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US accepts South Korea’s new drug-pricing policy
The United States has accepted South Korea’s new drug-pricing measure aimed at offering quality medicine at cheaper prices, brightening the future of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on pharmaceutical issues, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday.
Seoul, Washington to hold FTA negotiations in third country
Seoul and Washington reportedly have a plan to hold separate negotiations on the controversial issue of pharmaceutical pricing in a third country, ahead of the third round of FTA talks to be held in the U.S.
Fighting FTAs: An international strategy workshop (press release)
On 27-29 July 2006, FTA Watch, GRAIN and bilaterals.org organised a first ever international workshop to make a strategic analysis of people’s struggles against FTAs in Bangkok, Thailand. This press release about the event was shared with Bangkok-based media on 30 July 2006. More materials and information about followup to the workshop will be shared soon.
Brazil, Portugal foster cooperation MERCOSUR-EU
Brazil requested Portugal to support an agreement between the Southern Common Market and European Union.
MERCOSUR: Uruguay sues Argentina
The Southern Common Market Claims Court is hearing Uruguay’s case against Argentina due to road blocks by Argentinean citizens on international routes.
Mercosur plans to return to dialogue with the GCC in September
The Mercosur wants to return to free trade treaty talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in September, after the holiday period in the Arab world and before Ramadan, the holy month that this year should begin around September 22. The idea is to organize a meeting between representatives of both blocs in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
Barbados signs on to CARICOM-Costa Rica free trade agreement
A free trade agreement between Costa Rica and Barbados, that essentially eliminates barriers to trade and facilitates cross-border movement of goods and services between the territories, went into effect this week.
P4 trade deal takes another step
The ratification of the trade deal between New Zealand, Chile, Brunei and Singapore has taken another step with the Chilean senate approving the deal.
European Union, ECOWAS to regulate trade
The European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have decided to negotiate an agreement to regulate their trade relations under the new World Trade Organization (WTO) Compatible Framework.
BIMSTEC meet sets early deadline for FTA
Foreign Ministers from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Economic and Technical Cooperation have agreed that negotiations to finalise a BIMSTEC free trade agreement should be concluded before the next BIMSTEC summit scheduled to be held early next year in India.
South Africa: Opportunities abound as world woos Africa
Washington recently played host to the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum, an annual event mandated by the Agoa legislation which brings together stakeholders from Africa and the US.
Chile, China ratify free trade accord
Chile’s Senate on Wednesday unanimously voted to ratify a free trade agreement with China, Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said.
Dominican Free Trade delegation is off to Washington
A Dominican delegation of Government officials left for Washington yesterday, to give the finishing touches to the proceedings so that the country enters the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Central America.
Islamabad not opposed to Kabul’s SAFTA membership
Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the notion as baseless that it was opposed to Afghanistan’s entry into the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Doha lull ‘gives SA time to finalise policy’
The stalled Doha negotiations would give SA a valuable opportunity to strengthen technical consultation and tighten relations in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) before the trade talks were resumed, SA’s chief trade negotiator, Xavier Carim, said yesterday.
Civil society groups want African leaders to stop trade talks with EU
African Civil Society has called on the governments to stop negotiations on the proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union EU, saying it would undermine development and lead to increased poverty.
GCC-China agreement on services to take time
China is optimistic of concluding the first part of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the six-nation GCC block by the end of this year, but the second part may take more time, officials said yesterday.
Trade and travel top Indonesia’s priorities
A free trade agreement between Australia and Indonesia is back on the table, after business leaders from both countries lobbied for an initiative to stimulate trade and investment between them.
Pakistan expects FTA with M’sia to be finalised by year end
Pakistan expects the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Malaysia to be finalised by the end of the year, said Pakistan High Commission commercial counsellor, Shahzad Hussain Rana.
Gov’t to Seek FTA With China After Pact With U.S.
The government hopes to start free trade negotiations with China in the first half of next year after it clinches a free trade agreement with the U.S, a senior government official said Thursday.