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FTA with S. Africa expected to boost exports: think tank
18-Dec-2006 Yonhap
South Korea could see its exports to South Africa soar over 30 percent if it signs a free trade agreement (FTA) with the country, a state-run think tank said Monday.
US trade, investment deals in Middle East advance bolder goals
18-Dec-2006 Washington File
Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) the United States signs with countries in the Middle East and North Africa help realize the vision of a regional free trade area integrated with global economy, US officials say.
Age of the FTA
18-Dec-2006 The Star
New Hope, one of China’s biggest privately owned companies, is not alone in betting on the business opportunities resulting from the China-Asean FTA and other FTAs with China as a partner.
Oriental medical doctors resist FTA
18-Dec-2006 Korea Herald
Seoul’s move to open its market for oriental medicine has set off a fierce protest from local doctors who are concerned about increased competition in an already saturated market.
Gulf monetary union is a cracking project?
18-Dec-2006 Gulf News
The main reason for the delay in the finalisation of the GCC customs union was the unilateral decision by Oman, preceded by Bahrain, to sign a free trade agreement with the US.
China agrees more talks on service sector reform
17-Dec-2006 FT
The US and China on Friday agreed to intensify discussions about the opening up of China’s services sector and explore the possibility of a bilateral investment treaty at the conclusion of this week’s high level talks in Beijing.
Pulp mill conflict widens Mercosur rift
17-Dec-2006 MercoPress
Escalating mutual recriminations and complaints between Argentina and Uruguay signaled the first day of deliberations at the Mercosur ministerial meeting in Brasilia in the same week that the group officially inaugurated its Parliament.
Corporate complicity in Israel’s crimes
17-Dec-2006 Aljazeera
Originating as it does from illegally occupied land, settlement produce is supposed to be excluded from the preferential treatment which Israeli exports to the UK enjoy under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Highlights of documents signed between India and Japan
17-Dec-2006 The Hindu
The India-Japan EPA/CEPA should cover, but may not be limited to trade in goods, trade in services, measures for trade promotion, facilitation and liberalisation of investment flows, measures for promoting economic cooperation in identified sectors and other areas for a comprehensive economic partnership between India and Japan.
Japan, India agree to begin trade talks
17-Dec-2006 Houston Chronicle
The leaders of Japan and India agreed Friday to start talks on forging a bilateral free-trade agreement within two years and to increase cooperation between the two countries’ navies and coast guards.
Taiwan: Nicaraguan congress ratifies free trade agreement
16-Dec-2006 UNPO
Nicaragua’s Congress has ratified a free trade agreement with Taiwan, the legislative body said in a statement Thursday.
A foothold for free trade?
16-Dec-2006 Washington Post
Trade integration in the Americas is quickly approaching a major milestone. If agreements with Colombia, Peru and Panama are ratified in the coming year, more than half of Latin America will have free trade accords with the United States.
Go for free trade pact with India after N-deal: US senator
15-Dec-2006 Hindustan Times
An influential Republican senator has asked President George Bush to negotiate a full scale free trade agreement with India following the successful conclusion of the India-US civil nuclear deal.
bilaterals.org now in Spanish and French
15-Dec-2006
Starting today, the bilaterals.org website is available in Spanish and French, apart from the original English version.
Critics given sneak peak of free trade deal
15-Dec-2006 Bangkok Post
In a bid to secure a smooth passage for a public hearing on the Thai-Japanese free trade agreement, the Thai Foreign Ministry yesterday allowed a group of critics to gain access to the text of the controversial deal.
Harmonisation of TRIPS-plus IPR policies and potential impacts on technological capability: A case study of the pharmaceutical industry in Thailand
14-Dec-2006 ICTSD
This study examines the impacts of TRIPS-plus rules on pharmaceutical patents as enshrined in US FTAs by looking at the case of Thailand.
SA fends off EU deals for SACU partners
14-Dec-2006 AllAfrica.com
South Africa is resisting European Union (EU) efforts to treat it differently from its southern African neighbours — a move which could result in the country getting less market access for its exports.
US senators: Will oppose S. Korea trade pact without beef trade
14-Dec-2006 Cattle Network
Seven US senators pledged Wednesday that they will work to block a free trade agreement being negotiated between the US and South Korea if South Korea refuses to pull back restriction on US beef exports.
Washington wishes to hold high-level FTA agriculture talks
13-Dec-2006 Chosun Ilbo
Washington hopes to hold high-level talks — above the ministerial level — on freeing up the agricultural markets in Korea and the US before holding the sixth round of free trade agreement negotiations.
Fears FTA brings in contaminated blood
13-Dec-2006 News.com.au
Road crash victims and haemophiliacs were at risk of contracting blood-borne diseases such as HIV under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA), an academic warned today.