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Short end of stick for Peru farmers
7-Dec-2007 Prensa Latina
The Peruvian government’s happiness was contrasted today by the solemnity of agrarian producers after the ratification of the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement by the US Senate.
Best safety net is complete rejection of JPEPA
7-Dec-2007
Philippines government negotiators now finally acknowledge that the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) will have adverse effects, hence the need for “safety nets”. But no amount of safety nets will be enough precisely because Japan’s intention is to create conditions for the maximum exploitation of the Philippines’ natural and human resources through JPEPA.
EU-SADC interim FTA (2007)
7-Dec-2007
Initialled by Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique on 23 November 2007
EU-Pacific interim FTA (2007)
7-Dec-2007
Initialled by Papua New Guinea and Fiji on 23 November 2007
EU-EAC interim FTA (2007)
7-Dec-2007
Initialled by the East African Community (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) on 27 November 2007
EU-ESA interim FTA (2007)
7-Dec-2007
Initialled by Zimbabwe and the Seychelles on 28 November 2007 and by Mauritius on 5 December 2007
Criticism of the EFTA
6-Dec-2007
Swiss NGOs call for a moratorium on bilateral free trade agreements with developing countries
Mechanism to scan impact of FTAs soon
6-Dec-2007 Economic Times
Responding to the increasing political resistance to trade liberalisation, India’s commerce & industry ministry is planning to set up a special mechanism to monitor the impact of free trade agreements.
Nigeria: CSOs seek to halt EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreement
6-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria have called on the Federal Government and other members of the West Africa region to refrain from agreeing with the European Commission on the Economic Partnership Agreements in their current state
NAFTA free trade myths lead to farm failure in Mexico
6-Dec-2007 Americas Program
On Jan. 1, 2008 the last remaining tariff barriers permitted under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are slated to fall. The idea is that all products now enter into a competitive market that will self-regulate to enhance production, efficiency, investment, and, indirectly, the lives of Mexican producers and consumers. That’s the idea. But what has happened in the Mexican countryside over the past 14 years of NAFTA shows that free trade has been a disaster for small farmers in Mexico.
India mulls FTA with China
6-Dec-2007 Times of India
India is considering a Free Trade Agreement with China but a decision will be based on sensitivities of domestic industry. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh categorically stated that agriculture will not be included in FTAs.
Africa-Europe - What alternatives?
5-Dec-2007
European and African civil society organizations will meet in Lisbon on 8 to 9 December, in parallel with European Union / African Union Summit.
Libya sweetens trade, investment ties with US
5-Dec-2007 CalTrade Report
Morphing over the past several years from international pariah to developing, open-market economy, Libya is now actively cultivating trade and investment links with the US.
Cameroon’s Biya supports partial signature of EPAs
5-Dec-2007
Cameroonian President Paul Biya says he is in favour of the signing of partial Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and the Central African Region.
Senegal opposes EPA
5-Dec-2007 afrol News
Senegal has joined Africa’s economic tigers [South Africa and Nigeria] to openly declare its refusal to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) with the European Union.
US companies urge investment pacts with BRIC nations
5-Dec-2007 Guardian
Major US exporters urged the Bush administration to begin negotiations with the "BRIC" nations — Brazil, Russia, India and China — on bilateral investment treaties, which they said were critical to US service company efforts to tap those large markets.
Senate approves Peru trade deal
5-Dec-2007 NY Times
The US Senate gave overwhelming final approval Tuesday to a trade agreement with Peru, as most Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in handing President Bush an unusual victory
US business community reaffirms support for US-Malaysia FTA
5-Dec-2007 Bernama
The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce whose members include US, Malaysian, and other international companies, has urged the United States and Malaysian governments to consummate the free trade agreement now being negotiated.
Debate begins on US-Peru free trade agreement
4-Dec-2007 Reuters
The US Senate began debate on Monday on a free trade agreement with Peru the Bush administration hopes will be its first legislative trade victory since Democrats took control of Congress in January.
Kamal Nath favours FTA with US
4-Dec-2007 Sify
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath has said a Free Trade Agreement between India and the United States needs to be closely looked at to foster a closer engagement with the world’s most powerful democracy. Analysts, however, say that Indian industry may not be too happy with the move for the fear of being swamped by powerful American companies. This may also lead to a surge in imports from the United States.