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No port, no sherry and no 15m euros
15-Oct-2007 Business Report
In return for free access to the EU and payment of €15 million, the South African government agreed to phase out the names port, sherry, grappa and ouzo over five years. Five years later, disillusionment and frustration has set in, with port producers in fear that the EU will renege on the agreement.
Korea, EU open 4th round of free trade talks
15-Oct-2007 Korea.net
The EU is demanding that Korea match reductions on beef and car-import tariffs that it granted the US in June.
India, Brazil, South Africa - the power of three
15-Oct-2007 IPS
IBSA was conceived in 2003 to counterbalance the powerful Group of Eight alliance of industrialised countries and to promote South-South cooperation. But a reality check reveals that all three IBSA members still do by far most of their business with industrialised countries.
Farmers: JPEPA is anti-Filipino
14-Oct-2007 SunStar
In the series of consultations made by the Philippine Peasant Institute (PPI) with farmers, most of them believe that it is anti-Filipino, anti-farmer, and contrary to the Constitution.
SAfrica won’t ’roll over’ on services trade with EU
14-Oct-2007 Reuters
The European Union needs to scale down its ambitions for accessing the service sector in southern Africa as it negotiates an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the region, said South Africa’s deputy trade minister Rob Davies.
Dominican Republic and Taiwan to sign trade accord soon
14-Oct-2007 Dominican Today
Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian said he hopes Taiwan and the Dominican Republic will sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as soon as possible to benefit enterprises in both countries.
First Pakistan-EFTA meeting concludes: Negotiations to continue in 2008
14-Oct-2007 Daily Times
Pakistan and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have entered into a market access dialogue
Zimbabwe: White farmers appeal to Sadc
13-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
The last remaining white commercial farmers have appealed to the regional Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Tribunal in an effort to stop government from expropriating their properties.
Costa Rica’s CAFTA “Si” vote called into question
13-Oct-2007 Upside Down World
While free trade proponents cheered, opponents called foul in Costa Rica’s 51.5 percent vote Oct. 7 in favor of ratifying the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
Debate rages as Jpepa stirs up a hornet’s nest
13-Oct-2007
Various groups around the Philippines have come out with guns blazing, claiming that the proposed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement will only harm farmers in the countryside.
Free-trade fight reflects broader battle
12-Oct-2007 Washington Post
The vote was barely 24 hours away when President Bush’s aides held an emergency conference call at 10:45 p.m. last Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid had sent a letter that could sink a US-led free trade agreement up for referendum in Costa Rica. The Bush team decided to put out its own statement to save it. The trade pact went on to pass narrowly Sunday, but the last-minute drama capped a furious few weeks in which the White House and Congress fought a proxy war in the tiny Central American nation.
Protest US intervention and dirty campaign in Costa Rican CAFTA Referendum
12-Oct-2007 Upside Down World
Take action from October 15-20 to demand that the Costa Rica referendum results NOT be certified by the OAS
Interview: Argentina seeks diplomatic exit from ICSID suits
12-Oct-2007 Dow Jones
Facing a flood of unfavorable arbitration rulings, Argentina is shifting from a legal strategy to a diplomatic one in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in foreign investor claims arising from its 2002 financial crisis.
Teamsters challenge Bush on free trade arguments: Hoffa responds to Bush
12-Oct-2007 PR Newswire
"When President Bush says the economy benefits from trade deals, he must mean the part of the economy he cares about — the top one percent," Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said. "It’s not competition we’re afraid of, but the global capitalists who rig the system against the American worker."
Bush tries to build support for Latam trade deals
12-Oct-2007 Reuters
Bush urged Congress on Friday to approve free-trade agreements with Peru, Panama and Colombia "as soon as possible," saying failure to do so would diminish US leadership in the hemisphere.
China sets up new harbor area for planned free trade zone with ASEAN
12-Oct-2007 AHN
China has started construction of a bonded harbor area that will form part of a future free trade zone with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thai food exports to reach Bt600 billion
12-Oct-2007 MCOT
Thailand’s food exports are expected to increase by 7.8 per cent from last year to Bt600 billion this year and to further rise by 10 per cent next year due to the free trade area (FTA) agreements and an increased demand for products as a result of global warming, according to industry executives.
Caribbean may sue to reinstate EU sugar deal
12-Oct-2007 IPS
Caribbean Community leaders may try to reinstate the EU sugar protocol through an international court.
NLA nod ’not needed for JTEPA’
12-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram insisted the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement, signed by the Surayud administration, is in line with the 2007 constitution and it is not necessary for it to be endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Taiwan, Nicaragua ratify free-trade agreement
12-Oct-2007 Monsters and Critics
Taiwan and Nicaragua ratified their free-trade agreement in Taiwan Thursday, further liberalizing trade.