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EPA - the MAI in disguise?
15-Jan-2008 Trinidad Express
In the late 1990s, Europe attempted to impose investment conditions and policies under the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) which was shot down by the anti-MAI campaign supported by the developing countries. It appears to have achieved much of the same through the Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement.
Yemen to join GCC, Gulf-EU Free Trade Agreement to be signed
15-Jan-2008 MEMRI
Yemen will soon become a regular member of the GCC, following the GCC leaders’ agreement to a request by Saudi King Abdallah. In addition, a GCC-EU free trade agreement is expected to be signed during 2008.
Malaysia, US resume free trade Talks
14-Jan-2008 AP
The United States and Malaysia resumed formal talks Monday for a free trade agreement, nearly a year after discussions stalled amid differences over Malaysia’s government procurement policy.
Sri Lanka stops pepper exports to India under free trade deal
14-Jan-2008 Lanka Business
Sri Lanka has stopped exporting pepper under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because of restrictions imposed by India, a top exporter has said.
CARICOM/Canada trade talks start next month
14-Jan-2008 Nation News
The first full round of negotiations on a Canada/ CARICOM Free Trade Agreement is scheduled to get started next month.
Trade: The $1b game of patience
14-Jan-2008 NZ Herald
State of play with New Zealand’s trade negotiations
Impacting unimpaired
14-Jan-2008 The Dominion
Both TILMA and the SPP have specific aims that go beyond the usual attempt to enshrine investors’ rights and protect corporations from government regulations. Both agreements pave the way for the largest industrial project in history to move forward: a project that calls for the extraction of over 170 billion barrels of recoverable oil from the tar sands of Alberta’s Athabasca, Peace and Cold Lake regions.
Agriculture takes a toll on Japanese economy
14-Jan-2008 New Straits Times
Free-trade deals had been the linchpin of a perceived strategy to break long-standing policy deadlocks in Japan, and to pry open agriculture to market mechanisms and competition. But uncertainty has set in.
Olive oil imports set to rise post India-EU FTA
14-Jan-2008 FE
The proposed India-EU free trade agreement may open doors for easy import of olive oil from Europe. Major olive oil exporting countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece are insisting upon India to reduce its duty, remove non-tariff barriers and other local taxes and levies and marketing restrictions like maximum retail price system that guarantee a 35% margin to the retailer.
Chinese exports to India rising fast
14-Jan-2008 TOI
India Inc may have got some ammunition to ward off a free trade agreement with China. A study has revealed a steep growth in major manufactured good imports from China.
Stephen Harper’s bizarre logic of free trade with Colombia
14-Jan-2008 NUPGE
How can Canada denounce human rights abuses in China while turning a blind eye to the mass political murder of trade unionists in Colombia?
Canada announces start of bilateral investment treaty negotiations with Mongolia
14-Jan-2008 TLB
On January 9 2008, Canada announced that it will commence negotiations of a bilateral investment treaty with Mongolia. This is good news for Canadian mining companies...
India, EU to make trade pact offers in February
13-Jan-2008 Business Standard
Even as experts doubt the possibility of a “deep free trade agreement” between India and the European Union (EU), both sides are likely to exchange offers on goods and services by the end of the next month.
Senator says passage of JPEPA lost cause
12-Jan-2008 SunStar
The passage of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is most likely a lost cause, said Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano, chair of the Senate committee on environment. She said even Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate committee on finance, said JPEPA "is not going to make it".
FTA with China unlikely: Nath
11-Jan-2008 NDTV
India and China are expected to sign dozens of trade deals during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s three-day visit to China from January 13, but India is wary of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.
Mexico: Catastrophic outlook for NAFTA; protests being organized
11-Jan-2008 Cattle Network
"The competition is not about Mexican agriculture against American agriculture, but about a Mexican worker against large companies like Cargill, Conagra or ADM."
Guyanese President weighs in on EPA agreement
11-Jan-2008 Radio Jamaica
President Bharat Jagdeo of Guyana confessed that the economic partnership agreement signed by the Caribbean with the EU is a bad deal and the region has little to gain from it.
Seoul to resolve beef trade spat for ratification of US FTA deal
11-Jan-2008 Asia Pulse
South Korea will ratchet up efforts to resolve a beef trade spat with the United States as early as possible in order to help a free trade deal signed last year between the two countries win parliamentary approval, officials said Friday.
Feb. deadline looms for Korea-US FTA
11-Jan-2008 Chosun Ilbo
It was in late June last year that the much-touted Korea-US free trade agreement was signed between the two countries. More than six months later official ratification of the deal has yet to be made by either US Congress or the Korean National Assembly. Korean business organizations say if the stamp of approval is not given by February’s end, the hard-won trade deal could go down the drain.
Costa Rica, China begin talks on free trade
10-Jan-2008 New Post India
A Chinese business delegation is in Costa Rica to explore the possibilities of a bilateral free trade agreement. The feasibility study would take at least six months.