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S Korea, India to push for trade pact
3-Jan-2007 Times of India
Officials from the two sides are expected to exchange the first set of lists this week giving out the sectors which would not be opened up and those where zero-duty imports would be allowed and visas and investment would be allowed without restrictions.
$1 million needed to offset FTA damages: ministry
2-Jan-2007 Hankyoreh
Korea’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy requested a budget of 1 billion won (US$1 million) to the National Assembly on January 1, saying that it needed extra funds to offset the harsher effects of FTAs, estimating 13,000 firms and 100,000 workers would be affected.
Panama: US business supports FTA
2-Jan-2007 Latin Business Chronicle
The US-Panama free trade agreement, signed just before Christmas, is set to be debated by U.S. lawmakers before July. But US business organizations widely support the agreement.
FTA with Gulf States promises substantial benefits
2-Jan-2007 Harold Doan
After the suspension of FTA negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2006, the Australian Government commissioned a study by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade into the merits and feasibility of an FTA with the GCC. Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, said the study found that an FTA would maximise Australia’s long-term commercial interest in the GCC.
Free trade deals to put 100,000 South Koreans out of work: survey
2-Jan-2007 AFP
Free trade agreements with the United States, Japan, China and Southeast Asia would put more than 100,000 South Koreans out of work over the next 10 years, according to a government estimate.
Barbed border wire to get red trade carpet
2-Jan-2007 Indian Express
The way India has traditionally managed its border areas - security being the prime concern - will undergo a radical change this year with the Cabinet Committee on Security clearing a revamp of the infrastructure at major land borders to facilitate trade and commerce.
Free trade: Losing the right to grow food
2-Jan-2007 Foodnews
This second of two installments on Korea focuses on the perceived impact to Korea’s agricultural sector posed by a looming free trade agreement with the United States. Mark Winne explores food sovereignty and the culture of food in Korea and the priveleged role that rice has in the society. Should cost and price be the sole determinants of trade policy or should other variables such as the culture of food be considered in trade policy formulation?
Israel, Jordan upgraded QIZ trade pact
2-Jan-2007 Port2Port
The newly signed agreement intends to improve supervision on compliance with rules of origin under the qualified industrial zones (QIZ) treaty.
India turns to FTA to realise dream of being a small-car hub
1-Jan-2007 Times of India
India seems close to crossing another milestone on its journey towards becoming the world’s small car manufacturing hub. Made-in-India small cars in this case, to be defined as powered by a heart smaller than 1300cc is soon expected to get an easier passage into Sri Lanka, under an expanded free trade agreement (FTA).
Palm oil boil may delay FTA with Asean
29-Dec-2006 Economic Times
Asean’s primary interest lies in palm oil where it has demanded that duties should be pruned to 30-40% within five years of the implementation of the agreement instead of 50% within 10-12 years period as suggested by India. At present, palm oil attracts a duty of 75%.
Midterm Review of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs): Independent contribution of the regional networks of farmers’ organizations
29-Dec-2006
The networks of farmers’ organizations of five ACP sub-regions (Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa and the Caribbean) have carried out their own mid-term assessment of the state of progress in the negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in order to contribute to the formal review foreseen in article 37,4 of the Cotonou Agreement.
“Is it possible to negotiate development agreements between the EU and the ACP regions ?”
29-Dec-2006
The ACP farmer networks present their contributions to the Comprehensive Review of EPA Preparations and Negotiation for All ACP Regions
US rejects Korea’s FTA trade-off deal
28-Dec-2006 Korea Times
The United States has dashed South Korea’s hopes of a trade-off over difficult issues that block their efforts to establish a free trade agreement (FTA), pressing Korea to accept its proposal or face the consequences.
Benguet’s vegetable farmers wary of free trade
27-Dec-2006 INQ7
The Philippine government’s move to liberalize imports, including vegetables, is expected to meet fierce resistance from farmers in the province, who all fear that the policy will spell doom for the local vegetable industry.
US manufacturers step up pressure on trade
27-Dec-2006 FT
US manufacturers are stepping up lobbying efforts in Washington over imperilled trade deals they see as vital to growth next year.
Asean not excited by India’s X’mas offer to speed up FTA talks
27-Dec-2006 BERNAMA
India’s Christmas offer to cut its negative list to mollify the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) to speed up the snail-paced free trade agreement (FTA) talks does not seem to impress the 10-member regional grouping.
Seoul, Washington likely to miss March FTA deadline: report
27-Dec-2006 Yonhap
South Korea and the US are expected to miss the March deadline for a free trade agreement (FTA) as their political situations are likely to undergo changes, a report said Wednesday.
Agoa extension ‘won’t help East Africa’
26-Dec-2006 East African
The recent approval of a five-year extension of permission to use foreign fabrics in Africa’s duty-free clothing exports to the US is seen by trade experts in Washington as helping to stabilise East Africa’s textile industries. But the action last week by the US Congress is unlikely to reverse the downward trend in Kenya and Uganda’s apparel sales to the American market.
India forms new SA trade bloc sans Pak
26-Dec-2006 Daily India
In what is being described as a success for India and a "failure and punishment for Pakistan" on the economic diplomacy front, India has formed a regional trading bloc excluding Islamabad, and including all the SAFTA members, besides Thailand.
Thailand still in deficit with China under ASEAN-Sino FTA
26-Dec-2006 MCOT
Thailand remained with a deficit of more than Bt1.7 billion (about US$46.6 million) in trade with China under the ASEAN-Sino Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement during the first nine months of this year, according to the Foreign Trade Department.