bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

Indo-Asean FTA slips on palm oil
7-Nov-2007 Business Standard
It is now certain that negotiations to conclude the agreement will spill over to the next year, due to disagreements over reduction of duties on palm oil.
Human rights body uneasy about impacts of CAFTA-DR in Costa Rica
6-Nov-2007
As furore continues in Costa Rica about ratification of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), members of a leading UN human rights body have been expressing their concern to Costa Rican officials today in Geneva, about the human rights impact of the trade agreement.
ASEAN health warning: Myanmar stunts your growth
6-Nov-2007 Inquirer
Brussels and Washington have taken steps toward free-trade agreements with ASEAN, but they could be stopped in their tracks if the destination was a deal that had to include Myanmar.
“Love is blind”?
6-Nov-2007 ACP-EU Trade
A two-stage agreement between EU and ACP countries risks being an ‘EPA tight’ rather than an ‘EPA light’
‘Ghana may lose $150m to EPA’
6-Nov-2007 Modern Ghana
Nigeria could also lose $680 million annually if the agreements were implemented, according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
Bush seeks Colombia trade vote as soon as possible
6-Nov-2007 Reuters
The Bush administration wants congressional Democratic leaders to schedule a vote "as soon as possible" on a controversial free trade agreement with Colombia
Han says time running out for parliamentary approval of Korea-US FTA
6-Nov-2007 Yonhap
Korea’s prime minister is concerned that the presidential election slated for Dec. 19 may divert parliamentary attention away from the FTA deal and other pending bills.
Africa: Church leaders’ statement on Economic Partnership Agreements
5-Nov-2007 AllAfrica.com
Full text of a statement issued recently by Church leaders concerned about new trade agreements being negotiated between Europe and developing countries
Israel boycott office ’must be reopened’
5-Nov-2007 Gulfnews
A parliamentarian committee in Bahrain has called for the reopening of the Israel boycott office. Manama shut down the office in 2005 as part of the requirements by the US Congress before it ratified a free trade agreement with Bahrain
Colombia: A significant market for US red meat upon FTA ratification
5-Nov-2007 Cattle Network
The US Meat Export Federation estimates that around 50 percent of pork production in Colombia comes from family-owned farms
Economic growth without social justice: EU-India trade negotiations and their implications for social development and gender justice
5-Nov-2007
This paper attempts to place the EU-India FTA negotiations in their historical and topical context, and questions the coherence between the development aid agenda on the one hand, and the trade and investment agenda on the other.
Letter to US Congress requesting rejection of the 7 October referendum
5-Nov-2007
Letter from Costa Rican citizens to US Congress requesting rejection of the alleged approval of CAFTA through the 7 October referendum
Landlessness, environmental healh hazards to increase with JPEPA
5-Nov-2007 Mindanews
The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Southern Mindanao Region and No Deal! Movement against Unequal Economic Agreements are spearheading today a protest rally against Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) in Davao City as the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is expected to submit its report on JPEPA in the plenary.
Mercosur FTA to boost Korea’s GDP by 2% - study
5-Nov-2007 Chosun Ilbo
A free trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur could increase Korea’s gross domestic product by up to two percent, a study by the two sides has found. The Foreign Ministry said the joint FTA study was adopted at a Korea-Mercosur policy meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay late last month.
FTA with Malaysia finalised
5-Nov-2007 Business Recorder
The Pakistani government’s long-awaited Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia has been finalised. It will be implemented from January 2008, after formal approval of the Cabinet, sources in Commerce Ministry told Business Recorder.
Viet Nam: US set to become top investor, trade leader
4-Nov-2007 Viet Nam News
The US is set to become Viet Nam’s number one investor in the next two years, President of the US-ASEAN Trade Council Matthew P Daley said yesterday.
Europe charms ‘poor’ Africa in exchange for oil
4-Nov-2007 Daily Nation
It feels great to watch those who once colonised Africa shift and fidget uneasily as they build up a case for “partnership” — if only the rules of the game were clear and genuine. But there is also the nagging thought: Will Africa play it right this time round?
Andean trade preferences need to be extended after Feb - USTR
4-Nov-2007 EasyBourse
The trade preferences granted to Andean countries by the US will need to be extended after February 2008 even if free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia designed to replace the preferences are approved, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said late Saturday in Bogota.
Costa Rica: CAFTA threatens to turn water into merchandise
4-Nov-2007 LP
Free trade agreement will make water distribution more unequal for country’s poorest communities. The pact sets the obligation to give a “not less favorable” treatment to US companies, ignoring the deep differences in size and economic power of between these ones and the national sectors.
Trade with China: Pakistan suffers trade deficit of $2.957bn
4-Nov-2007 Daily Times
Trading with China has given Pakistan a trade deficit of $2.957 billion during the fiscal year 2006-07. The figures are based on trade under Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and an Early Harvest Programme leading to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.