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Santiago seeks supplemental agreement to JPEPA
12-Nov-2007 Inquirer
The controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement should be accompanied by a supplemental agreement because the treaty in its current form “fails to make a reservation for future preferential, protective, or development measures over Japanese investments,” Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said Monday.
Southern African free trade zone to come up next year
12-Nov-2007 Earth Times
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has said that a free trade agreement (FTA) for the region will be concluded next year as scheduled.
USA : Combating China more vital than Peru FTA - AMTAC
12-Nov-2007 Fibre to Fashion
"The illegal currency subsidies given by China to its manufacturing exporters dwarf the $9 billion in trade covered by the proposed Peru FTA. Rather than focusing on real trade problems, the House instead passed an FTA with a country that only could afford to buy 0.28 percent of U.S. exports in 2006,” American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition Executive Director Auggie Tantillo said
Malaysia signs FTA with Pakistan
12-Nov-2007 New Straits Times
Malaysia and Pakistan have signed a trade pact, Malaysia’s first bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
Mari wants more diversified trade with Australia
12-Nov-2007 Jakarta Post
Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu called on Indonesian and Australia business people to try to diversify the type of goods and services exchanged between the two countries as their two governments are exploring to establish a free trade agreement.
’Make accord with EU public’
12-Nov-2007 Trinidad & Tobago Express
As negotiations intensify for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the Caribbean and European Union before year end, there are now growing calls for the "draft" accord to be made public before the region’s governments sign on to such a deal.
Emerging uncertainty about Caribbean-EU business deals: As EPA negotiations drag on
11-Nov-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
A final make or break negotiating session is expected in the Caribbean at the end of November.
Massive rally held in downtown Seoul in protest of Korea-US FTA
11-Nov-2007 Yonhap
An estimated 20,000 blue-collar workers, farmers and college students staged a massive rally in downtown Seoul on Sunday in protest of a South Korea-US free trade agreement and government legislation that they claim discriminates against non-regular workers.
Jordan, Canada to talk FTA next week
11-Nov-2007 Zawya
Jordan and Canada will commence next week talks over a proposed Free Trade Agreement, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
With Asean pact in limbo, India now looks at E Asia
11-Nov-2007 Economic Times
India’s problems with the free trade agreement being worked out with the Asean notwithstanding, the country is eagerly exploring the possibility of entering into a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the sixteen East Asia Summit members, including the 10 Asean countries, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Filipino workers in Japanese firms oppose JPEPA
10-Nov-2007 Bulatlat
Filipino workers in Japanese firms based in Southern Tagalog oppose the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). They shared their stories of struggle against what they deem as “greed for profit of Japanese investors at the expense of labor.”
Uruguay-Argentina: Smoke from pulp mill clouds relations
10-Nov-2007 IPS
Everything was in place for the beginning of the end of the long-running conflict: a friendlier face about to be sworn in as president in Argentina, a tiny bit of flexibility on the part of Uruguay, a few points of agreement, and a Spanish mediator appointed by the King.
Canada closes in on Colombian trade deal while abuses continue
10-Nov-2007 Canadian Press
One of Colombia’s most celebrated and provocative journalists is urging Canada to put the brakes on a trade deal with his country, citing unabated death threats and assassinations against colleagues and other government critics.
Labor urges no vote on Colombia trade deal in ’08
9-Nov-2007 Reuters
Congress should wait at least one year before voting on a free trade agreement with Colombia because of continuing violence in that country against trade unionists, the largest US labor group said on Friday.
Response to the letter “This is not a poker game” by Messrs Peter Mandelson and Louis Michel in The Guardian of 31 October 2007
9-Nov-2007
You are right that this should not be a poker game. Maybe it’s time for reflection so you could realize who is actually playing poker with the livelihoods you are trying to help, writes Wallie Roux.
Senators urged to hear out peasants on JPEPA
9-Nov-2007 Inquirer
The greatest benefit from any increased banana and pineapple exports resulting from JPEPA will go to the big foreign agribusiness TNCs like Dole and Del Monte, not to Filipino workers and farmers as a whole, militant groups say.
UAE still keen on Gulf-EU free trade agreement
9-Nov-2007 Gulf News
The delay in signing the EU-GCC FTA has resulted in a chain reaction as the European Union will now apply new standards in negotiating trade agreements, according to Sweden’s minister of "free" trade
The EU is trying to trick developing countries into poor trade deals
9-Nov-2007 The Guardian
The dirtiest trick is the spurious insistence on a December deadline. On top of this, the commission’s latest approach — that individual countries should sign up to EPAs without their weaker neighbours — reveals how shallow their commitment to ACP regional integration is.
Australia, Japan hammer out FTA details
9-Nov-2007 ABC
Japan has again raised concerns about energy security and the viability of its agriculture industry in free trade talks with Australia.
Teaching leaders oppose Peru-US FTA
9-Nov-2007 Prensa Latina
Peru-US Free Trade Agreement, ratified by the US House of Representatives, is a mechanism of subjugation, the leader of Peruvian teaching Luis Munoz affirmed Thursday.