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38 lawmakers opposed to FTA with US
16-Mar-2007
Thirty-eight lawmakers from five different political parties gathered Friday at the National Assembly to urge the government to scrap its negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
Costa Rica’s last stand: Widespread resistance halts implementation of CAFTA
16-Mar-2007 Indybay
While the passage of the Central American Free Trade Area (CAFTA in English, TLC in Spanish) is a distant memory in the public political debate, implementation of the treaty continues to meet organized, spirited opposition in Costa Rica. In the US, activists are standing in solidarity with continued opposition and resistance.
Japan accused of breaching toxic waste trade treaty
16-Mar-2007 ENS
The Seattle-based Basel Action Network, BAN, has filed a formal complaint against Japan concerning what BAN calls Japan’s "intent to create toxic waste colonies around Asia" through bilateral trade agreements.
US stokes new hope of free trade deal with Egypt
16-Mar-2007 Washington Post
US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said on Thursday he believed Egypt and the United States were destined to negotiate a free trade agreement, reviving hopes of a deal dashed many times.
Kuwait-US FTA likely by 2013
15-Mar-2007
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be signed between the US and Kuwait by 2013, a senior US official said.
Dominican Telecom chief says Free Trade means changes
15-Mar-2007
The president of the Dominican Telecom Institute (Indotel) affirmed that the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Central America (DR-CAFTA) will force the country to transform the free zones into high technology industrial parks to be able to compete in the world market.
Peru to invest more than US$300k in FTA lobbying efforts in US
15-Mar-2007
Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Relations acknowledged that it has contracted the American legal firm Patton Boggs LLP to begin lobbying efforts to speed up the free trade agreement ratification process in the United States.
EPA will provide more dynamic export market for Caribbean, say trade experts
15-Mar-2007
Jamaican trade experts are confident that when the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) are completed by the end of the year, it will facilitate a more dynamic export market for Jamaica and the rest of the region.
Govt committed to trade integration, says Kituyi
15-Mar-2007
Kenya has entered into several regional and global trading arrangements aimed at alleviating poverty in the country, Trade and Industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has said.
ESA rejects European bid to bring Comesa into trade talks
15-Mar-2007
The future of talks between 16 Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries and the European Union hangs in the balance after the ESA countries accused the EU of smuggling a document into the agenda at their recent meeting in the Burundi capital, Bujumbura.
Women call for fair trade deals
15-Mar-2007
Women groups in Africa have called for protection against unfair trade agreements, saying they are a threat to their livelihoods, peace and development.
Ecowas looks for good partnership
15-Mar-2007
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made it clear that it is looking for partnership and development-centred agreements with the European Union and not one that will stifle and ruin their economies.
EU, ASEAN seek to improve ties at talks
15-Mar-2007
Diplomats from the EU and Southeast Asia were expected to issue a statement pledging closer cooperation in security, trade and environmental issues, as they met for talks in Germany.
US-SK free trade deal may realign political landscape
15-Mar-2007
South Korea’s current political landscape is reflected in opinions held about the proposed SK-US free trade agreement (FTA).
Meeting fails to close gap on regional deals
15-Mar-2007 IPS
The political row between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) continues.
Mexico, US presidents promise to extend free trade
15-Mar-2007 People’s Daily
Presidents Felipe Calderon of Mexico and George W Bush of the United States held a series of meetings on Wednesday, promising to extend the free trade agreement between the two nations.
FTA talkers reveal their sneaky tricks
15-Mar-2007 Chosun Ilbo
A glimpse into what has gone on behind closed doors between Korean and US trade negotiators
Banking issues to dominate India-Singapore CECA talks
15-Mar-2007 Financial Express
The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s delay in granting the qualifying full banking licence—the highest banking status that Singapore offers to a foreign bank—to the State Bank of India will be taken up by India, when the two sides meet later this month to review the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
About 200 in protest over Malaysia-US free trade deal
15-Mar-2007 AFP
About 200 people opposed to a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States gathered for a rare protest outside the Malaysian prime minister’s office Wednesday.
India-EU deal hits political rocks
14-Mar-2007
A planned free trade deal between the EU and India has run into serious difficulties over whether or not it should include clauses relating to human rights and weapons of mass destruction. But anti-poverty campaigners have also argued that an agreement is undesirable as it could potentially reduce India’s control over its own economy.