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AIA calls US-Korea free trade agreement strongest in decades
10-May-2007
The American Insurance Association recently strongly praised the work of US trade negotiators who successfully concluded their talks on a Free Trade Agreement with Korea that will provide significant commercial gains for both countries.
Rice says failure to approve Korea FTA will send ’disastrous signal’ to region
10-May-2007
The top U.S. diplomat urged Congress to approve the free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, saying failure to do so would send "a disastrous signal" to a region where the U.S. has to anchor peace and prosperity.
Trade policy in Asia: where next with a crippled WTO and weak FTAs?
10-May-2007 ECIPE
Trade policy in Asia is dangerously unbalanced. It rests on a shaky leg of discriminatory bilateral and regional FTAs. Its other WTO leg has gone to sleep: most Asian countries have neglected the WTO in favour of FTAs. Its regional-cooperation arm is limp: grand visions for regional economic integration are mostly empty conference chatter.
Indonesia to seek Japan’s confirmation on EPA settlement
10-May-2007 ANTARA
Indonesia will seek Japan’s confirmation regarding the settlement of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with that country, trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu said on Wednesday.
Efta continues to extend its influence
10-May-2007 swissinfo
While world trade talks remain deadlocked, the European Free Trade Association (Efta), of which Switzerland is a member, continues to extend its network of free trade accords.
Officials urged to be critical over FTA
9-May-2007 Jakarta Post
Fearing that the gains promised by an ASEAN-EU free trade agreement (FTA) will turn out to be little more than illusions, a discussion has urged the members of ASEAN to stick together and remain "critical" during the upcoming negotiations.
Bolivia notifies World Bank of withdrawal from ICSID, pursues BIT revisions
9-May-2007 ITN
Investment Treaty News has learned that Bolivia has sent a formal notice to the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) declaring its withdrawal from the ICSID convention.
Treaty with Japan may legalize dumping toxic waste in India
8-May-2007 RxPG
If the agreements negotiated by Japan with the Philippines and Thailand are anything to go by, the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that is being worked on by the two governments will open the floodgates to Japan’s municipal, medical and hazardous wastes.
EU promises seeks to design bilateral trade deals that support future WTO-type pact
8-May-2007 IHT
The European Union will aim to design bilateral trade deals with other regions and countries that can be applied to a future world trade agreement even if last-ditch efforts to forge a global pact fail later this year, an EU trade official said Tuesday.
Japan should aim for free trade agreement with US, panel says
8-May-2007 Bloomberg
Japan should push for a trade agreement with the US to reduce duties and investment barriers, members of the government’s key economic panel said.
Brunei, US officials study ways to expand bilateral trade
8-May-2007
The United States trade representatives and Brunei government officials yesterday discussed how trade relations can be further expanded as well as what the US can do to support the sultanate’s efforts to diversify its economy.
US and China tug at ASEAN unity
8-May-2007 Asia Times
ASEAN is being fragmented by intensifying US-China competition for regional influence, which is putting a premium on bilateralism with the big powers at the expense of ASEAN’s ambition toward more regional multilateralism.
Delhi’s duty-free offer
8-May-2007
Bangladesh’s business leaders are rather dismayed at India’s recent duty-free market access offer, as they have expressed the view that mere duty-free access could not ensure free flow of goods into Indian market unless non-tariff and para-tariff barriers are removed.
Qatar, Netherlands set to sign trade deals; LNG in focus
8-May-2007
Qatar and the Netherlands may soon sign investment protection as well as double taxation avoidance agreements as part of efforts to improve economic and political relations between them.
Malaysia-US FTA at technical stage, says Rafidah
8-May-2007
Negotiations on the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement has reached the technical stage, the Dewan Negara was told Tuesday.
Taiwan signs free trade pact with El Salvador, Honduras
8-May-2007 Monsters and critics
Taiwan has signed a free trade agreement with El Salvador and Honduras to expand trade ties between the three countries, the Bureau of Foreign Trade said on Tuesday.
GCC to seek further talks before EU free-trade deal
8-May-2007 Gulf Times
The wording of the agreement remains undecided along with issues concerning service industries and investment rules.
Ukraine, Singapore begin FTA negotiations
8-May-2007 Channel News Asia
Ukraine and Singapore have begun negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
ALBA: A viable key to African diaspora self-determination
8-May-2007
Author and former Jamaican public servant, Lloyd D. McCarthy, makes the case that both Claude McKay and Michael Manley would have supported the political and economic initiative called the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).
Ecuador not renewing pact with US
8-May-2007 AP
Ecuador’s new leftist president has decided not to renew a bilateral investment treaty with the United States, the country’s foreign minister said Monday, just days before a senior US official is due to visit.