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GCC, Japan to resume free trade deal talks -Omani minister
8-Sep-2023 Channel News Asia
Gulf Cooperation Council countries will resume talks on a free trade pact with Japan, Oman’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said.
PM Han holds talks with Serbian counterpart
8-Sep-2023 Yonhap
South Korean Prime Minister welcomed the signing of a bilateral investment treaty aimed at promoting mutual investments between the two countries.
The global economy’s real enemy is geopolitics, not protectionism
8-Sep-2023 Project Syndicate
What was called ‘free trade’ in the West was only a phase of hyper-globalization that didn’t work equally well for all, while recent inward turns can be taken as a rebalancing of priorities.
Position paper on indigenous peoples’ rights and protections
7-Sep-2023 Ngā Toki Whakarururanga
Ngā Toki Whakarururanga brings a Te Tiriti o Waitangi perspective to the trade policy space, which requires the Government of New Zealand to uphold and actively protect Māori rights to exercise authority over our lands, waters, resources and all taonga. That includes for IPEF.
Brazil minister says Mercosur reply on trade deal sent to EU, diplomats deny
7-Sep-2023 Reuters
Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said the Mercosur bloc of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay has sent the European Union their position on a European addendum to their long-awaited trade agreement.
New Zealand wins trade dispute with Canada over dairy access
6-Sep-2023 RNZ
Under the CPTPP, New Zealand gained better access for dairy products in the Canadian market, but complained that Canada was manipulating quotas to block exporters.
PH, UAE continue free trade discussions
6-Sep-2023 Inquirer
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates are continuing discussions for a free trade agreement, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to bolster trade and investments between the two countries.
RCEP states already looking to expand trade participation
6-Sep-2023 Vietnam Net
At a summit on the deal (RCEP) in Indonesia, a review of its implementation is expected to be conducted, with member states agreeing on new measures to intensify intra-deal trade and investment flows.
North Macedonia charged with expropriation by Amadeus Group
5-Sep-2023 WNDB
The request for arbitration charges that North Macedonia expropriated Amadeus’ investment in a hotel and commercial center in Skopje, all violations of the North Macedonia-Albania bilateral investment treaty, and seeks a damage award of at least $110 million.
Go-ahead awaited for Bangladesh’s accession to RCEP bloc
5-Sep-2023 The Financial Express
The go-ahead is awaited from the prime minister’s office for Bangladesh’s accession to an emerging economic bloc encompassing the Asia-Pacific region that represents a third of world GDP.
Israel and Japan explore potential free trade agreement
5-Sep-2023 The Jerusalem Post
In a move reflecting their robust $3.3 billion trade relationship, Israel and Japan will be actively exploring the possibility of forging a landmark free trade agreement.
Comorian president wants to accelerate intra-African trade
5-Sep-2023 Africanews
Accelerate the construction of a large African trade zone free of customs duties, in particular. This is what Comorian President Azali Assoumani, who this year holds the presidency of the African Union, is committed to.
Guatemala to join S. Korea-Central America FTA
5-Sep-2023 Yonhap News Agency
Guatemala will join a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and a group of Central American nations, Seoul’s trade ministry said. Guatemala was initially among dialogue partners for the FTA, but it had stepped out during negotiations amid differences on tariff and country of origin related rules.
Israel eyes finalizing free trade pact with Bahrain
4-Sep-2023 The Print
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is seeking to finalize a free trade agreement during his first official visit to Bahrain
Silent coup: How corporations overthrew democracy – book review
1-Sep-2023 Counterfire
The book initially spotlights a questionable international legal system exerting influence over the policies of developing states.
India, UK officials to start 13th round of FTA talks from Sep 4
1-Sep-2023 The Hindu BusinessLine
Indian Commerce Minister has recently stated that the negotiations between India and the UK for the proposed agreement are progressing and both countries are committed to concluding the talks as early as possible.
Major progress towards Israel-Japan free trade agreement
1-Sep-2023 Globes
With an Israel-Korea free trade agreement signed last year and an Israel-China agreement near completion, Japan is concerned that exports to Israel will be hit.
UAE, New Zealand start preliminary CEPA talks
1-Sep-2023 Gulf News
The United Arab Emirates and New Zealand have initiated preliminary discussions aimed at fostering a deeper economic partnership, which may potentially lead to the establishment of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
S. Korea files for cancellation of int’l tribunal’s compensation order in Lone Star case
1-Sep-2023 Yonhap
The South Korean government filed an appeal seeking to cancel an international tribunal’s order to pay compensation to American private equity firm Lone Star Funds with the firm’s sell-off of the now-defunct Korea Exchange Bank.
Egregious corporate attacks on public interest policies
31-Aug-2023 Public Citizen
Many free trade and investment agreements allow multinational corporations to undermine democracy via a secret pseudo-court system known as Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).