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Malaysia: EU hopes to complete FTA in two years: Ambassador
26-Aug-2007 Sinchew-i
“Malaysia has too many regulations and guidelines which hinders its competitiveness, free market and fair competition" EU ambassador to Malaysia said.
Japan, ASEAN reach FTA, but rice excluded
26-Aug-2007 Japan Today
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached a free trade agreement Saturday, under which Tokyo will immediately repeal tariffs on 90% of imports from ASEAN by value to catch up with China and South Korea in intensifying regional FTA races.
Arroyo on FTA promo blitz but environmentalists worry
26-Aug-2007 Japan Times
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s team has begun a high-profile public relations blitz to urge the Senate to ratify a free-trade pact with Japan.
ASEAN-India FTA faces roadblock
26-Aug-2007 AP
Southeast Asia and India remain far apart in their 4-year-old efforts to forge a free trade agreement, differing on the speed and range of liberalization, officials said Friday.
US-Korean food fight
26-Aug-2007 FPIF
The US government is working to deny South Koreans the right to local food and to undermine their domestic food safety laws through the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
ASEAN and Japan near agreement on free trade
25-Aug-2007 ABS-CBN
The draft on trade in goods has been completed and they will now discuss the agreement on services and investment.
UNI solidarity mission urges Costa Rica to reject the proposed Free Trade Agreement
24-Aug-2007 UNI Telecom
UNI Telecom Americas President told the Minister of Labour and Deputies from the Costa Rica National Assembly that the country should look to lessons from other free trade agreements, including from his country Mexico, where poverty had not decreased and the minimum wage was in effect lower than before the 43 trade agreements signed by Mexico.
Japan eyes tuna in trade pact with Philippines
24-Aug-2007 UPI
What the Japanese government and its transnational fishing clients are really after are the Philippines’ precious tunas.
JPEPA reduces RP into an insurance firm for Japanese investors
24-Aug-2007 GMA News
JPEPA is said to harbor “highly anomalous" arrangements, one of which is reducing the Philippines government to an insurance company for Japanese investors
A new dawn in Latin America
24-Aug-2007 Monthly Review
The Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America (ALBA) has deepened its roots. While others were talking about the “end of history,” new protagonists emerged all over Latin America.
Pakistan seeking parity with India surprises EU envoy
24-Aug-2007 Malaysia Sun
The European Union Ambassador to Pakistan has said that there is a huge difference between India and Pakistan economically, and he is surprised by Islamabad’s demand to be treated equally with New Delhi when asked about the possibility of Pak-EU FTA talks.
Vivendi wins decade-long Argentina legal battle
24-Aug-2007 Polaris Institute
French media and telecoms group Vivendi said on Tuesday it had been awarded $105 million in compensation at the end of a decade-long dispute with Argentinian authorities about a former water concession.
Thailand finds formula to settle rice dispute with SKorea, officials say
23-Aug-2007 IHT
Thailand has found a way to settle a dispute over rice with South Korea, allowing it to eventually join a free-trade deal between fellow Southeast Asian countries and Seoul, officials said Thursday.
Abe: India on FTA fast track
23-Aug-2007 Japan Times
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called Wednesday for the rapid completion of a free-trade agreement with India and pledged to help finance a $90 billion freight corridor to spur a doubling of investment in the South Asian nation.
The swell of boycott
23-Aug-2007 New Matilda
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for divestment from Israeli companies: a campaign aimed at the European Union, which accounts for two-thirds of Israel’s exports under an EU-Israel Association Agreement. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler, has said that human rights conditions in the agreement should be invoked and Israel’s trading preferences suspended. This is unusual, for these were once distant voices.
Clouds loom despite Swiss-US trade boom
23-Aug-2007 swissinfo
The biggest trade storm of late between the US and Switzerland has been the failure to establish a free trade agreement between the two countries. Negotiations broke down last year over agriculture.
ASEAN ministers to finalise FTAs with Japan, China
23-Aug-2007 Reuters
Southeast Asian economic ministers will finalise a blueprint for economic cooperation in the region and push free trade deals with six dialogue partners at a weekend meeting in Manila
APEC eyes merging trade pacts in region to create APEC-wide FTA
23-Aug-2007 Kyodo
Pacific Rim leaders are expected at their summit next month to consider combining existing bilateral and regional free trade agreements in the region as a way of creating a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, according to a draft report of policy recommendations to the leaders.
Tamaki Makaurau Declaration against corporate control and for global justice
23-Aug-2007 Our World Is Not For Sale
A declaration for organisations to sign-on to about the negative effects of a New Zealand-US free trade agreement.
FTA between Pakistan and South Africa to boost trade urged
23-Aug-2007 APP
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and South Africa is necessary to boost trade and investments between the two countries according to Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry