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India mulls FTA with China
6-Dec-2007 Times of India
India is considering a Free Trade Agreement with China but a decision will be based on sensitivities of domestic industry. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh categorically stated that agriculture will not be included in FTAs.
Africa-Europe - What alternatives?
5-Dec-2007
European and African civil society organizations will meet in Lisbon on 8 to 9 December, in parallel with European Union / African Union Summit.
Libya sweetens trade, investment ties with US
5-Dec-2007 CalTrade Report
Morphing over the past several years from international pariah to developing, open-market economy, Libya is now actively cultivating trade and investment links with the US.
Cameroon’s Biya supports partial signature of EPAs
5-Dec-2007
Cameroonian President Paul Biya says he is in favour of the signing of partial Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and the Central African Region.
Senegal opposes EPA
5-Dec-2007 afrol News
Senegal has joined Africa’s economic tigers [South Africa and Nigeria] to openly declare its refusal to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) with the European Union.
US companies urge investment pacts with BRIC nations
5-Dec-2007 Guardian
Major US exporters urged the Bush administration to begin negotiations with the "BRIC" nations — Brazil, Russia, India and China — on bilateral investment treaties, which they said were critical to US service company efforts to tap those large markets.
Senate approves Peru trade deal
5-Dec-2007 NY Times
The US Senate gave overwhelming final approval Tuesday to a trade agreement with Peru, as most Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in handing President Bush an unusual victory
US business community reaffirms support for US-Malaysia FTA
5-Dec-2007 Bernama
The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce whose members include US, Malaysian, and other international companies, has urged the United States and Malaysian governments to consummate the free trade agreement now being negotiated.
Debate begins on US-Peru free trade agreement
4-Dec-2007 Reuters
The US Senate began debate on Monday on a free trade agreement with Peru the Bush administration hopes will be its first legislative trade victory since Democrats took control of Congress in January.
Kamal Nath favours FTA with US
4-Dec-2007 Sify
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath has said a Free Trade Agreement between India and the United States needs to be closely looked at to foster a closer engagement with the world’s most powerful democracy. Analysts, however, say that Indian industry may not be too happy with the move for the fear of being swamped by powerful American companies. This may also lead to a surge in imports from the United States.
Singapore emerging as India Inc’s gateway to the world
3-Dec-2007 Indian Express
With more than 2,700 Indian firms operating in the country, Singapore has emerged as the favourite destination for domestic corporates looking to internationalise. While bilateral trade between the two nations has gone up as expected post-Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in 2005, it is Singapore’s might as a leading hub for innovation and R&D that has attracted companies to set up shop there.
Congressman to introduce India trade legislation
3-Dec-2007 Reuters
A US congressman said on Sunday he planned to introduce legislation calling for the United States to begin talks with India on a free trade agreement.
EU, GCC fail to end free trade obstacles
3-Dec-2007 Khaleej Times
The Gulf Cooperation Council and 25-member European Union failed on Sunday to overcome obstacles to a free trade agreement that has eluded them for nearly 20 years, the Qatari finance minister said.
International trade tribunals seen trumping state laws
3-Dec-2007 Boston Globe
States around the US are growing increasingly worried about the threats posed to their laws and regulations by the secret tribunals that resolve disputes in international trade. "Free trade agreements are to state sovereignty and economic development what global climate change is to the environment and natural resources," said state Sen. Virginia Lyons, D-Chittenden.
Key parties pledge to review all FTAs
2-Dec-2007
Key political parties yesterday pledged to review free trade agreements (FTA) with Japan and other countries. Representatives of the Democrat and Matchimathipataya parties agreed that the FTA with Japan, formally the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), should be reviewed.
Delhi shifts aim to bigger ball
1-Dec-2007 Bangkok Post
The much-hyped free trade area (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and India seem to be stalling, as the latter’s focus has shifted toward the much-bigger Asean-India FTA, a leading Thai negotiator says
East Africa: EPA signed to ’’protect’’ small farmers
1-Dec-2007 IPS
The East African Community signed a framework agreement with the European Union to ensure continued access to EU markets for African small farmers, says Juma Mwapachu, secretary general of the East African regional body.
Solomons agrees to negotiate interim agreement
1-Dec-2007 Solomon Times
Solomon Islands will not sign an interim Agreement if Pacific-ACP countries fail to complete negotiations of the European Partnership Agreement by the end of December. "We should not be rushed or influenced by either regional solidarity or integration to sign any agreement that may prove disadvantageous to our development," Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Patteson Oti stated.
Sierra Leone to press ahead with EU trade deal
1-Dec-2007 AFP
Sierra Leone will press ahead to sign accords to liberalise trade with the European Union that have been heavily criticised by anti-poverty lobby groups, a minister said on Friday.
NGO hits trade official, proposes conditionalities on JPEPA
30-Nov-2007 NGO hits trade official, proposes conditionalities on JPEPA
The multisectoral Fair Trade Alliance (FairTrade) hits Ambassador Manuel Teehankee when he revealed that he’s “guessing too much” on the projected gains that the country will be getting on the JPEPA during a Senate hearing presided by Sen. Mar Roxas on Friday.