bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Articles by language


Costa Rica: EU not interested in free-trade agreement
Costa Rican officials announced they are not satisfied with the market opening proposal issued by the European Union (EU) prior to the beginning of the fourth round of negotiations for an eventual EU-Central America agreement. Costa Rican trade officials stated that they “do not perceive an interest on the part of the Europeans to advance the process.”
Free trade’s false promises
According to new estimates by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America, the US-Colombia free trade agreement will actually make Colombia worse off by up to $75m or one-tenth of 1% of its GDP.
Peru farmers block roads, Machu Picchu rail
Peruvian farmers angry at President Alan Garcia’s free-trade policies began a two-day strike on Tuesday, snarling traffic in the country’s interior and closing rail service to the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu.
Intellectual property in the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement
Written by Luis Alonso Garcia, former head negotiator for Peru for the Intellectual Property Chapter of the FTA with the United States, this paper examines the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement as an example of the challenges and opportunities, especially for civil society participation, presented by such negotiations.
APE : Un rapport qui conforte les frondeurs
Taubira dénonce sans détour le libéralisme tous azimuts dont les APE sont un des reflets. Pour elle, la politique économique européenne a rendu l’Afrique dépendante et les APE, dans leur formule actuelle, ne feront que perpétuer ces rapports inégaux. Si ce discours fait l’affaire de ceux qui se montrent sceptiques vis-à-vis de la nouvelle relation économique que l’Europe veut instaurer avec l’Afrique, il embarrasse à bien des égards Nicolas Sarkozy, le commanditaire du rapport.
Vaste mobilisation sud-coréenne
Le lien entre « la crise du boeuf » et les accords de libre-échange est évident. « À travers l’un, nous luttons contre l’autre, explique-t-on. Même si c’est un lien que ne font pas tous ceux qui descendent dans la rue aujourd’hui. Notre mouvement exige la rectification des accords conclus en avril de l’an dernier. Ceux-ci concernent durablement la vie de tous les citoyens, les paysans en premier lieu. »
Chile-Uruguay sign strategic association; rap EU on migration
The Strategic Association Agreement signed by both countries promotes trade relations and cooperation in foreign affairs regarding shared principles in areas such as global trade, UN security policies and human rights.
Ecowas: EU policy supersedes Ghana’s interim EPA deal
Ghana would by September next year cease to adhere to the rules and conditions of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement that it signed with the European Commission in December 2007 when the ECOWAS-EU policy comes into force.
Why Nigeria refused to sign EPA - ECOWAS
The ECOWAS Trade Commissioner, Mohammed Daramy, has given some of the many reasons why Nigeria refused to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which deadline expired on December 31, 2007.
Amendments to CAFTA trade deal passed
The long and arduous road toward final approval by Costa Rica of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States has suffered yet another delay.
S. Korea, India agree to speed up free trade talks
South Korea and India have held five rounds of CEPA (comprehensive economic partnership agreement) negotiations thus far, but the pact — which is similar to a free trade agreement — has yet to be concluded due to remaining disputes over rules of origin, services and agricultural trade.
Gilani: Malaysia and Pakistan should exploit huge consumer base via FTA
Malaysia and Pakistan should exploit their huge consumer market through a free trade agreement (FTA) to support each other’s industrial growth, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said.
CAWN action against EU-Central America FTA
Urgent action is needed to strengthen democratic scrutiny of the negotiations and ensure that the Association Agreement with Europe doesn’t worsen poverty, gender inequality and violations of women’s rights in Central America.
SKorean activists prepare ’million-strong’ US beef rallies
South Korean activists Saturday promised to draw one million protesters nationwide in the biggest anti-US beef rallies so far
What good is Caricom? Regional unity losing steam
The question must now be asked, just how effective is Caricom, and does it serve any useful purpose? This has proven to be a watershed year for the regional body coming less than two years after the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), prevailing rampant food price, high energy cost and uncontrollable crime, all afflicting the region. Has Caricom address these issues effectively?
India, Israel for FTA
New Delhi and Tel Aviv are seriously working on a free trade agreement because both realise that it is in their mutual interest, the Israeli ambassador, Mr Mark Sofe, said on Thursday.
New Zealand business group warns on Asian free trade pact
A New Zealand business group warned the government Friday against signing a free trade pact with the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) that did not set a timetable for abolishing duties on meat and dairy products.
Harper, Fillon discuss EU free-trade deal during hour-long meeting
Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with his French counterpart Francois Fillon in Ottawa on Wednesday, with Afghanistan and a potential free-trade agreement between Canada and the European Union among the topics of discussion.
Trade, investment Promotion inevitable for Economic Integration of SAARC: President
"Enhancement of trade and investment is inevitable for economic integration of SAARC, where enormous potential already exits in areas of trade, investment and services, which need to be tapped in true perspective through pooling up resources and synergizing efforts at Government and Public sector level".
Hostage rescue may not free U.S.-Colombia trade deal
Colombia’s dramatic rescue of hostages held for years by a rebel group probably won’t lead to quick approval of a U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement that has been snagged for months in the U.S. Congress.