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Tens of thousands protest signing of the Korea-US FTA
On June 29, tens of thousands of farmers, workers, and ordinary Korean people gathered throughout the country to protest the signing of the Korea-US FTA. Protests were held in major cities including Seoul, Cheonju, Gwangju, Daegu, Pusan and Changwon. In total, roughly 50,000 gathered in a powerful display of opposition to the Korea-US FTA.
India, Japan differ on safeguards in trade pact
As Japanese trade minister Akira Amari begins his India visit tomorrow, official-level talks on a free trade agreement last week ended with wide differences as New Delhi demanded extra safeguards for its domestic industry but Tokyo opposed such concessions.
US-Korea FTA ’setback for Taiwan’
The US-South Korean free trade agreement (FTA) will seriously hurt Taiwan because South Korea and Taiwan are both main trading partners of the US, the Economics Ministry said on Sunday.
China pact a mixed blessing for Pakistan
A free-trade agreement (FTA) signed last year between Pakistan and China came into effect on Sunday, with Islamabad announcing the first phase of a cut on 4,700 tariffs.
Pak-China free trade agreement comes into effect
Pakistan Ambassador to China Sulman Bashir has underlined the need for making concerted efforts to create awareness about bilateral trade agreement including Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that came into effect on Sunday.
US FTA talks hanging in the balance
Trading partners of the United States will have less confidence that the United States can honour trade deals it is negotiating after Congress leaders announced that they would not renew the President’s fast-track trade authority, and also rejected two FTAs.
’Much more’ still after US talks
Caribbean leaders have virtually secured an agreement from President Bush and many of the movers and shakers on Capitol Hill that they would work together, not only to extend the duty free provisions of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act and the benefits of the trade promotion legislation, but modernise and expand their partnership to include services and other vital economic sectors.
Iran to join Cuban-Venezuelan trade agreement
Iran plans to join a Latin American initiative designed to counter US-led efforts for free trade in the region, the official Web site of Iran’s president office reported on Sunday.
Blow to UAE-US FTA hopes
The June 30 expiration of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which allowed the Bush administration to negotiate trade agreements that cannot be amended by Congress, has shattered all hopes of a revival of the stalled US free trade negotiations with the UAE and other GCC countries.
Seoul’s negotiator welcomes USTR’s comments rejecting amendments to FTA
South Korea’s trade negotiator on Saturday welcomed his U.S. counterpart’s remarks ruling out amendments to the just-signed free trade agreement (FTA), saying they were a clear message to Congress.
Koreans at the first US Social Forum sign anti-FTA resolution
Koreans from all over the U.S. and abroad at the first ever U.S. Social Forum marked the official June 30 signing of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with an “anti-FTA signing ceremony”. Leaders of people’s movements from Korea and the U.S. spoke out against the devastating consequences of NAFTA-style free trade.
Japan keen on Delhi-Mumbai corridor
Ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit here late August, India and Japan have stepped up negotiations on an economic pact and the multi-billion dollar Mumbai-Delhi industrial corridor with Trade Minister Akira Amari beginning a five-day visit here Saturday.
Mercosur summit calls for unity and not much more
Mercosur presidential summit in Paraguay approved Friday steps to speed cross-border shipments of meat and vegetables on Friday, but postponed action on other key issues amid calls for greater unity.
South Korea, US sign free trade deal
The United States and South Korea signed a free-trade agreement Saturday that reflected US calls for stricter labor and environmental standards.
Korea should not ratify FTA
Korea and the United States have finalized the free trade agreement (FTA) between them and officially sign the actual document today. Given its social and economic influence and the problems the FTA will present, issues that have become apparent in the course of the release of the initial draft after it was first finalized in April, and then in the course of the renegotiations, Korea stands to lose more than it will gain. We urge the National Assembly not to ratify the agreement.
S. Korea hit by massive protests against FTA with US
Tens of thousands of workers and anti-US activists rallied Friday in central Seoul in monsoon rains to oppose a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the United States.
Apec trade ministers to mull ways to harmonise RTAs & FTAs
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) trade ministers will meet next week to mull ways to standardise rules in regional and free trade pacts so that countries face fewer complications when they are members of several accords.
Asean FTA talks with partners not as expected
The results of negotiations for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between Asean and India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have not been as expected and areas are still there where consensus have yet to reached.
Put the FTA back in the hands of the people
Renegotiations on the FTA with the United States have effectively come to an end. Following approximately one more round of talks, the two countries will finalize and sign the document on June 30.
PM to attend key investment conference
Fresh from the European Council where Malta was admitted, along with Cyprus, to the eurozone, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is due to head a delegation and be one of the principal guests at a high level investment conference that is being held in La Baule, France, this week.