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The mass people’s resistance against KorUS FTA has started - KoA
29-Nov-2006 KoA
The Korean government repression that began on November 22nd is continuing to spread like a forest fire. However, the people’s struggle to block the KorUS FTA will not end here.
Anti-FTA protestors, police clash
29-Nov-2006 Korea Times
Tens of thousands of anti-globalization demonstrators confronted police in Seoul and other cities, protesting a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and the United States.
Tokyo, Jakarta fix framework of FTA
29-Nov-2006 Japan Times
Tokyo and Jakarta announced Tuesday they have agreed on an overall framework for liberalizing bilateral trade, including Japanese autos and Indonesian natural gas and workers.
A critique of the Asian Peasant Coalition against JPEPA
29-Nov-2006
Filipinos will just be getting crumbs for all the trouble and hardship that this agreement would entail. We urge the rural people to oppose JPEPA, launch campaign, education and action against the one-sided agreement. We call on our fellow farmers in Asia, especially in Japan, to help us campaign against this pact.
Canada signs Bilateral Investment Treaty with Peru — India and China are next
29-Nov-2006 Mondaq
On November 14, 2006, Canada and Peru signed a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), otherwise referred to as a Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA). This is Canada’s first BIT to be negotiated in eight years and the first BIT to be based on Canada’s new 2004 Model FIPA.
Pakistan wants to initiate talks on FTA with EU: Shaukat Aziz
29-Nov-2006 Daily Times
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said this week that Pakistan desires to initiate talks on Free Trade Agreement ( FTA) with the European Union.
Members of European Parliament challenge EU-Israel relationship
29-Nov-2006 Al Jazeerah
MEPs will call on Ministers to examine whether Israel’s actions have breached the human rights requirements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
China, Chile to start FTA talks on service trade/investment next Jan - report
29-Nov-2006 Forbes
China and Chile will start negotiations in January for a free trade agreement (FTA) covering service trade and investment, the official China Daily reported.
A critique of the EU-Latin America Business Summit in Vienna
28-Nov-2006 Corporate Europe Observatory
Parallel to the 4th EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit in Vienna this week, large corporations from both regions will gather at a Business Summit. Apart from discussing business opportunities in different sectors, the 300 business representatives attending the event are expected to demand that governments speed up a whole range of free trade talks between the two regions.
Canada seeks wider agricultural access in FTA talks
28-Nov-2006 Korea Herald
Canada has pushed for wider access to Korea’s agriculture market during the eighth round of talks for a bilateral free trade agreement last week.
Asean-Japan talks on shaky ground
28-Nov-2006 The Nation
Negotiations for the free-trade agreement (FTA) between Southeast Asian countries and Japan may fail as Japan is planning to request that over 500 products be excluded from the deal.
Qatar-Singapore FTA to be formalised soon
28-Nov-2006 The Peninsula
Security cooperation agreement already signed and in action.
Taiwan completes FTA consultations with El Salvador, Honduras
28-Nov-2006 CNA
Taiwan has completed free trade agreement (FTA) consultations on all issues, including country of origin and market access issues, with El Salvador and Honduras.
Brussels rejects moves to link trade with aid
28-Nov-2006 FT
Despite public rhetoric that new trade agreements with some of the world’s poorest countries are a development tool, in private the European Union is insisting on excluding aid from the negotiations.
House resolution filed urging Senate to junk JPEPA
27-Nov-2006
A resolution has been filed by the progressive party-list block in Congress urging the Senate to junk the controversial Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement for being ’one-sided, onerous and inimical to national interest.’
Furor over JPEPA: Will Davao’s banana workers benefit from it?
27-Nov-2006 Davao Today
Most of the bananas from Davao are exported to Japan by Japanese companies such as Sumitomo. These companies and their contract growers or affiliates in Mindanao will benefit from any lowered tariff under JPEPA, not the farmers and plantation workers.
US-Russia bilateral/WTO deal pushes new standards for IP protection
26-Nov-2006 IP Watch
In its bilateral negotiation with the United States in order to join the World Trade Organization, Russia appears to have agreed to intellectual property rights standards that push those of the WTO and US law to new levels.
GCC and Singapore to start talks on FTA
26-Nov-2006 Channel News Asia
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Singapore have agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement.
Thousands rally in South Korean capital against free trade with US
26-Nov-2006 Boston Herald
Thousands of South Korean workers demonstrated Saturday against a proposed free-trade agreement between their country and the United States.
Bahrain bans strikes a month after allowing them
25-Nov-2006 Reuters
Bahrain has banned strikes and worker demonstrations in most business sectors, a month after labour law reforms banning the sacking of strikers encouraged a wave of trade union activity in the Gulf island state.