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Caribbean grapples with loss of EU sugar deal
3-Oct-2007 IPS
Last week, the EU unilaterally renounced a 32-year sugar protocol that had guaranteed fixed quotas and prices for ACP countries, with no clear indications of how exactly sugar will be treated in the new EPAs.
Myanmar should be excluded from ASEAN-EU free trade deal - EU parliamentarians
2-Oct-2007 Sharewatch
Myanmar should not be included in the free trade agreement (FTA) between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU following the Yangon military regime’s crackdown on mass protests last week, according to members of the European Parliament visiting Singapore.
World Trade Organization accession agreements: intellectual property issues
1-Oct-2007
This paper addresses intellectual property issues that arise in the context of the WTO accession process
An analysis of the EC non-paper on the objectives and possible elements of an IP section in the EC-Pacific EPA
1-Oct-2007 ICTSD
The combination of the time-factor, the TRIPS-plus implications of many of the elements suggested by the EC, the challenges that would face non-WTO Pacific countries to even adhere to TRIPS and the general level of development in these countries, it is strongly recommended that Pacific countries do not agree to the inclusion of an IP section in the EC-Pacific EPA.
EU’s scrapping of sugar pact ’a slap in face’, says Caribbean
1-Oct-2007 Jamaica Observer
Caribbean trade and political officials are fuming at the European Union’s decision last Friday to scrap a 32-year-old agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar-exporting countries, describing the action as "a slap in the face" of the region.
State’s favourite fish may escape duty-free import net
1-Oct-2007 The Hindu
Oil sardine and mackerel are likely to escape the list of duty-free import from Europe in the Indo-European Union trade and investment agreement, set to be signed late next year. The exemption is a major victory for fish workers.
Huge crowds in Costa Rica protest US pact
1-Oct-2007 Reuters
More than 100,000 Costa Ricans — a huge protest in a country of 4 million — protested a US trade pact on Sunday they say will flood their country with cheap farm goods and cause job losses.
Indo-Asean FTA talks may slip on palm oil
1-Oct-2007 Business Standard
Negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the 10-member Asean are stuck over tariff cuts on palm oil.
Japanese civil groups join push against FTA
1-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Japanese civil and consumer rights groups have thrown their support behind the Thai anti-FTA movement by petitioning their own government not to rush into signing the Thai-Japan free trade agreement with the interim Surayud Chulanont administration.
Filipino nursing students want JPEPA junked
1-Oct-2007 Manila Shimbun
Nursing students staged in Manila a rally against the ratification of the proposed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) for fear that Filipino nurses will only end up as nursing aides or attendants in Japan.
Costa Rica to protest FTA with US
30-Sep-2007 Prensa Latina
Representatives of several Costa Rican sectors will take part in a mass demonstration in this capital on Sunday in rejection to the free trade agreement with the US, which will be put to the vote on October 17.
Hope diminishing for new Caribbean-EU trade agreement
30-Sep-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
As September draws to a close, the likelihood diminishes that an economic partnership agreement (EPA) is achievable this year between the European Union and the Caribbean.
New EU envoy for pushing trade pact with India
30-Sep-2007 Indian Muslims
Ahead of the India-European Union (EU) summit on Nov 30, Daniele Smadja, the new envoy of the European Commission, Friday called for pushing negotiations on a broad-based trade and investment agreement between the two sides.
Ghana: Organised labour worried over EPA
29-Sep-2007 GNA
Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, said the leadership of organised labour had discussed the main issues of the EPA negotiations and concluded that the current efforts to negotiate a free and fair trade agreement between the world’s single most powerful economic bloc and weaker economies was impossible.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner visits Central America and announces aid packages
29-Sep-2007 FOCUS Information Agency
Three weeks before the first round of negotiations on an Association Agreement between the EU and Central America to be held in Costa Rica at the end of October, Ms Ferrero-Waldner wishes to send a strong signal to the region of the importance the EU accords to this agreement.
India, China to start talks on free-trade agreement
29-Sep-2007 Times of India
China and India have started to talk in terms of a free trade agreement, which would mean a giant stride in the relationship between the two countries. Officials of the two nations are scheduled to meet in New Delhi next month to work out some of the modalities that would pave the way for serious negotiations on the proposed FTA.
Calls to scrap ASEAN trade deal over Burma
28-Sep-2007 ABC
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says the Federal Government should cease Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) free trade negotiations immediately, in line with Burma sanctions.
Stop CAFTA Coalition releases "DR-CAFTA Year Two"
28-Sep-2007 CISPES
The Stop CAFTA Coalition announces the release of "DR-CAFTA Year Two: Trends and impacts", its second report on the effects of the US-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement on the majority of people in the region.
Senate rejection of JPEPA seen
28-Sep-2007 Inquirer
After three hearings, the proposed trade treaty between the Philippines and Japan is on the verge of defeat in the Senate after government officials again failed to convince the senators of the treaty’s benefits to the country.
FEMA amendments likely to lift FDI ban on Bangla firms
28-Sep-2007 Times of India
Bangladeshi companies may soon be allowed to invest in India. The Indian government is proposing to do away with the ban on foreign direct investment from Bangladesh. It is considering an amendment to the Foreign Exchange and Management Act.