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Seoul to implement new US beef import conditions this week: officials
The South Korean government will put new U.S. beef import terms into effect as early as this week, officials said on Monday, signaling a full resumption of imports, which have been suspended for nearly five years.
China: Free trade ahead
China is now involved in 12 FTA negotiations with 29 countries and regions including the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, EU, Africa and Oceania
Serving whose interests? The political economy of trade in services agreements
There is a fundamental contradiction between the global market model and the intrinsically social nature of services
Asian women workers’ declaration on free trade agreements
There is increasing and irrefutable evidence that free trade deals devalue and homogenise cultures, stunt economic development, displace communities and are major drivers of increasing rural and urban poverty. Women are disproportionately affected.
Japan’s Parliament approves free trade with ASEAN
Japan’s Parliament, the Diet has endorsed a free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The agreement will come into force on the first day of the second month after Japan and at least one of the 10 ASEAN member complete domestic procedures, such as parliamentary endorsement.
Canadians can restore their rights and freedoms by cancelling NAFTA
The selling of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to Canadians was based upon a basic fundamental lie. That lie is that there was no free exchange of goods and services between Canada and the United States until the late 1980’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA), that spawned NAFTA. Canadians have accordingly been conned into a belief that the cancelling of NAFTA would result in the subsequent collapse of the Canadian economy.
Not much hope for Charest’s vision of Canada-Europe free trade agreement
At last week’s international economic forum in Montreal, there was plenty of talk about an initiative being pushed by Premier Jean Charest: a Canada-Europe free trade agreement.
EU decision to upgrade relationship with Israel reveals Europe’s selective adherence to human rights standards
Monday’s announcement for increased relations concerns three areas: diplomatic cooperation; Israel’s participation in European plans and agencies; and an examination of possible Israeli integration into the European Single Market.
FTAA vs ALBA - Choosing trade routes
Even as the FTAA cools on the back-burner and Venezuela President Hugo Chavez pitches ALBA as a viable trade alternative, there are concerns that ALBA may not suit Trinidad and Tobago’s palette.
Strikes, protests besiege South Korean regime
South Korea has been seeing nightly mass demonstrations for over a month, a candlelight march of 1 million people on June 10 and a strike wave of key industrial unions. All are connected to a trade agreement between Washington and the current government of President Lee Myung-bak that would allow US beef into the country.
US, China to seek bilateral investment treaty
The US and China said Wednesday they have agreed to negotiate a treaty to protect private investment in their countries.
Japan agrees to amend trade treaty
Japan is willing to sign a side agreement with the Philippines to quiet concerns about provisions in a free-trade treaty deemed inconsistent with or violate the Philippine Constitution, an official said yesterday.
US, China aim for launch of investment treaty talks at bilateral meeting
Senior US and Chinese officials today launched a two-day series of talks that could result in the launch of negotiations for a new investment treaty that the US hopes would help expand US investment in China and protect existing investment.
Some interim EPAs may not be concluded
Some of the 35 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that have initialled interim economic partnership agreements (EPAs) may still withdraw from the process — apart from the 44 states that have so far refused to sign EPAs with the European Union — according to researchers studying the fraught trade negotiating process.
KCTU to launch general strike on July 2
Labor movement will lead candlelight protests for renegotiation of US beef agreement, KCTU says
One million South Korean people and workers protested against the Unfair US beef import agreement and the neoliberal government policies!
On June 10th, around one million people and workers gathered to demand renegotiation of US beef import agreement across the country. In case of Seoul, around 500,000 people participated in the candlelight vigil and march.
SKorea unions may strike over beef imports, more talks set
South Korean unions on Tuesday threatened a general strike in protest of a US beef import deal, as negotiators in Washington tried to find a way out of the crisis shaking the Seoul government.
Bilateral accords quietly push neo-liberal agenda
Right now through the European Union process there is a divide and rule strategy taking place, not only regionally but also within regions where some countries are signing bilateral trade and investment agreements and some aren’t.
Hard bargains: Bilateral trade pacts draw domestic objections
The fear of having other countries steal a march on Washington by signing their own deals may bring Congress back to the bilateral trade negotiating table.
US, China firms sign whopping 13.6 billion dollar deals
American and Chinese firms have signed deals worth 13.6 billion dollars ahead of a high level meeting that could formally endorse talks for a bilateral investment treaty, officials said.