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First Pakistan-EFTA meeting concludes: Negotiations to continue in 2008
14-Oct-2007 Daily Times
Pakistan and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have entered into a market access dialogue
Zimbabwe: White farmers appeal to Sadc
13-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
The last remaining white commercial farmers have appealed to the regional Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Tribunal in an effort to stop government from expropriating their properties.
Costa Rica’s CAFTA “Si” vote called into question
13-Oct-2007 Upside Down World
While free trade proponents cheered, opponents called foul in Costa Rica’s 51.5 percent vote Oct. 7 in favor of ratifying the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
Debate rages as Jpepa stirs up a hornet’s nest
13-Oct-2007
Various groups around the Philippines have come out with guns blazing, claiming that the proposed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement will only harm farmers in the countryside.
Free-trade fight reflects broader battle
12-Oct-2007 Washington Post
The vote was barely 24 hours away when President Bush’s aides held an emergency conference call at 10:45 p.m. last Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid had sent a letter that could sink a US-led free trade agreement up for referendum in Costa Rica. The Bush team decided to put out its own statement to save it. The trade pact went on to pass narrowly Sunday, but the last-minute drama capped a furious few weeks in which the White House and Congress fought a proxy war in the tiny Central American nation.
Protest US intervention and dirty campaign in Costa Rican CAFTA Referendum
12-Oct-2007 Upside Down World
Take action from October 15-20 to demand that the Costa Rica referendum results NOT be certified by the OAS
Interview: Argentina seeks diplomatic exit from ICSID suits
12-Oct-2007 Dow Jones
Facing a flood of unfavorable arbitration rulings, Argentina is shifting from a legal strategy to a diplomatic one in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in foreign investor claims arising from its 2002 financial crisis.
Teamsters challenge Bush on free trade arguments: Hoffa responds to Bush
12-Oct-2007 PR Newswire
"When President Bush says the economy benefits from trade deals, he must mean the part of the economy he cares about — the top one percent," Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said. "It’s not competition we’re afraid of, but the global capitalists who rig the system against the American worker."
Bush tries to build support for Latam trade deals
12-Oct-2007 Reuters
Bush urged Congress on Friday to approve free-trade agreements with Peru, Panama and Colombia "as soon as possible," saying failure to do so would diminish US leadership in the hemisphere.
China sets up new harbor area for planned free trade zone with ASEAN
12-Oct-2007 AHN
China has started construction of a bonded harbor area that will form part of a future free trade zone with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thai food exports to reach Bt600 billion
12-Oct-2007 MCOT
Thailand’s food exports are expected to increase by 7.8 per cent from last year to Bt600 billion this year and to further rise by 10 per cent next year due to the free trade area (FTA) agreements and an increased demand for products as a result of global warming, according to industry executives.
Caribbean may sue to reinstate EU sugar deal
12-Oct-2007 IPS
Caribbean Community leaders may try to reinstate the EU sugar protocol through an international court.
NLA nod ’not needed for JTEPA’
12-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram insisted the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement, signed by the Surayud administration, is in line with the 2007 constitution and it is not necessary for it to be endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Taiwan, Nicaragua ratify free-trade agreement
12-Oct-2007 Monsters and Critics
Taiwan and Nicaragua ratified their free-trade agreement in Taiwan Thursday, further liberalizing trade.
US-Panama trade pact looks shaky
11-Oct-2007 LA Times
Washington officials say that even if Gonzalez — the president of Panama’s National Assembly, who is wanted on murder charges in the US — were to quit, attitudes in Congress and in the Bush administration have hardened against the free trade deal.
Rice, Clinton clash over Korea-US FTA
11-Oct-2007 Chosun Ilbo
With a firm eye on the support of labor unions, which oppose free trade pacts, US presidential contender Hillary Clinton denounced not only the Korea-US trade deal but also NAFTA, which was signed by her own husband, former president Bill Clinton. It seems the Korea-US FTA is unlikely to be ratified by Congress before the tenure of President George W. Bush is out.
Brazil, US executives seek to make up lost ground on trade
11-Oct-2007 Dow Jones News
After the failure of talks on the Free Trade Area of the Americas and slow progress in advancing the Doha round agenda of the World Trade Organization, executives from Brazil and the US have decided to take the matter of improving trade relations between their countries into their own hands.
Philippine Senate prepares to shoot down FTA with Japan
11-Oct-2007 Japan Times
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s campaign to persuade the Senate to ratify a landmark free-trade agreement with Japan is looking increasingly hopeless
Korean Alliance call for international protest letter
10-Oct-2007
Please sign this international protest letter against the arrests of Mr. Seok-woon Park and Mr. Je-jun Ju of the Korean Alliance against Korea-US FTA, and the continuing suppression of the Korean anti-FTA movement, before 19 October 2007
Ghana: Industries against signing
10-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
The Association of Ghana Industry (AGI) has added its voice to the clarion cry on African governments not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or risk killing local industries.