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Wanted: One voice on Economic Partnership Agreement
Senegalese Minister for Commerce Mamadou Diop has warned that African governments will continue to be pushed around by the European Union and its allies if they continue to adopt an individualistic approach to negotiating for fair trade deals.
Free to be poisoned
Not everyone was disappointed when the Doha round of trade talks got bogged down in endless wrangling. After all, the United States and the European Union were pushing developing countries to liberalise their economies still further, while refusing to abolish their own agricultural subsidies. Better no trade deal than a bad one, or so we thought.
EPAs must serve as a wake up call for Ghanaians - CEPA
The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), Dr Joe Abbey has challenged Ghanaians to take advantage of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to raise their production capacities. He explained that the EPAs must serve as a wake-up call to the country instead of thinking of creating barriers to stop the entry of European goods. "The status quo of sitting down and only repeating our story of how we have been colonized must be stopped. Let us look at the hard facts and deal with it," he said.
Lee accuses FTA opponents of spreading mad cow disease fears
President Lee Myung-bak renewed Thursday his pledge to prioritize the health of the Korean people in his government’s policy to restart U.S. beef imports, accusing opponents of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement of spreading groundless fears of mad cow disease.
Australia Wants FTA With Korea
The top Australian diplomat said Wednesday his country supports President Lee Myung-bak’s policy toward North Korea focused on dismantling its nuclear weapons program before providing economic aid. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith also expressed hope that the two nations will sign a free trade agreement as a way for boosting bilateral ties.
Bush vows to help Panama clinch free trade agreement
President George W. Bush said Tuesday he would do his best to get Congress to approve a pending free trade agreement with Panama, after meeting with its President Martin Torrijos in the White House.
Seoul raises possibility of suspending US beef imports
Agriculture minister Chung Woon-chun told lawmakers that Seoul will take the unilateral step even if such a move could lead to trade disputes with Washington.
USTR defends handling of trade deals with Congress
US Trade Representative Susan Schwab on Tuesday defended the White House’s decision to force a vote on a free trade pact with Colombia, even though it provoked a showdown with Congress that crippled a 34-year-old procedure used to win approval of trade deals.
Canada seeks Colombia agreement, as US deal stalls
Canada’s Trade Minister David Emerson said he may soon complete a free trade agreement with Colombia, rejecting a plan by U.S. congressional Democrats to wait until the Latin American nation improves its human rights record.
Sweetheart Deal
The deadline for completion of a new farm bill has been pushed back to May 16. But the endless wrangling over a piece of legislation that Congress once hoped to finish in 2007 has not induced a significant change in the thinking of those who regard it as an opportunity to lock in lush new benefits for American agricultural producers.
Banished Zimbabwe farmer to sue country
South African taxpayers may have to pay millions of rands in compensation for the government’s failure to act in Zimbabwe when hundreds of white-owned farms belonging to South Africans were confiscated in 2000.
India’s FTA with EFTA nations to include IPRs
A free trade agreement is slated to be finalised between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by early 2009. The EFTA countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
U.S. sock makers wage war on Gildan imports
Just two years after launching an ambitious plan to become a major player in the North American hosiery business, Gildan Activewear Inc. finds itself caught up in an international trade dispute over the flood of socks into the U.S. from Honduras.
Bilateral Investment Treaty can spur US-Pakistan economic ties: Negroponte
A top US diplomat has said the conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty with Pakistan would bolster economic and trade ties between the private sectors of the two countries.
Activists Slam Trade Ministry Over EPAs
Civil society organisations and the parliamentarians last week clashed with the trade ministry officials over the signing of an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) with the European Union.
Tension mounts as S Koreans vow to protest over US beef despite police warning
South Koreans opposing the government’s decision to import most US beef cuts vowed to continue candlelight vigils later Tuesday despite a police warning to stay away from political rallies.
Canada says close to trade deal with Colombia
Canada is "very close" to concluding free trade negotiations with Colombia, Trade Minister David Emerson said on Monday, calling those opposed to the deal on human rights grounds as "dogmatic." Emerson also presented legislation to Parliament to enact a free trade pact with the European Free Trade Association, comprised of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
India-Asean FTA faces hurdle at Indonesia end
The “last mile” talks on the proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has been further stretched as negotiators from India and Indonesia once again failed to resolve the dispute over their respective increased market access demands.
Africa’s trade unions want EU trade agreements scrapped
Africa’s trade unions called on their governments to nullify the interim trade agreements they have signed with the European Union, saying they leave African nations "weak" within the global market.
SME’s In Asean Need Incentives For Integration
The development and growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must be given extensive incentives in the integration of Asean economy, said International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.