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Canada-Europe free trade touted by Charest
19-Jan-2008 Canwest News Service
A Canada-Europe free trade agreement is a win-win proposition, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Friday while dismissing a former senior Canadian trade negotiator’s assertion that a transatlantic accord is "silly" and potentially destructive. Charest, after a meeting with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, said he wants to get the Canada-Europe free trade ball rolling by striking a Quebec-France labour mobility agreement.
Proposed ‘conditional concurrence’ on JPEPA hit
18-Jan-2008 Inquirer
The proposal for a “conditional concurrence” of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) only means that as it stands, the treaty violates the Philippines Constitution, a coalition against the agreement said Friday.
EPA means economic enslavement
18-Jan-2008 Pambazuka News
Many free trade agreements have been signed and enacted into law by capitalist governments at the back of the working people. This is because the working people in Africa and other third world countries do not have political platform of their own.
US aims to conclude FTA by summer, insists on govt procurement
18-Jan-2008 Bernama
Malaysian and US trade officials are working towards concluding a strong US-Malaysia free trade agreement by this summer ahead of the US election on Nov 4.
EU, Ukraine agree on final terms for Kiev’s WTO accession
17-Jan-2008 Xinhua
As a result, the European Union will now begin negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement with Ukraine
Report of the India-EFTA joint study group
17-Jan-2008
The Joint Study Group recommends that the governments of the EFTA States and India enter into negotiations for a broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (TIA).
Greenpeace: Ratifying JPEPA would be ‘criminal’
17-Jan-2008 Inquirer
Greenpeace says Japan is pursuing trade agreements with Southeast Asian nations “to reopen the region to toxic waste trafficking” citing an August 2006 contract between the Japanese government and Shinko Research Co. Ltd. “to assess the use of bilateral agreements ’for bidirectional movement of toxic wastes between Japan and Asian countries.’”
863 citizen groups call on World Bank president to respect Bolivia’s withdrawal from arbitration court
17-Jan-2008 Common Dreams
More than 800 citizens groups from 59 countries on every continent presented a petition on Tuesday, January 15 to World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick, expressing concerns about the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), whose Administrative Council Mr. Zoellick chairs.
No talks on FTA with China this year, says Nath
16-Jan-2008 FE
Indicating that a free trade agreement (FTA) with China is a long way off, commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath said on Wednesday that New Delhi and Beijing would not have any discussions on such a pact during 2008.
EU-Caribbean FTA (2007)
16-Jan-2008 Norman Girvan
As initialled on 16 Dec 2007 and signed on 15 Oct 2008
Implications of the Cariforum-EC EPA
16-Jan-2008 Norman Girvan
The Cariforum-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is more than just a trade agreement: its scope embraces many subjects that have up to now been solely or mainly within national and regional jurisdiction. As a legally binding international instrument it embodies a far higher degree of supranational governance than that of Caricom. It will, inevitably, condition the scope and content of future agreements made between Caricom and other major trading partners and the region’s stance in WTO negotiations.
Militants hit Roxas statement on JPEPA
16-Jan-2008 Bulatlat
Anti-JPEPA groups criticized Philippine Senator Mar Roxas’ statement that he will advocate ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement as tantamount to "conditioning the public’s mind that the controversial JPEPA will be ratified by the Senate very soon."
GNP whip calls for secret ballot to ratify FTA
16-Jan-2008 Chosun Ilbo
In a party caucus on Tuesday, Korea’s Grand National Party floor leader Ahn Sang-soo called on lawmakers to ratify the free trade agreement with the US by secret ballot if necessary.
East African Community to negotiate trade agreements with the US
16-Jan-2008 AllAfrica.com
The East African Community (EAC) is preparing to negotiate a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States.
EPA - the MAI in disguise?
15-Jan-2008 Trinidad Express
In the late 1990s, Europe attempted to impose investment conditions and policies under the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) which was shot down by the anti-MAI campaign supported by the developing countries. It appears to have achieved much of the same through the Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement.
Yemen to join GCC, Gulf-EU Free Trade Agreement to be signed
15-Jan-2008 MEMRI
Yemen will soon become a regular member of the GCC, following the GCC leaders’ agreement to a request by Saudi King Abdallah. In addition, a GCC-EU free trade agreement is expected to be signed during 2008.
Malaysia, US resume free trade Talks
14-Jan-2008 AP
The United States and Malaysia resumed formal talks Monday for a free trade agreement, nearly a year after discussions stalled amid differences over Malaysia’s government procurement policy.
Sri Lanka stops pepper exports to India under free trade deal
14-Jan-2008 Lanka Business
Sri Lanka has stopped exporting pepper under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because of restrictions imposed by India, a top exporter has said.
CARICOM/Canada trade talks start next month
14-Jan-2008 Nation News
The first full round of negotiations on a Canada/ CARICOM Free Trade Agreement is scheduled to get started next month.
Trade: The $1b game of patience
14-Jan-2008 NZ Herald
State of play with New Zealand’s trade negotiations