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Costa Ricans narrowly back free trade with US
8-Oct-2007
Costa Ricans narrowly approved — 52% said yes, 48% said no — a free trade deal with the United States in a referendum on Sunday that has split the Central American nation like no other issue in decades.
Costa Rica: ITUC supports "No" to DR-CAFTA in referendum
8-Oct-2007 Scoop
Despite the overwhelming evidence of workers’ rights being routinely abused, DR-CAFTA offers no solution.
Threats, dirty tricks, fake polls: Costa Rica votes under duress on ’free trade’
7-Oct-2007 HuffPost
It is politically inconceivable that the Democratic majority in Congress — which voted against CAFTA when it was approved here — would move to punish Costa Rica for its voters having rejected the same agreement.
Quiet day in Costa Rican referendum
7-Oct-2007 Prensa Latina
Nearly 2.7 million people will vote today to decide whether CAFTA is to be ratified or not, an unprecedented happening in the political history of Costa Rica.
No deal reached in EU-Caribbean trade talks
7-Oct-2007 Reuters
The European Union and countries in the Caribbean failed to agree on a new trade and investment deal in two days of talks that ended on Friday. EU officials had expected the Caribbean to become the first of the ACP regions to agree to a new deal.
Seoul, Ottawa to focus on barley, bean in free trade agreement talks
7-Oct-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and Canada will focus on barley, bean, potato and other farm products in free trade agreement talks that reopen in Ottawa this week
EU to recognise Vietnam having market economy if...
6-Oct-2007 VietNamNet Bridge
"I want to make clear that the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement that we are building is with only seven member nations of ASEAN. Laos and Cambodia have their own trade deals with the EU while we plan to put an embargo on Myanmar," says a member of the European Parliament.
LatAm notables against CAFTA-DR
6-Oct-2007 Prensa Latina
Renowned Latin American figures have expressed their solidarity with the Costa Rican people, who are expected to go to the polls Sunday to decide in a referendum whether their country signs a free trade agreement with the US.
West Africa to miss EU trade partnership deadline
6-Oct-2007 Reuters
West Africa will miss a Dec. 31 deadline to sign a new trade partnership with the European Union and hopes to keep its preferential commercial privileges for up to two years while it negotiates, a West African official said.
India, Philippines sign 9 bilateral deals
6-Oct-2007 Financial Express
The Philippines signed nine bilateral agreements with India on Friday, including a framework agreement for bilateral trade.
JPEPA makes working in Japan tougher for health workers
5-Oct-2007 Inquirer
Filipino health workers hoping to work in Japan or migrate to that country may find it more difficult if the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is approved, said a national organization of health professionals.
EU, Pacific countries to seek interim trade deal
5-Oct-2007 Reuters
The European Union and Pacific countries agreed on Tuesday to seek an interim new trade deal, to enter into force on 1 January, while they continue negotiating an EPA by end of 2008.
EU, India to make major offers on duty cut
5-Oct-2007 The Hindu
EU sees a new readiness on the part of the Indian side which, for the first time, has put poverty reduction, labour standards and environmental protection under the bilateral trade framework.
The gloves are off — Europe dismisses sugar, insults tourism ahead of ’make-or-break’ trade talks
5-Oct-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
Tempers flare as Caricom trade negotiators and the European Commission work with an October 15 deadline to initial an EU-Caribbean EPA
Republicans grow skeptical on free trade
5-Oct-2007 WSJ
By a nearly two-to-one margin, US Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the US economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president.
More than a dilemma, the trilemma of globalizacion
5-Oct-2007 Alainet
While the defenders of conventional globalization proclaim its benefits, economic as much as political, in Latin America the conflicts generated by openness to trade and international finance are mounting concerning democracy and national autonomy.
Roxas on JPEPA: No deal better than bad deal
5-Oct-2007 ABS-CBN
Philippines Sen. Mar Roxas said senators remain unconvinced on ratifying the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) even as the executive branch had created an inter-agency task force to explain the benefits of the bilateral economic agreement.
Poll predicts Costa Ricans will vote against free trade agreement with US, Central America
5-Oct-2007 AP
Costa Ricans are poised to reject the U.S.-Central American free trade agreement in a referendum Sunday, according to a poll published Thursday.
EU group urges Vietnam to speed ASEAN trade deal
5-Oct-2007 Thanh Nien
European parliamentarians urged Vietnam on Wednesday to fast-track negotiations for an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement as European businesses worry about competition from the United States and elsewhere.
Anti-JPEPA advocates ask RP to renegotiate treaty
4-Oct-2007 INQUIRER.net
The multisectoral Fair Trade Alliance calls for a renegotiation of JPEPA