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Costa Rica signs DR-CAFTA agreement
The DR-CAFTA free trade pact between the Central American countries, the Dominican Republic and the United States was signed into law in Costa Rica on Wednesday amid protests and a large military deployment.
EU trade chief fears ’plot’ to block deal
Africa’s largest nations are trying to block the signing of the economic partnership agreements with the European Union, Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner has claimed.
Interview-Spain eyes West Africa as investment destination
Spain is turning to West Africa as a potential investment destination in a commercial and political offensive linked to trying to control flows of illegal migrants to its territory, its industry minister said on Thursday.
ACP/EU call to put back EPA deadline
Strong support for extension of the negotiating deadline for a series of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between Europe and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states has come from the Joint Assembly of the European Union and the ACP countries.
A basket to carry water
The grey clouds of attrition are gathering over concluding negotiations with the European Union, which has suddenly adopted a determined mercantilist attitude at this late date. The negotiations with Cariforum (CF) are now foundering in a sea of uncertainty, reminiscent of the opening stanza of the famous Trinidadian calypso "Captain, this ship is sinking.".
Vietnam vows to work for ASEAN-EU partnership
Vietnam will work hard for the development of the ASEAN-EU partnership, particularly their Free Trade Agreement that is now under negotiations, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has promised.
Ford warns Ottawa not to sign with South Korea
Ford may redirect future investment away from Canada if Ottawa concludes a free-trade deal with South Korea that doesn’t open up that country to auto imports, the company’s top Canadian executive said yesterday.
Malaysia, India to enter comprehensive trade talks early next year
Malaysia and India will enter into a comprehensive negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) in January next year, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said today.
EU trade chief impatient on Doha, Southeast Asia deal
The European Union’s trade chief said on Thursday he was impatient with the lack of progress towards free trade deals in the global Doha round and between the EU and Southeast Asia. The Doha round of talks, launched six years ago, has been deadlocked as the United States and European Union call on developing nations to open up their markets for manufacturers in return for cuts by rich countries to trade-distorting subsidies.
Venezuela OK’d for MERCOSUR
The Commission of the Constitution and Justice (CCJ) of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the entrance of Venezuela to the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR).
Brazilian signal for Venezuela’s Mercosur membership
The Brazilian Lower House Constitution and Justice Committee passed on Wednesday a motion for the long awaited incorporation of Venezuela to the South American trade block, Mercosur. However Venezuelan membership still faces a full debate in the House and must convince the Brazilian Senate.
CAFTA Becomes Law in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s president on Wednesday signed into law a free trade agreement with its Central American neighbors, the United States and the Dominican Republic.
EU lawmakers vow to block free-trade deal with ASEAN without reforms in Myanmar
The European parliament will oppose any free-trade deal between Europe and Southeast Asia unless Myanmar makes democratic reforms, visiting parliamentarians warned Friday.
Government urged to disclose contents of Asean-Japan trade deal before signing it
Disclose to the public the contents of the Asean-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement first before signing it. This was the appeal aired by the multisectoral Fair Trade Alliance (FairTrade) to the Philippine government after news broke out that negotiations between Asean member-countries and Japan have been concluded during the Asean Summit in Singapore and the agreement is now up for signing.
ASEAN leaders endorse integration blueprint
A detailed timetable seeking to establish an ASEAN Economic Community in eight years has hit the ground running, with leaders of 10 Southeast Asian countries affixing their signatures yesterday to a declaration adopting a so-called blueprint for economic integration and an attached "strategic schedule."
`Body blow to Kerala farmers`
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remark that India will show the necessary flexibility on talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) is worrying farmers in Kerala.
Govt warned on EPAs
A group of civil society representatives in Uganda have warned the government against signing an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union arguing that it will stifle the growth of local industries and frustrate the effort of local farmers.
Bend, but not backwards
The “necessary flexibility” that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India will show in order to conclude by March the free trade agreement with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) may not be as daunting a task as some might imagine - because the gap between the positions on the two sides does not look unbridgeable.
Country is in a Quandary Over EPAs
A Senior Research Fellow at the Botswana Institution of Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) Dr Joel Sentsho says he hopes current negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) will yield something positive for Botswana.
South Korea Urged To Strengthen IP In EU Trade Talks
South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union.