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Japan revs up its Indochina diplomacy
26-May-2007 Asia Times
Amid intensifying rivalry between Tokyo and Beijing over influence in Asia, Japan is revving up its drive to strengthen relations with countries in Indochina, an economically backward but geopolitically important part of the region. The target countries are Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which are collectively referred to as the "CLV" countries.
Asian FTAs provide few benefits
26-May-2007 Bangkok Post
While most Asian countries are negotiating free trade agreements, very few of those deals have resulted in any real benefits, a World Bank study shows.
Peru expected to pass U.S. free-trade pact
26-May-2007 Miami Herald
Peruvian political leaders expect the country’s Congress to ratify protections for workers and the environment demanded by Democrats in Washington as part of a revised Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the United States.
EU and ACP states vow to clinch free trade deals by end-year
26-May-2007 Monsters and critics
The European Union and 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states vowed Friday to clinch free-trade deals by end- 2007, defying critics who say the agreements will not help fight poverty.
Colombia says will work with US Democrats on deal
26-May-2007 Reuters
Colombia accepts proposed U.S. changes to a free trade agreement and is ready to take additional steps to address concerns of Democrats in Congress, the country’s vice president said on Thursday.
The Korea-US FTA and fragile economic sovereignty
26-May-2007 Hankyoreh
The actual document that is slated to be ratified as the free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States has been made public. As expected, there were quite a few sections the public never knew about that would be disadvantageous for Korea.
US trade committees give mixed reviews to proposed Korea-US FTA
26-May-2007 Yonhap
American advisory committees gave divided and mixed evaluations of a proposed South Korea-US free trade agreement, the opinions sometimes differing even within an industry.
Uganda: More time needed for EPA negotiations
26-May-2007 IPS
Uganda has made little progress in its economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union (EU), as government and the private sector say that they need more time before committing to a deal.
US-S Korea FTA means $10 more per pig
26-May-2007 Western Farmer-Stockman
The White House has made details of the US-South Korea Free Trade Agreement available to the public, and according to the National Pork Producers Council, US pork producers have a lot to be happy about: an additional $10 per pig as a result.
S Korea, US publicize full text of FTA, reignite controversy
26-May-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States on Friday released the full text of their free trade agreement, a disclosure that reignited controversy here as critics say the accord will only benefit American companies, while destroying the lives of Korean farmers and other workers.
APHC appeals to EU to cancel free trade agreement with India
26-May-2007 Pak Tribune
All Parties Hurriyat Conference senior leader and Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement Zaffar Akabar Bhat on Thursday appealed the European Union to cancel the FTA with India due to its poor human rights record across the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir where, from the last 18 years Indian soldiers are not only killing the innocent people but also disappearing the youth and dumping them in fake encounters aimed at converting the majority of Muslim population into minority .
EC rules out Pak-EU FTA in near future
25-May-2007 Daily Times
The European Commission on Thursday ruled out the possibility of a Pak-EU FTA in the near future and said that this requires a detailed review and better understanding of the proposal.
US-Korea FTA (2007)
25-May-2007 USTR
Arroyo: Stalled Doha talks drive East Asia integration
25-May-2007 PDI
The stalled Doha round of talks of the World Trade Organization is what is driving the process of integration in East Asia, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday.
Japan infiltrates the Middle East
24-May-2007 FPIF
Japan is the preferred US candidate among Asian powers to penetrate an increasingly eastward leaning Middle East. In providing advanced technology and investments that the region desperately needs, Japan has an advantage over India and China in this new rivalry for Middle East influence.
Side deal on toxic wastes won’t wash, says lawyer
24-May-2007 Asian Journal
A proposed side agreement to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at ensuring that no toxic wastes will be exported to the Philippines will not not solve the deeper, more substantive problems of the JPEPA.
China-ASEAN FTA: trade in services (2007)
24-May-2007 ASEAN
African leaders resolve to harmonize regional blocs
24-May-2007 People’s Daily
The leaders mandated Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to convene a joint summit of COMESA, the South Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to discuss the harmonization of the cross-border trading system.
’Free trade’ drives Mexicans north
24-May-2007 Seattle Post Intelligencer
While Democratic leaders and President Bush do the hard sell on bipartisan immigration reform, they are now pushing secret, anti-worker, anti-environment trade agreements that will only exacerbate US immigration problems.
Japan begins studies on FTAs with US, EU
24-May-2007 Japan Today
Japan has begun considering bilateral free trade agreements with both the United States and the European Union, with specific plans. If the studies proceed smoothly, Japan and the United States are expected to start FTA negotiations "around the summer of 2009 after the launch of a new US administration," a senior METI official said.