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Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago prepare for economic shutdown
26-Aug-2008 Caribbean Net News
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up for a nationwide shut down of the country on September 8. They are protesting rising crime, uncontrollable food prices and increasing violence in the country, and calling for Trinidad and Tobago not to rush into signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU pact hit by last-minute revolt
26-Aug-2008 IPS
Eight months after congratulating themselves for having become the first region within the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping to conclude negotiations with the European Union on a new trade and economic pact, Caribbean leaders are getting cold feet as the time draws near to affix their signatures to the document.
Vietnamese-Japanese free trade talks made ‘significant progress’
26-Aug-2008 Thanh Nien
Vietnam and Japan have reached agreements on several trade matters at the eighth round of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations recently concluded on August 22 in Japan.
Southern Africa: FTA will ‘‘choke’’ small business
26-Aug-2008 IPS
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments agreed to will boost large South African companies’ reach in the region at the expense of small-scale producers and shops.
New Zealand should exploit Mexico/US FTA
26-Aug-2008 NBR
New Zealand companies should take advantage of Mexico’s free trade agreement with the United States and look at entering the lucrative US market via its neighbour, a visiting trade representative says.
Clock ticks on free trade pact with US
25-Aug-2008 Tico Times
As Costa Rican lawmakers return today from a weeklong vacation, time grows tight to pass two laws required to implement the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). Lawmakers must pass a bill amending the agreement, as well as a bill that strengthens intellectual property rights, before an Oct. 1 deadline.
ASEAN pursues free trade deals as global trade talks in limbo
25-Aug-2008 AFP
ASEAN is set this week to finalise a free trade agreement with India and hold talks with Australia and New Zealand, signalling the importance of regional pacts amid fading hopes for a global trading regime.
Asean wary of EU approach to expanding free trade talks
25-Aug-2008 Bangkok Post
The European Union is considering ’’deeper’’ free trade area (FTA) discussions with Asean members that would cover political issues sensitive for some Asean governments: labour rights, environment legislation, competition policy, transparency in government procurement, and liberalisation in services.
EPA ’merry-go-round’
25-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
A day after Caricom chairman Baldwin Spencer proposed September 8 for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) the Observer has learnt that the pact is now unlikely to be signed before either September 12 or September 19.
Peru: APEC, ‘free trade’ and Australia’s mining agenda
25-Aug-2008 GLW
On November 22 this year, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting will convene in Lima, Peru. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and a suit team will be there, pushing for greater trade “liberalisation” on behalf of Australian industrial guilds like the Minerals Council of Australia.
Peru: Indigenous occupations end with victory in Congress
24-Aug-2008 The Dominion
On August 22nd, the Peruvian Congress repealed two legislative decrees at the root of the indigenous demonstrations that paralyzed various roads and energy installations from August 9th through 20th. The indigenous movement of the Amazon, home to 65 different indigenous nations, declared victory.
Nicaragua refines plan to organize food company under ALBA
23-Aug-2008
The government of Nicaragua is working on a proposal on the role of the company "Gran Nacional ALBA Alimentos." Organization of the venture was agreed some days ago in Cuba by member countries of Petrocaribe, a Caribbean alliance with Venezuela to buy oil under special payment terms and conditions, DPA reported.
Nigeria, Ghana set to promote trade, investment
23-Aug-2008
Nigeria and Ghana are to hold a business summit in October to facilitate bilateral trade relations between them.
Uruguay criticizes Mercosur tolerance of export taxes
23-Aug-2008
Uruguay’s Economy minister Danilo Astori criticized export taxes and complained the fact Mercosur has allowed Argentina to apply them when “we all know this is a simple manipulation of the economy” which also has political effects.
Third World Network wants government to decline EPA pact
23-Aug-2008
The Third World Network (TWN) has said that it will continue to mount pressure on the government and policy makers for them to withdraw from signing a non-preferential economic partnership with the European Union (EU).
Narongchai: Put pacts on a faster track
23-Aug-2008
The government needs to address existing legal issues that impede international trade agreements, says Narongchai Akrasanee, a member of the cabinet’s economic advisory team.
Pakistan and Indonesia negotiating to sign Free Trade Agreement
22-Aug-2008
Indonesia and Pakistan are actively engaged in negotiations to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which would help in raising the volume of bilateral trade up to one billion dollars mark.
Caribbean integration and global Europe: Implications of the EPA for the CSME
22-Aug-2008 Norman Girvan
This paper critically assesses the compatibility of the CARIFORUM-EC EPA with the proposed CARICOM Single Market and Economy—CSME. The main conclusion is that the CSME, a project for the creation/strengthening of the regional economy for engagement with globalisation, will be superseded by the EPA, which involves a high degree of bilateral integration of individual Cariforum countries with Europe in trade, investment and regulatory policies.
Peru: indigenous uprising claims victory — for now
22-Aug-2008 WW4 Report
Indigenous groups in Peru ended more than a week of militant protests Aug. 20 at key energy sites after lawmakers agreed to overturn a new land law issued by President Alan García, which sought to ease corporate access to communal territories. García had issued the law by decree earlier under special powers Congress granted him to bring Peruvian law into compliance with a new free-trade deal with the US. A congressional commission voted to revoke the law Aug. 19, and floor vote is expected later this week.
S Korea-EU starts tackling sensitive issues of FTA
22-Aug-2008 Xinhua
Top negotiators of South Korea and the European Union (EU) will meet in Seoul next week to seek progress in their free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations by tackling sensitive issues, the Korea herald reported Thursday.