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Middle East: Bridging the Shia-Sunni divide with free trade
While Iran and the United States exchange aggressive statements, the Arab countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been busy building trade relations with Tehran and charting an economic course with a potential of mending ties in a tough neighbourhood.
US, NZ ’on a date’ for free trade pact
"We have already cut a free trade deal with Australia. We ought to do one with New Zealand," said US Chamber of Commerce president Tom Donohue
Mexico’s President Calderon in India to boost bilateral trade, strengthen political ties
India and Mexico on Monday signed an agreement to scale up trade and investment
Permanent Court of Arbitration to set up facility in Singapore
With rapid growth in the Asian economies, it is inevitable that legal issues and disputes to matters like investment treaties will arise as more and more parties enter into cross-border contracts and agreements.
Legal and development implications of inclusion of services in the EPAs
South Centre has issued a policy brief "Why inclusion of services in the EPAs is problematic" which analyses legal and development implications for Eastern and Southern African countries in negotiating trade in services under the EPAs.
JTEPA to boost Thai business but lower Japan’s investment : Kosit
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said the Japan Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) will help boost Thailand’s business potential but Japan’s investment in Thailand will fall.
Hong Kong suitor hopes to tie the knot
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, is optimistic that a free trade agreement between New Zealand and Hong Kong can be concluded.
We’ll break US free trade barrier - Nats
National leader John Key today unveiled plans to negotiate a free trade agreement with the US, which the government is yet to succeed in doing since it came to power in 1999.
Democrats change FTA views
More and more US Democrats, many of whom have been skeptical about the Bush administration’s trade agenda in Latin America, now support pending free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Panama.
New Zealand presses case for free trade deal with US
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark pressed her country’s case for a free trade deal with the US Monday, saying it would benefit both countries.
Lawmakers seek probe of free trade deal with U.S.
A non-partisan group of 82 lawmakers filed a request with Korea’s National Assembly Monday, asking for a parliamentary probe of a free trade deal between South Korea and the United States which awaits legislative approval in both countries.
Sri Lanka should make better use of existing trade deals: experts
Trade analysts say that Sri Lanka should make the most of existing trade deals like the Bay of Bengal Initiative before negotiating more bilateral and multilateral agreements.
Bangladesh: Govt to study impact of free trade deals with neighbours
The caretaker government of Bangladesh has initiated a study on the impact of striking free trade agreements (FTAs) with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
S. Korea, Peru agree to begin FTA discussions
South Korea and Peru agreed to launch discussions on forming a bilateral free trade agreement during a summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Peruvian President Alan Garcia
Group says new fertilizer aid tied to JPEPA
The Philippine national fishermen’s alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas has voiced out suspicions that the timing of the release of a P125-million fertilizer grant from the Japanese government was “closely linked” to the approval of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
US Congress postpones deliberation on KORUS FTA
Leaders of the US Congress have reportedly decided to approve the US-Colombia FTA before deliberating the Korea-US FTA.
China, Peru launch FTA talks
Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Peruvian President Alan Garcia on Friday and the two agreed to launch bilateral free trade area (FTA) negotiations.
EU-Asean FTA negotiations unlikely to succeed, says academician
A successful free trade agreement between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is unlikely because the Asean nations are unwilling to consider tackling the non-tariff and regulatory barriers, European Centre for International Political Economy’s co-director Razeen Sally said
Jane Kelsey - Critical overview of APEC’s agenda
The objective of the neoliberal camp is to link together the tangle of FTAs that is emerging in the region into a grand Asia Pacific FTA.
Solon seeks probe of 31 other ’ZTEs’ with Chinese firms
Aside from the controversial ZTE deal, the Philippine government has entered into at least 31 other “questionable" investment agreements with corporations in China, Akbayan party-list Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros said. "Like JPEPA, no one has seen the content of the deals and the government is refusing to divulge their details to the public."