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SADC free trade becomes a reality
1-Aug-2008
The long-awaited free trade area (FTA) for southern Africa will be launched on August 17 during the annual summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
What land reform? farmers group asks
1-Aug-2008 Mindanao Examiner
Some 200,000 hectares of lands in southern Mindanao alone have been converted into banana and pineapple plantations by Del Monte and Dole corporations while millions of hectares are also threatened with the looming ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
Indonesian nurses, care workers to head to Japan
1-Aug-2008 ABC
Japan says about 200 Indonesian care workers and nurses are scheduled to travel to the country in August under a bilateral economic partnership agreement.
Peru, China to speed up bilateral free trade negotiations
31-Jul-2008 LIP
Peru and China will speed up talks on reaching a bilateral Free Trade Agreement between both countries to have a pact signed before November this year, said the country’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz on Wednesday.
Malaysian companies to benefit from FTAs
31-Jul-2008 Bernama
In order to fully realise FTA benefits, the government says it is imperative that Malaysian companies restructure and diversify their activities, rationalise industries through relocation of certain products to lower cost producing countries, move to higher-value added products and establish strategic partnerships or alliances with others.
Collapse of WTO talks likely to trigger more FTAs
31-Jul-2008 Mcot
With a free trade deal under the World Trade Organization now appearing unlikely to be struck in the foreseeable future, a number of countries are expected to gear up for further enhancing free trade agreements on a bilateral or regional basis to expand their overseas markets, analysts said Wednesday.
A call for the Senate to reject the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA)
31-Jul-2008 Hopeful
The undersigned ask the Philippine Senate to fulfill its role as check and balance to the Executive branch of government, to do right by the Filipino people and reject this infirm, lopsided, unlawful and unconstitutional treaty.
Tokyo rejects ‘detailed’ JPEPA side agreement, solon says
31-Jul-2008 GMANews
The Philippine Senate may have to be satisfied with a mere "general statement" of assurance that the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement will not violate existing constitutional constraints and international law commitments before it concurs with this landmark trade pact
RP preparing for talks with US for FTA starting early next year
31-Jul-2008 Yehey
“Without the WTO, we need this FTA badly,” Donald Dee, a government special trade envoy and chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said.
S Korea to push forward bilateral FTA deals after WTO talks collapse
30-Jul-2008 Xinhua
South Korea will push forward bilateral free trade agreements as the global trade talks under the World Trade Organization finished without progress, South Korean Deputy Trade Minister Ahn Ho-young said Wednesday
Australia signs free trade deal with Chile
30-Jul-2008 FarmOnline
The collapse of the World Trade Organisation talks has prompted forecasts of a proliferation of bi-lateral free trade deals, such as that signed by Australia and Chile today. Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean said the FTA is a "high-quality agreement where commitments go beyond" what each country had committed at the WTO.
New Zealand firms urge bilateral trade pacts after WTO failure
30-Jul-2008 Earth Times
New Zealand business organisations urged their government on Wednesday to negotiate more bilateral and regional free trade pacts following the collapse of the World Trade Organisation talks in Geneva.
Sept 2 signing of EPA now uncertain
30-Jul-2008 Jamaica Observer
There are new uncertainties surrounding the proposed signing of the full Economic Partnership Agreement on September 2 between the European Union and CARIFORUM - the Caribbean Community member states and the Dominican Republic.
IPR violations high on Bush visit agenda
30-Jul-2008 IPS
Bush’s farewell visit to Thailand next week stirs up discussions of the proposed US-Thailand FTA
Peruvians slam President’s stance on Bolivia
30-Jul-2008 Prensa Latina
Alan Garcia’s reference to the differences between Lima and La Paz on an Association Agreement between the Andean Community of Nations and the European Union, referring to the format of the free trade agreement with the United States, which Bolivia rejects, is regrettable experts say
Canada to turn to bilateral agreements after WTO trade talks collapse
29-Jul-2008 Canadian Press
The federal government says it will aggressively go after bilateral trade deals with other countries after the collapse of nine days of talks on a comprehensive global trade agreement.
Hong Kong, China expand free-trade agreement
29-Jul-2008 Reuters
Hong Kong expanded a free-trade deal with mainland China on Tuesday in an agreement that includes giving mining and exploration companies and related services easier access to the Chinese market.
Militants press Senate to reject Jpepa - report
29-Jul-2008 GMANews
About 150 activists trooped to the Philippine Senate on Tuesday, calling on senators to reject the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement
’Doha Round talks undermining regional integration’
29-Jul-2008 Swazi Observer
The ongoing Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks is seen to be undermining regional integration and economic development efforts by African countries, analysts have noted.
Thailand urged to be a standards leader
29-Jul-2008 TMCnet
Thailand is being urged to upgrade itself as the leader in determining safety standards and relevant laws on food and agricultural products in order to surmount business challenges arising from free trade area agreements.