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ASEAN pledges to ratify FTA with Japan soon
28-Aug-2008 MCOT
Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, meeting in Hanoi, have pledged to work for the speedy ratification of an economic partnership agreement with Japan that is expected to take effect before the end of this year. A Philippine official says the pact will come into force on 1 October.
ASEAN, China make substantive progress on investment pact
28-Aug-2008 Xinhua
The Southeast Asian bloc and China announced here Wednesday that they made substantive progress in the negotiations on the bilateral investment pact which is expected to be signed at the Bangkok Summit in December this year.
Jamaica: Trade unions want EPA signing delayed
28-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) says it will seek to delay the signing of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), between CARIFORUM and the European Union, to allow for a review and possible renegotiation of the agreement.
’RP gave too many concessions to Japan in free trade deal’
28-Aug-2008 ABS-CBN
A former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law on Wednesday criticized as unconstitutional the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) for allowing Japanese citizens to own land, practice certain professions and operate and administer educational institutions in the Philippines.
Honduras: Joining ALBA ‘a step towards the centre-left,’ says president
27-Aug-2008 IPS
Honduras has joined the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), amid criticism from the business community and right-wing political sectors.
Peru-China free trade negotiations could close in November
27-Aug-2008 LIP
Peru’s minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz, considered today the possibility that negotiations with China in order to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could end in November.
Labor’s opposition continues to Colombia free trade pact
27-Aug-2008 PWW
While Colombian representatives lobby the Democratic and Republican conventions in support of the Bush administration’s Colombia Free Trade Act, the US labor movement continues its opposition to the pact, signed in November 2006 but put on hold by Congress last April.
Canada and Jordan reach free trade pact
27-Aug-2008 Forbes
The Canadian government said Tuesday it had wrapped up free trade negotiations with Jordan, along with parallel labor and environment agreements.
Evo Morales accuses the US of using the FTA to divide Latin America
26-Aug-2008 Opinión
The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, accused the US of extending its Free Trade Agreements program to divide Latin American countries.
Botswana agriculture anxious about effect of SADC Free Trade Area
26-Aug-2008 Mmegi
A few days after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) became a free trade area, fears are mounting that the move may spell doom for Botswana’s agricultural industry.
ECOWAS civil society groups kick against trade deals with EU
26-Aug-2008 GNA
Civil society organisations have asked governments of ECOWAS countries to suspend all trade-related negotiations with the EU.
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago prepare for economic shutdown
26-Aug-2008 Caribbean Net News
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up for a nationwide shut down of the country on September 8. They are protesting rising crime, uncontrollable food prices and increasing violence in the country, and calling for Trinidad and Tobago not to rush into signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU pact hit by last-minute revolt
26-Aug-2008 IPS
Eight months after congratulating themselves for having become the first region within the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping to conclude negotiations with the European Union on a new trade and economic pact, Caribbean leaders are getting cold feet as the time draws near to affix their signatures to the document.
Vietnamese-Japanese free trade talks made ‘significant progress’
26-Aug-2008 Thanh Nien
Vietnam and Japan have reached agreements on several trade matters at the eighth round of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations recently concluded on August 22 in Japan.
Southern Africa: FTA will ‘‘choke’’ small business
26-Aug-2008 IPS
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments agreed to will boost large South African companies’ reach in the region at the expense of small-scale producers and shops.
New Zealand should exploit Mexico/US FTA
26-Aug-2008 NBR
New Zealand companies should take advantage of Mexico’s free trade agreement with the United States and look at entering the lucrative US market via its neighbour, a visiting trade representative says.
Clock ticks on free trade pact with US
25-Aug-2008 Tico Times
As Costa Rican lawmakers return today from a weeklong vacation, time grows tight to pass two laws required to implement the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA). Lawmakers must pass a bill amending the agreement, as well as a bill that strengthens intellectual property rights, before an Oct. 1 deadline.
ASEAN pursues free trade deals as global trade talks in limbo
25-Aug-2008 AFP
ASEAN is set this week to finalise a free trade agreement with India and hold talks with Australia and New Zealand, signalling the importance of regional pacts amid fading hopes for a global trading regime.
Asean wary of EU approach to expanding free trade talks
25-Aug-2008 Bangkok Post
The European Union is considering ’’deeper’’ free trade area (FTA) discussions with Asean members that would cover political issues sensitive for some Asean governments: labour rights, environment legislation, competition policy, transparency in government procurement, and liberalisation in services.
EPA ’merry-go-round’
25-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
A day after Caricom chairman Baldwin Spencer proposed September 8 for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) the Observer has learnt that the pact is now unlikely to be signed before either September 12 or September 19.