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US trade policy favors IP over health: GAO
2-Nov-2007 Pharmalot
That’s one of the take-away messages contained in a 68-page report that reviews the Bush administration’s approach to trade agreements and intellectual property protection, specifically as it pertains to pharmaceuticals.
US-Korea free trade agreement: Potential economy-wide and selected sectoral effects
2-Nov-2007 ITC
A report from the US International Trade Commission (September 2007)
US-Panama trade promotion agreement: Potential economy-wide and selected sectoral effects
2-Nov-2007 ITC
A report from the US International Trade Commission (September 2007)
Peru willing to strengthen cooeration with China
2-Nov-2007 Xinhua
Peru is willing to further deepen cooperation with China by striking deals in various fields, the country’s top lawmaker said.
Central Africa steps back from signing EPA, asks EU for preference extension
1-Nov-2007 ICTSD
Prospects for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and eight Central African countries became even more uncertain on 29 October, when Central African ministers pulled back from signing a deal, saying too much work still needed to be done in terms of negotiating specific trade concessions and related development aid.
China, Asean on crucial stage in FTA talks
1-Nov-2007 China Daily
Although the commodity trade agreement came into effect in July 2005 and the one on service trade this July, many serious issues still need to be worked out. For example, Chinese auto parts can’t enter Thailand because of the restrictions by the Auto Association of Thailand. Neither can readymade Chinese garments enter Indonesia as its Clothes Chamber won’t allow it.
Mexico stands up to FTA
31-Oct-2007 Prensa Latina
About 40 Mexican rural organizations agreed Wednesday to create a unitary front against the North America Free Trade Agreement. As part of the peaceful resistance plan, farmers will camp on the central square of Zocalo starting Monday to defend the rights of four million Mexican agricultural producers.
Costa Rican lawmakers debate FTA law
31-Oct-2007 Prensa Latina
The Board of the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly admitted that it is studying 943 of 1,097 motions against one of the implementation laws of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States which poses danger for Costa Rican farmers and biodiversity
New research: Win-win from "free trade" is a big lie
31-Oct-2007 AlterNet
Neoliberal "trade" deals depress wages for 70 percent of workers.
Malaysia: Keep Myanmar politics out of ASEAN-EU free trade talks
31-Oct-2007 IHT
Myanmar’s political crisis should not be used an excuse to hold up a proposed free trade pact between Europe and Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia’s trade minister has said.
US couple sues over income-trust taxes
31-Oct-2007 Globe and Mail
A Chicago couple is launching a challenge under the North American Free Trade Agreement after they lost money when the Canadian government opted to tax income trusts last year.
Free Trade Agreement with the US likely to be delayed further
31-Oct-2007 Zawya
A top United States official on a two-day visit to the UAE has indicated the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries is likely to be delayed further.
Commerce ministry backs Asean-EU trade talks
31-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Thailand will be able to export more boiled chicken to EU, Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, permanent secretary for Commerce, said.
China, ASEAN ink food safety deal
31-Oct-2007 China Daily
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday released the Nanning Joint Statement to strengthen collaboration on food safety.
Costa Rica: It’s more than just the numbers
30-Oct-2007 Alliance for Responsible Trade
Just over half way through the stipulated time period before certification of the referendum on CAFTA will take place, a meticulous counting of every vote is happening in front of TV cameras, accompanied by a detailed accounting process. For the uninitiated, this provides the illusion of squeaky transparency; how could there be voter fraud here? However, the fraud was committed long before the voting even started - and so far, there is no institution or mechanism willing to name that.
Farmers deserve a fair hearing
30-Oct-2007 East African
We should not be surprised at the Kenyan state’s almost complete lack of understanding of the concerns raised in a suit filed last week by the Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum, with the support of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, to block any trade agreement between Kenya and the EU.
East Africa: Ministers move to protect industries from threats of EPAs
30-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
East African trade ministers have thrown a new spanner in the works as the countdown to the December 31, 2007 deadline for signing a new trade partnership deal with the industrialized EU states narrows to less than 60 days. The ministers held a secret meeting in Nairobi away from the full glare of anti-globolisation activists and agreed to sign the contentious Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) only if an amendment ensuring that the region’s taxation regime remained intact.
Israel, Mexico amended the Israel-Mexico Free-Trade Agreement of 2000
30-Oct-2007 Port 2 Port
The amendment allows for goods originating in Israel or Mexico to undergo minimal processing or storage in a third country, such as the US or EU, and still retain duty-free status
India-China FTA talks soon
30-Oct-2007 Business Standard
India is likely to soon initiate formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, the third largest destination for Indian goods and the biggest source of imports. A task force comprising officials from both countries recently submitted its report saying the FTA was feasible.
Kuwait, US ’strong’ economic partners
29-Oct-2007 Kuwait Times
Kuwait and the US are now at the phase where they are "trying to understand and see whether there is an opportunity to move forward" from a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to a bilateral investment treaty or free trade agreement, according to a US Treasury Department official.