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Vaile pushes for broad Chinese FTA
6-May-2006 ABC
Federal Trade Minister Mark Vaile says wheat and beef must be included in any Australian free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
Seoul to resume stalled FTA talks with Japan
6-May-2006 Asia Times
South Korea’s finance minister says the country will seek to resume its stalled negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan after wrapping up a pact with the United States.
Departing from USTR, Portman leaves dead US-Southern Africa negotiations behind
5-May-2006 AllAfrica.com
Today, as US Trade Rep. Robert Portman stepped down to run the Office of Management and Budget, civil society organizations in the US and South Africa are applauding the rejection of the USTR’s efforts to revive the US-Southern Africa Customs Union Free Trade Agreement (US-SACU FTA) negotiations.
M’sia provides ideal base to penetrate Asean market
5-May-2006 Bernama
Bilateral and regional trade and investment liberalisation measures undertaken in the context of Asean complement the opportunities offered by Malaysia’s growing economy, thus providing an ideal base for companies to penetrate the Asean market, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said Thursday.
Federal Cabinet approves finalizing of FTA with Russia
5-May-2006 International News Network
Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet has approved finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Russia.
Is the US trade agenda coming apart at the seams?
4-May-2006
US activists for trade justice dubbed the week of April 16 as the week of action. By the end of the week, thanks to key events revealing an unraveling of the Bush administration’s free trade agenda, trade activists campaigning for a more just global trade system celebrated victory.
Workers will suffer from weakened Andean Community
4-May-2006 IPS
Free trade agreements with the United States and Venezuela’s announced withdrawal from the Andean Community trade bloc will have an impact on workers, the ‘Cinderella’ of decades of integration, said trade unionists and experts in the region consulted by IPS.
BIMSTEC to miss FTA enforcement deadline
4-May-2006 eKantipur
BIMSTEC, a bloc of seven countries from South and Southeast Asia, is all set to miss the date of implementing free trade accord, as differences on terms of trade is still wide and members have been failing to convene to discuss those.
OWINFS call to action: Stop the WTO’s Doha "development" round and other "free trade" negotiations
4-May-2006 OWINFS
We call upon civil society organizations and social movements from around the world to join with us in showing their strong, united and unequivocal opposition to the completion of the World Trade Organization’s trade ‘round’, and other bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements being forced on people by governments.
Yes Mr. Solana, the EU has abandoned the Palestinian people
4-May-2006 The Electronic Intifada
If Solana wants to demonstrate genuine support for the Palestinians he can start by calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in accordance with its Article 2 which grants Israel trade privileges only on condition that it respects human rights.
Thailand to include more products in FTA with India
4-May-2006 New Kerala
Thailand hopes to increase the number of products in the Free Trade Agreement with India from the current 82 products.
International trade: Calling on African leaders
4-May-2006 AllAfrica.com
Why is there a sudden shift to regionalism as opposed to the much over-blown globalisation represented by multilateralism? Can Africa begin to understand that there is a dynamic and concerted effort at balkanising the continent into segmented disciplines?
Japan on verge of signing FTA
4-May-2006 The Australian
Australia is preparing to move ahead with a free-trade agreement next year with its most important trading partner, Japan, on the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking treaty of commerce between the two countries.
South Korea, Asean to cut ag tarrifs for FTA
4-May-2006 Wisonsin Ag Connection
Under the deal, South Korea designated 200 agricultural products that will be exempt from tariff reductions due to their effect on local farmers
The Difference between the FTAs and the Trade Treaty for the People – TCP
3-May-2006
Pablo Solón, an expert on trade and integration, identifies at least four differences between the FTA and the TCP.
EPAs are a slap in the faces of poor countries, CSOs warn
3-May-2006 Public Agenda
The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), currently negotiated being between African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACPs) and the European Union are set to further reduce incomes of farmers and agric-related employees by 50-60%, anti-EPAs campaigners have said.
US gains more than Dominicans with DR-CAFTA
3-May-2006 Dominican Today
A study by Pareto consulting group shows that DR-CAFTA will be more favorable to the US than to the Dominican Republic.
Korean, Malaysian auto barriers pose trade negotiation challenge
3-May-2006
Opening up trade in autos poses a major challenge in free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with South Korea and Malaysia, experts in the United States say.
Aziz links free trade to Kashmir
3-May-2006 Daily Times
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that free trade with India was not possible without resolving political disputes.
An ugly side of free trade: Sweatshops in Jordan
3-May-2006 New York Times
Propelled by a free trade agreement with the United States, apparel manufacturing is booming in Jordan, its exports to America soaring twentyfold in the last five years. But some foreign workers in Jordanian factories that produce garments for Target, Wal-Mart and other American retailers are complaining of dismal conditions - of 20-hour days, of not being paid for months and of being hit by supervisors and jailed when they complain.