bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Articles by language

English
Tagalog
China outwits the EU in Africa
13-Dec-2007 Asia Times
During the past several years, an increasing number of differences have arisen in the strategic partnership forged between China and the European Union. Among the many critical issues clouding the mutual agenda are differing policy approaches towards Africa.
S. Africa says "serious issues" remain in EU talks
13-Dec-2007 Reuters
South Africa said on Wednesday that "serious issues" needed to be addressed in African nations’ trade talks with the European Union, but it did not rule out the possibility of reaching a comprehensive deal.
Sowing a bitter harvest
12-Dec-2007 DNA
One outcome of the Indo-US deal on Agriculture appears to be the deregulation of the GM foods sector.
Israeli, Palestinian businessmen urge trade talks
12-Dec-2007 The Guardian
Key members of the Israeli and Palestinian private sectors recommended in a joint study that peace negotiators adopt a "Free Trade Agreement Plus" (FTA Plus) as the basis for economic relations between Israel and any future Palestinian state.
Courting investors, South Korea seeks to move out of Japan’s shadow
12-Dec-2007 EE Times
South Korea’s electronics industry is seeking to reduce its dependence on rival and chief supplier Japan while diversifying beyond its chip-manufacturing base to develop fresh intellectual property and new product categories.
EU wants India to speed up FTA
12-Dec-2007 The Hindu
Expressing doubt over WTO talks making headway in the near future, Austria on Tuesday asked India to speed up free trade agreement with the European Union to enlarge markets for European and Indian business.
Mexican sugar industry anxious ahead NAFTA opening
12-Dec-2007 The Guardian
Three weeks before the United States and Mexico lift the last barriers to trade in sweeteners, sugar mill owners and cane farmers south of the border are worried they are in poor shape to compete.
Peru-US free trade agreement to enter into force in 2009
12-Dec-2007 LIP
The US-Peru free trade agreement is to enter into force January 1, 2009, said Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Mercedes Aráoz. The Minister explained, "Obviously we want to move faster but there is a lot of work we have to do with the US government to make things compatible."
Holy See and Israel close to bilateral agreement, says Israeli ambassador
11-Dec-2007 CNA
The agreement deals with economic issues, as well as with the legal and financial status of Church properties in the Holy Land.
Singapore, Oman agree to boost bilateral investments
11-Dec-2007 Channel News Asia
The Investment Guarantee Agreement between the two countries is expected to give businesses greater confidence and protection when investing. It will also help in the free trade agreement talks between Singapore and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
EU approves free market access for products from 15 ACP countries
11-Dec-2007 Forbes
The EU foreign ministers today adopted a ruling which will allow virtually free access to their markets with effect from Jan 1, 2008 to products from 15 African, Caribbean and Pacific member countries which reached an interim trade agreement with the EU. However, twenty-seven ACP member nations, including 14 in the Caribbean, risk having an increase imposed on their customs tariffs from Jan 1.
Duty cut on palm oil hits vanaspati units in Lanka
11-Dec-2007 Business Standard
The reduction in customs duty of crude palm oil (CPO) by India has severely hit the 12 vanaspati units set up by Indian companies in Sri Lanka to take advantage of the low duty on CPO there and export duty-free to India under the free trade agreement quota.
Qualified industrial zones: Trade deal with the US and Israel boosts textiles
11-Dec-2007 FT
The deal allows Egyptians to export to the US tariff-free as long as they use a certain percentage of Israeli goods. The US initiative is intended to foster peace through trade. Qiz’s impact on thawing the political relations is questionable. But, for Egyptian garment producers, it has meant a chance to stand up to the competition posed by Asian producers.
Bush and Harper ignore Colombia’s labor rights reality
11-Dec-2007 Colombia Journal
There is no moral justification for the United States and Canada negotiating a free trade agreement with Colombia when the foundation of these pacts is the slaughter of Colombian unionists. The perpetrators of these crimes should not be rewarded with an agreement that most Colombians do not want.
S. Korea, Mexico at odds over agricultural safeguards in FTA talks
11-Dec-2007 Asia Pulse
South Korea and Mexico were at odds over safeguards for farm goods at their first free trade agreement talks, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Monday.
Africa leaders reject EU trade deal
10-Dec-2007 Al Jazeera
Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal’s president, said at the closing of the Africa-Europe Summit: "It was said several times during the plenary session and it was said again this morning: African states reject the EPAs."
S Korea seeking free trade with South America’s Mercosur: commerce minister
10-Dec-2007 Yonhap
South Korea is seeking a free trade pact with Mercosur to pave the way for Korean firms to increase investment and exports to Brazil and the other member states, South Korea’s commerce minister said Saturday.
Ivory Coast initials interim trade deal with EU
10-Dec-2007 Reuters
Ivory Coast inked an interim trade accord with the European Union on Friday as the bloc pushes for deals with as many former European colonies as possible before preferential trade terms expire on December 31. The top cocoa producer is the first West African country to sign a bilateral deal, breaking ranks with the region’s ECOWAS economic community.
Namibia: EPA pain in the butt
10-Dec-2007 AllAfrica.com
Government’s refusal to sign the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has thrown a challenge to the private sector, which had put too much trust on the Cotonou Agreement by regarding European markets as the only export destination.
EU should not pressure developing countries over trade agreements says WCC leader
10-Dec-2007 Ekklesia
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has told European Commissioner Peter Mandelson that the coercive approach adopted by the EU poisons the negotiating atmosphere and that the interim agreements are not consistent with development, poverty eradication and rights to food.