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Fair Trade?
11-Nov-2008
The alarm clock squawks you awake and you reach for your asthma inhaler to start the day. Damn, nearly empty. That’s another whack off the weekly budget. Drugs have got so much more expensive since the 2011 free trade deal forced changes to Pharmac’s bargain basement pricing scheme.
India clinches FTA deal with S Korea
11-Nov-2008
India is closer to signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, giving the country an opportunity to aggressively engage within Asia when the US and European economies are in turmoil.
India-Gulf free trade pact likely by 2009
11-Nov-2008
A free trade agreement between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is likely to be signed as early as 2009, official sources said.
Rahm Emanuel Makes the Right Move on Colombia Trade Deal
11-Nov-2008 http://www.alternet.org/story/106426/
This column has expressed plenty of concern about the selection of Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel to serve as President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff. Emanuel, whose record and reputation are those of a rigid "New Democrat," was the pointman for the Clinton White House’s free-trade agenda. And, in Congress, he has been a reasonably steady supporter of the Bush administration’s trade policies.
Beef import takes precedent over other U.S.-Taiwan issues: MOFA
11-Nov-2008
The promotion of bilateral economic and trade talks between Taiwan and the United States will be hampered if the issue of a comprehensive opening of the Taiwan market to U.S. beef is not resolved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.
South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement: Back to square one
11-Nov-2008
The administration and ruling party are pushing to have the National Assembly ratify the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement and the Democratic and other parties are calling for a renegotiation of the agreement. Those who argue for renegotiation say that regardless of whether Korea ratifies the document, the United States is going to call for renegotiation anyway, so the country should use the opportunity to increase its own interests in that process.
Africans Should Confront ’’Blind Governments’’ on EPAs
11-Nov-2008
African governments came under fire for ‘‘blindly’’ negotiating the controversial economic partnership agreements (EPAs) and not making an effort to educate ‘‘ordinary people’’ on what they were negotiating.
Japan, Peru Reach Deal on Investment Treaty
11-Nov-2008
Japan and Peru on Nov. 10 reached a basic agreement on a treaty to encourage mutual investment after several months of negotiations, a foreign ministry official said.
GNP Rules Out Railroading FTA Ratification
11-Nov-2008
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) stepped back Tuesday from its plan to pass the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA) unilaterally, vowing to make further efforts in drawing bipartisan consensus for the ratification.
Policies fuelled by greed
11-Nov-2008 The Star
Although it is a member of the developing nations or what is known as the Global South, China’s emergence as an economic superpower has generated mixed reactions from its Asian neighbours.
BIMSTEC parley begins tomorrow
10-Nov-2008
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will attend the summit conference of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to be held in New Delhi on November 13. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Japan’s demand for unilateral QFB status holds up trade pact
10-Nov-2008
The comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) being negotiated between India and Japan has hit a roadblock with the latter proposing that five of its banks be given qualified full banking (QFB) status by India. On its part, though, Japan is not keen on offering similar status to Indian banks on the ground that they don’t measure up to Japanese standards.
Doubts on US free trade deal
10-Nov-2008
Free trade talks with the United States are likely to go on the back-burner as United States president-elect Barak Obama focuses on the global financial crisis, some southern business leaders believed.
Rival Parties Clash Over FTA Ratification
9-Nov-2008
Rival parties are set to lock horns over parliamentary approval of the free trade agreement with the United States.
Obama to Support FTA Passage
9-Nov-2008
President-elect Barak Obama will support the passage of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) in the long run to maintain the strategic relationship between the two countries, according to a noted U.S. expert.
Mandelson’s trade legacy puts forests and livelihoods at risk - new report
8-Nov-2008
African countries will be locked into an economic model based on the export of raw materials that could have a devastating impact on forests and wildlife, if new EU trade deals shaped by former trade commissioner Peter Mandelson are signed - according to a new report published by Friends of the Earth today (Monday 20 October 2008).
India-Asean FTA stalls
8-Nov-2008
The ongoing political crisis in Thailand is putting question marks on whether the India-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be signed by the year-end.
Hopes Obama won’t hurt trade deal
7-Nov-2008
Two senior politicians with unique insights into New Zealand’s relationship with the United States are both hopeful the election of Barack Obama as President will not hurt the chances of a potentially lucrative trade deal.
Trade Talk
7-Nov-2008
Last month, captains of industry from India, Brazil and SA (Ibsa) descended on the Indian capital for the third summit of the Ibsa Trilateral Business Council.
Tread carefully on trade talk with the EU
7-Nov-2008
An interesting new report on the trade and investment deals currently being negotiated between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries reiterates the need to revisit the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).