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Jpepa ratification to worsen food crisis
The current rice crisis facing the country should convince the Senate not to ratify the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement because the deal threatens to aggravate the country’s food insecurity, the NO DEAL! coalition said today.
Gov’t eyes April okay for JPEPA
Philippine Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila wants the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement ratified by the Senate before the end of April.
’We will all live to regret it’
Professor Girvan warns that the EU-Caribbean EPA could widen inequalities among Caricom states
NZ: Anti-Free Trade March April 5
The Prime Minister has left New Zealand on a trip which will include the signing of a free trade agreement with China in the second week of April. Global Peace and Justice Auckland and Unite Union are organising a protest march to take place shortly before the FTA is signed.
SA envoy clears mist on economic agreements
Short-term benefits brought by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) should not stand in the way of long term prosperity and integration of the SADC region, says South Africas High Commissioner to Botswana, Mr Dikgang Moopeloa.
Japan, ASEAN sign free trade accord
Japan signed a free trade agreement Friday with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote trade and investment between the two sides.
’SADC Secretariat inertia worrisome’
Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson, Levy Mwanawasa, has said member states and some international cooperating partners are dissatisfied with the SADC secretariat’s lack of capacity to absorb financial aid meant to help the regional body achieve its goals.
Trade ministers band together
The Pacific ACP Trade Ministers from the region have agreed to proceed as a group with negotiations of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the European Commission by the end of the year.
Civil Society Vows to Stop EPA
As the recently initialled interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) continues to take centre stage, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Africa have vowed to step up their stop-EPA campaign saying the pact has contentious issues.
Shift trade to SAARC region from slowing US, Govt to business
The government today asked the country’s business houses to shift focus to the SAARC region and exploit the opportunities there, especially when the US and the European economies are slowing down.
Singapore says FTA with Taiwan possible, without politics
Singapore Saturday expressed optimism about enhanced economic cooperation with Taiwan as long as issues involving trade are not politicised.
Canadian ambassador speaks of FTA benefits
Joseph Caron, the Canadian ambassador to Japan, spoke about the great economic benefits which could be derived from a Free Trade Agreement between Japan and Canada during a seminar in Osaka on Friday.
Panamanian cabinet approves FTA with Guatemala
Panama’s cabinet has approved the free trade agreement (FTA) between Panama and Guatemala signed on Feb. 26, Commerce and Industry Minister Alejandro Ferrer said Thursday.
Dunne boycotts China trade trip over Tibet
United Future leader Peter Dunne has turned down a trip to China for the free trade deal signing to protest the treatment of Tibetan people.
Concern grows over global trade regulation
Amid the noisy battering the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) is taking from both Democratic presidential hopefuls, one recent statement from Hillary Clinton was particularly resonant. "We will have a very clear view of how we’re going to review Nafta," the New York senator said. "We’re going to take out the ability of foreign companies to sue us because of what we do to protect our workers."
Venezuela will help Mercosur become continental block
Mercosur with Venezuela included has “the potential of becoming a trade block of the whole of South America” said Brazilian Foreign Affairs minister Ceslo Amorim who also insisted that keeping out of the Washington inspired Free Trade Area of the Americas, FTAA, “has been positive”.
Greens warn against China FTA
The Greens are citing past experience as a warning against the upcoming free trade deal with China.
Ramphal pleads for more equity in EPA
Sir Shridath Ramphal yesterday made a strong plea to the European Union (EU) for "greater equity" in the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and, specifically, the one to be signed this coming June with the Caribbean Community and the Dominican Republic.
M’sia says no rush to forge FTA with US
Malaysia’s new trade minister said on Thursday there was no rush to sign a free-trade deal which the United States hopes could be struck before President George W. Bush leaves office this year.
Will US trade policy again trump public health?
The Bay Area in California has been in an uproar over the proposed light brown apple moth program, which involves aerial spraying of an untested synthetic pheromone-based pesticide, because of quarantines invoked by Mexico and Canada under NAFTA.