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Thai food hit by garlic crisis
8-Mar-2008 The Nation
"People today have fewer and fewer choices to eat garlic grown in Thailand, and this significantly affects food’s taste. One third of all garlic available here is no longer grown in Thailand but imported - a lot of it from China," a study on the impact of the Thailand-China FTA said.
The story of a Dutch letterbox which could cost Bolivia a fortune
7-Mar-2008 Corporate Europe Observatory
Running their business via a letterbox company in the Netherlands, transnational corporations profit from the corporate-friendly Dutch tax regime and bilateral investment treaties the Netherlands has with third countries. Euro Telecom Italia (ETI), a subsidiary of Italian telecoms giant ENTEL, is one such letterbox company. ETI recently lodged a complaint with the World Bank tribunal ICSID against Bolivia for compensation, after the Bolivian government had launched a review the company’s much-criticised performance and attempted to negotiate a buy back of what used to be a public telecommunications company.
Economists warn of FTA dangers at Havana international meeting
6-Mar-2008
The dangers and disadvantages of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) promoted by the United States in Latin America were analyzed on Wednesday during the third day of the 10th International Encounter of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems that is underway at Havana’s Convention Center.
EU trade deals harm Africa unity - S.Africa’s Mbeki
6-Mar-2008
South Africa will continue engaging with the European Union to ensure new trade agreements with African countries do not harm regional integration, President Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday.
SA Trade Negotiators Play Hardball With EU
6-Mar-2008
EU trade chief Peter Mandelson dangled a carrot in front of SA’s negotiators at the weekend, hinting at greater access to European markets in exchange for SA returning to the negotiating table to resolve a standoff over a stalled regional trade deal with the EU.
USTR Schwab: "Time is now" on Colombia trade pact
6-Mar-2008
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab told Congress on Thursday "the time is now" to approve a free trade agreement with Colombia, signaling a fight with lawmakers seeking stronger rights for workers.
Govt pledges wage safety on trade deal
6-Mar-2008
The Government has pledged that its free-trade deal with China will not threaten the wages and conditions of New Zealand workers.
’EPAS a threat to services, investment’
6-Mar-2008
The European Union (EU) continues to come under fire for employing ’under-handed’ tactics to get African countries, including Swaziland, to conclude a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (EPA) with it.
Stop ’re-colonising’ Africa, civil society tells EU
6-Mar-2008 AllAfrica.com
Nine civil society organisations in southern Africa have called on the European Union and its Trade Commission to align its economic partnership proposals with Africa’s economic integration plans.
Govt commits to putting FTA to parliamentary vote
6-Mar-2008 Scoop
New Zealand Green Party MP Keith Locke has welcomed the Government’s commitment in the House today to put the free trade agreement with China, to be signed in April, to a Parliamentary vote.
EPA harmful’ - Academics lobby for renegotiation of trade deal
5-Mar-2008
A group of academics, while stopping short of labelling the trade pact an outright failure, are proposing that Cariforum renegotiate the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), saying it gives up too much to the Europeans in exchange for too little.
Mexico’s Calderon pushes for Panama trade deal
5-Mar-2008
Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday said Mexico was ready to talk to Panama about restarting stalled discussions on a free trade deal.
U.S. lawmaker says FTA approval impossible this year
5-Mar-2008
A senior U.S. Democrat lawmaker said Tuesday the free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea has no chance of passing the Congress this year, a contention strongly disputed by the South Korean ambassador to the U.S. who said he was confident Seoul can garner enough votes.
Caricom eyes Brazil’s alert
5-Mar-2008
When Ministers of Caricom’s Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) meet in The Bahamas tomorrow, they are expected to consider the implications for this region of reservations expressed by Brazil at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on provisions of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated with the European Commission (EC).
Mandelson in eggdance to placate SA, Namibia
5-Mar-2008
EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson spoke of a "significant development" at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial meeting held in Botswana yesterday.
Pawar urges SAARC countries to strengthen SAFTA
5-Mar-2008
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday urged the SAARC countries to strengthen the regional trade and pointed out that the region does not correspond to the so-called natural trading partner hypothesis and "SAFTA’s economic relevance is being questioned".
Thai Exhibition 2008 begins in city: Bangkok proposes FTA with Dhaka
5-Mar-2008
The four-day Thailand Exhibition 2008 began at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday with Bangkok renewing its proposal for bilateral FTA with Dhaka for boosting the two-way trade.
Ecuador and investment treaties
5-Mar-2008 Latin Business Chronicle
The government of Ecuador recently announced plans to withdraw from at least nine bilateral investment treaties, a move that follows the country’s partial withdrawal last October from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and comes amid growing discontent among some South American governments with the system for international investment protection. What’s wrong with the system?
Bush urges Congress to pass Colombia trade pact
4-Mar-2008
President George W. Bush urged U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday to put aside differences over a free trade agreement with Colombia and approve the pact to show support for a strong U.S. ally at the center of a crisis in Latin America.
Shoemakers fear FTA
4-Mar-2008
Carcar City’s shoemakers are looking with dread at 2010, the year the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-China Free Trade Area is set to be created.