The News
The US administration is pushing Pakistan to accept newly placed draft of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which has been signed only by few African countries, The News has learnt.
The story of IIRSA
4-Sep-2008
Colourful booklet for popular outreach on the struggle of Latin American people versus mega infrastructure projects and trade negotiations with the European Union.
RP-Japan trade deal nears OK
3-Sep-2008 Businessworld
Senate proponents of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) expect the country’s first bilateral free trade deal to finally pass scrutiny in October after a second side pact was sealed to respect Filipino-only provisions in the Constitution.
Bush won’t press Panama trade vote before Colombia
3-Sep-2008 Reuters
President George W. Bush does not want Congress to vote on a free trade agreement with Panama before it votes on a similar deal with Colombia, Bush administration officials said on Tuesday after a major obstacle to approval of the Panama agreement was removed.
What the JPEPA proponents have not told the nation (part 2)
2-Sep-2008 Fair Trade Alliance
The multisectoral Fair Trade Alliance (FairTrade), a broad coalition of industry, agriculture, formal and informal labor, NGOs and youth pushing for trade and economic reforms, maintains its stance in the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) that it will not favor the agreement’s ratification without renegotiation.
International labor caucus takes critical look at EU-ASEAN FTA
2-Sep-2008 Partido ng Manggagawa
Workers groups from the ASEAN nations met this August 24-27, 2008 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take a stand and plan campaigns against the proposed EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
Gulf states urged to end trade talks with EU
2-Sep-2008 Emirates Business 24/7
A former Saudi official yesterday urged Gulf oil producers to halt their prolonged free trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) and opt instead for separate agreements that will serve the region’s interests.
Costa Rica: Social groups to protest tomorrow for the independence of the courts from the executive
2-Sep-2008 Inside Costa Rica
Dozens of organizations of the Movimiento Social (Social Movement) will be convening on Tuesday in front of the Poder Judicial de Costa Rica, in downtown San José, to demand the magistrates of the Corte Plena (Full Court) its independence from the powers of the State and reject its alliance with the Poder Ejecutivo (Executive branch of the government).
EPA signing postponed
2-Sep-2008 Radio Jamaica
Today’s signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARICOM countries and Europe is officially off.
ALP calls on govt not to sign EPA
2-Sep-2008 Antigua Sun
The Antigua Labour Party is calling on the government not to sign the EPA.
JPEPA’s approval hits minor snag
1-Sep-2008
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said she would not submit the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) to a Senate vote until after an exchange of notes with Japan has been formally signed and exchanged.
Seoul shelves KORUS FTA
1-Sep-2008 Korea Times
Korea has given up hope of having its free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States ratified before the Nov. 4 U.S. presidential election, a senior trade official said Monday.
What the JPEPA proponents have not told the nation (part 1)
1-Sep-2008 Fair Trade Alliance
The Philippine government has been making a hard sell on JPEPA — threatening that a failure to ratify shall be catastrophic to the Philippines, while a ratification of the agreement shall be a big boost to the economy. FairTrade, on the other hand, bolsters its position urging the government to renegotiate the treaty because of the agreement’s inherent economic and constitutional questions. The Senate must correct these patently one-sided contents in JPEPA so that it will effectively benefit Philippine industries and the Filipino people. In fact, what the JPEPA proponents have NOT told the Nation is that JPEPA is biased against the Philippines.
South Korea, EU to seek package solution on free trade deal
1-Sep-2008 Asia Pulse
Chief negotiators from South Korea and the European Union have agreed to seek a package solution on controversial issues such as auto trade after failing to narrow their gap in three-day free trade talks, officials said Friday.
Bolivia: Two years of ’post-neoliberal’ Indigenous nationalism — a balance sheet
1-Sep-2008 Bolivia Rising
The right laments the "isolation" of the Bolivian economy from the global currents of trade because it has put three crosses against the free trade agreement with the United States and there isn’t the will to take part in an agreement with the European Union, the "biggest markets on the planet".