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India-China FTA talks soon
India is likely to soon initiate formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, the third largest destination for Indian goods and the biggest source of imports. A task force comprising officials from both countries recently submitted its report saying the FTA was feasible.
Kuwait, US ’strong’ economic partners
Kuwait and the US are now at the phase where they are "trying to understand and see whether there is an opportunity to move forward" from a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to a bilateral investment treaty or free trade agreement, according to a US Treasury Department official.
EPAs will destroy African economies — German NGOs
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs), proposed by the European Union (EU) to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, constitute a "neo-colonial instrument" which will destroy the economic and social basis in African states, according to some German non-governmental organisations.
It’s GSP Plus after December... after EU failed to push EPA’s through
West Africa wants the EPA with the European Union to come into force on 1st January 2011 instead of January 2008 provided under the Cotonou partnership agreement. But what trading regime will apply after the expiration of the current trading system in December this year?
Investment pact urged with bloc
China’s Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan Sunday pushed for an early conclusion of talks on a China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) free trade area investment agreement to expand mutual investment.
Protecting Korean farmers key goal of FTA talks with China
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Seoul stressed the need to reflect the concerns of local farmers in any future free trade agreement (FTA) with China at preliminary discussions held in Weihai last week.
Visa row mars NZ-India free trade talks
On the same day that Trade Minister Goff announced that progress had been made on the NZ-India FTA joint study, news broke that New Zealand immigration officials in New Delhi had refused visas to members of the Indian delegation to the India NZ Joint Business Councils.
Positive start to NZ-India FTA talks — Goff
New Zealand and India have made good progress towards initiating a free trade agreement between the two countries, Trade Minister Phil Goff said today.
Kenya: Manufacturers join trade case
The stage is set for a battle pitting small-scale farmers against manufacturers and exporters of fresh produce. On Friday, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and Kenya Fresh Produce Exporters Association applied and were included in the case as interested parties to support the Government against the farmers and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
Caribbean nations grapple with biofuel issues
In the United States, experts debate whether biofuel growth in the tropics will cut into profits for Midwest producers. Special free-trade agreements with those countries can make it less expensive to ship ethanol from there to the US coasts.
Costa Ricans to strike against FTA
Trade unions from the Costa Rican Electricity Institute announced a strike against the complementary agenda of CAFTA, so that the company continues to govern in the fields of electricity and telecommunications.
Ecuador exporters warn increased duties could derail FTA
Ecuador’s Federation of Exporters warned Friday that the country’s recent increases in import duties will negatively affect negotiations on a free trade agreement between Andean countries and the European Union.
Activists want FTA with Japan nullified
Activists opposing the Thai-Japanese free trade area (FTA) agreement yesterday filed a complaint with the Constitution Court, asking it to nullify the deal which they say is unconstitutional.
Free trade agreement between Iran and Armenia to be ratified later
During the Iranian President’s official visit to Armenia the agreement on free trade between the two states was not signed
Canada: Potential new impediments to M&A transactions
On October 9, 2007, Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, announced that the government of Canada will consider introducing new guidelines on takeovers by foreign state-owned enterprises and amending the Investment Canada Act to permit the review of foreign investments that could compromise Canada’s national security
US Congress may delay Fata zones legislation
The United States Congress is likely to put on hold for several months, possibly a year, legislation for setting up reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) in tribal areas and finalisation of a bilateral investment treaty till a new democratic set-up comes into power in Pakistan
Fear and voting in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s recent referendum was supposed to decide once and for all whether that country should enter into the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Instead, the Oct. 7 vote polarized and politicized this small country of four and a half million people more than anything since neighboring Nicaragua’s war between the Sandinistas and the Contras two decades ago. And even though supporters of the treaty prevailed by a slim margin, CAFTA opponents still have a few cards to play and may yet block its implementation.
JPEPA: Gross violation of the Constitution
The JPEPA was based on the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement, literally employing the "cut-and-paste" method. Page 71 of the Working Draft of the JPEPA still contains the word Singapore in one of the provisions.
Colombia’s workers, peasants need int’l solidarity
Even the New York Times, which has reported very little about the horrendous violence against Colombia’s workers and campesinos, in an Oct. 8 editorial recommended that the pending Free Trade Agreement with Colombia be delayed because “President Álvaro Uribe and his government have not done enough to bring to justice the paramilitary thugs-and their political backers-responsible for widespread human rights violations.”
Using Chávez as counterpoint, Bush pursues Latin trade pacts
The Bush administration has enlisted an unlikely ally in its international trade agenda: Hugo Chávez, the leftist president of Venezuela, who makes a practice of denouncing United States’ influence in Latin America.