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Japan, ASEAN finish inking free trade pact: statement
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said Monday they had finished signing a deal to tear down trade barriers between the world’s second-largest economy and the 10-member bloc. The deal, which is set to come into effect later this year, was formally signed Monday by Malaysia, the last of the 10 members of the ASEAN bloc to sign off.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Gulf’s new dynamics
Charles Roxborough, who leads management consultancy McKinsey & Company’s global corporate and investment banking practice, estimates that by 2020 sovereign wealth funds, of which some of the richest are located in the Middle East and north Africa (MENA) region, will have invested a staggering $7000bn in capital markets. “They’re reshaping strategies at banks and intermediaries,” he says. He believes that hedge funds, Asian central banks and sovereign wealth funds have tripled their market position since 2000 and now make about 5% of global investments.
New curbs on investment from the South
Germany’s decision to introduce controls on investments from the South in strategic domestic sectors is yet another indicator of growing protectionism in European and other industrialised countries against the neo-liberal globalisation they once masterminded.
EU to speed up trade talks with ASEAN
A top EU trade officer is in Jakarta to try and speed up negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and ASEAN — a process he says has been "moving relatively slowly".
Eating seed corn not always tasty
US farm and ranch voices avoid singing same tune on US-Colombia trade proposal
Jordan, Canada hold first round of trade negotiations
First round of Jordanian-Canadian trade negotiations started on Sunday with the aim of signing a free trade agreement between the two countries.
Czech Republic, Brazil sign economic cooperation agreement
Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim signed a Czech-Brazilian agreement on cooperation in the fields of economy and industry in Prague, during Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s visit to the Czech Republic.
Qatar and Hungary to sign economic cooperation
Hungary and Qatar are expected to sign a slew of agreements, including investment protection and double-taxation avoidance, this year to strengthen economic relations.
Pakistan, China discuss Transit Trade Agreement, expand scope of FTA
Pakistan and China have made substantial progress towards entering a Transit Trade Agreement, expanding the scope of Free Trade Agreement, besides identifying new areas of cooperation to further strengthen their multi-faceted ties.
China, Chile sign services free-trade pact
China and Chile signed an agreement on free trade in services on Sunday, following talks between the two presidents. The two nations committed themselves to opening up their service sectors in accordance with World Trade Organization rules, under a supplementary agreement to their formal free-trade pact signed in 2005.
Saarc members to approve SAFTA
All the eight Saarc member countries would approve the inclusion of Services Sector in the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) during the coming schedule meeting of SAARC in June 2008. The SAARC countries signed SAFTA in 2006 which is now being expanded to the services sector also in June 2008.
US Hopes for US-SKorea Trade Progress
The second-ranking U.S. diplomat said Friday he hopes a meeting next week between President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will lead to progress on a South Korean-U.S. free trade agreement.
Early GCC-EU trade pact urged
The Federation of the GCC Chambers is inviting the European Union and the GCC to speed up signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two blocs.
US trade deal still bubbling away
A free trade deal with the United States remains elusive in the wake of New Zealand’s deal with China.
FTA: Pakistan, Sri Lanka for enhanced trade Ties
President Pervez Musharraf and President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka on Friday agreed on improving their trade and commerce ties with specific focus on continuing Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
India, Australia to begin talks on FTA next week
India and Australia will launch talks next week on a "high quality" Free Trade Agreement with both countries agreeing on terms of reference for a feasibility study to remove all impediments to bilateral commerce.
Anti-FTA meeting set to end in Cuba
The seventh Hemispheric Meeting on the Struggle against Free Trade Agreements and for People Integration is set to conclude in Cuba.
US House agrees to shelve Colombia trade pact vote
The US House of Representatives voted 224-195 Thursday to effectively postpone a vote on the US-Colombia trade agreement until House Democratic leaders decide to bring it to the floor. US Trade Representative Susan Schwab told reporters the House action " effectively kills the Colombia FTA."
EU accused of undermining UN development goals through free trade
A group of NGOs, trade unions and civil society groups have accused the EU of undermining global poverty reduction goals through its pursuit of free trade deals with African states.
Leaders put torch to free trade talks
The Chinese and Australian governments have agreed "to unfreeze" the stalled negotiations for a free trade agreement.