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Government faces revolt over free-trade deal with US
10-Apr-2006 Chosun Ilbo
The Korean government is reportedly considering setting up a special public relations office just to deal with opposition to the FTA. That opposition is expected to intensify after the upcoming local elections and probably right up to the US-proposed deadline for negotiations in March 2007. In the process, it could also spill over into intense social conflict in Korea.
The bitterness of sugar
10-Apr-2006 Caribbean Net News
A round table discussion held in Barbados on April 3rd and 4th between CARICOM sugar producing countries and the European Union appeared to achieve the exact opposite of what it intended.
Anti-FTA faction to launch cyber attack on US
10-Apr-2006 Chosun Ilbo
The IT labor union, part of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, has announced its plans to paralyze the homepages of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Whitehouse and President George Bush, by sending a flood of some 30,000 e-mails at 6pm on Tuesday 11 April.
S. Korea seeks exception for rice in US FTA
10-Apr-2006 Korea Times
It is Korea’s livestock industries, not the rice market, which are feared would be hit the hardest by the FTA.
FTA with the US
10-Apr-2006 OWINFS
Out of the blue, FTA is suddenly on our face. One day the news of the treaty covers the front page of most media. The US demanded the Korean agriculture market to be opened with no exception. They also called for scaling down the screen quota in half. Korean people are flabbergasted with the pouring news. Let’s look into what is unfolding.
Rough sailing expected for Korea-US FTA
10-Apr-2006 Korea Times
Talks for a free trade deal between Seoul and Washington seem to be running into a snag as some political leaders within South Korea’s ruling camp are raising voices on the need to "slow down" on it.
Alternative (to) EPAs: Possible scenarios for the future ACP trade relations with the EU
10-Apr-2006 ECDPM
The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and assessment of possible alternatives to EPAs in order to clarify the choice of alternative options that ACP countries have, to inform the policy debate and help increase the understanding of the different participants in the negotiations.
Japan-China trade agreement opposed
10-Apr-2006 Reuters
Japan’s farm minister expressed scepticism toward the idea of a free trade pact with China, while its foreign minister said on Friday the two economic giants should avoid jockeying for power in the region.
Korean FTA negotiators primed on US bugging tricks
10-Apr-2006 Chosunilbo
Beware of the dragonfly: it may be a bugging robot disguised as a harmless insect. No, the advice does not come from a mental patient convinced the government is spying on his laundry bills: it was one of the security tips issued during last week’s two-day workshop for 120 Korean delegates in the nation’s impending free-trade negotiations with the US.
Coalition proposes alternative to EU, ACP trade agreement
10-Apr-2006 Daily Independent
A coalition of non-governmental organisations, opposed to the ongoing negotiation between European Union and African, Caribean and Pacific countries, under the Economic Partnership Agreement, has soften its stance on the discussion.
Trade agreements come under Sonia scanner
10-Apr-2006 Business Standard
Concerns raised by a section of domestic industry against indiscriminate opening up of the Indian market to imports have touched a chord at the highest levels of the policy establishment.
Pressure builds to seal trade deals
9-Apr-2006
New Zealand could be sidelined from trading with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies if it fails to push ahead with a network of Asian free trade deals, Associate Minister for Trade Negotiations Jim Sutton says.
Democrats urge labor clause in Peru FTA
8-Apr-2006 Reuters
The Bush administration should include a provision in a proposed free-trade pact with Peru that the South American country meet international labor standards, a group of congressional Democrats said on Friday.
Colombia, Cuba agree to discuss trade talks
8-Apr-2006 AP
Colombia and Cuba may seem strange bedfellows but the stalwart US ally and its oldest adversary in Latin America are putting aside their differences to negotiate a trade deal.
Caricom to talk possible deal with US
8-Apr-2006 AP
Caribbean foreign ministers will discuss a possible free trade agreement with the US when they meet next week with the US trade representative.
New TRT government to proceed with FTA talks
8-Apr-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s new Thai Rak Thai government will proceed with the negotiations of free trade agreements.
First death in Ecuador FTA riots
8-Apr-2006 Prensa Latina
The violent police repression against Ecuadorian demonstrators protesting the free trade agreement with the US has claimed its first life, university students denounced Friday.
Panel pushes 16-nation FTA in Asia, mulls boosting foreign workers
8-Apr-2006 TMCnet
A government policy-setting panel on Friday welcomed a proposal by the trade minister to launch negotiations between Japan and its 15 Asian neighbors to create a free trade zone, and discussed whether to accept more foreign workers amid the aging of society, economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano said.
Filipino and Japanese workers to lose out in JPEPA
7-Apr-2006
Both Filipino and Japanese workers will lose out under the proposed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) according to a report by Mr. Takemasa Ando, a researcher from Waseda University in Tokyo.
USTR 2006 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers
7-Apr-2006 USTR
USTR has recently released its latest annual country-by-country assessment of barriers to US trade around the world, Washington’s basis for unilateral trade sanctions.