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Other countries urged to join P4 trade agreement
19-Jun-2006
New Zealand and Singapore are encouraging other countries to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, dubbed the "P4" that also includes Chile and Brunei.
Singapore and Peru conclude second round of negotiations for FTA
19-Jun-2006
Singapore and Peru have concluded their second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.
Taiwan, Nicaragua sign free trade agreement
19-Jun-2006 AFP
Taiwan and Nicaragua have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) pledging to join forces to explore the North American market, the Board of Foreign Trade said.
Jordan shutting abusive factories
19-Jun-2006 Washington Times
Jordan’s trade minister yesterday acknowledged that his country had failed to enforce its own labor laws in some instances. Mr. Zu’bi was in Washington to meet with the Bush administration, lawmakers and business groups after a May report by the National Labor Committee said the US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement encouraged sweatshop conditions in Jordanian garment factories.
Musharraf’s visit to China boosts chances of free trade accord
19-Jun-2006 Gulf News
Pakistan’s interest not withstanding, there are many who believe that a free trade deal with China would adversely affect the south Asian country’s economic prospects.
Indo-Jap deal holds productive promise
19-Jun-2006 Economic Times
If commerce minister Kamal Nath’s statements in Tokyo are any indication, the proposed trade agreement with Japan will mark a distinct shift from the free-trade agreements India has favoured with other countries.
Korea FTA threatens Thai leather industry
19-Jun-2006 Bangkok Post
Bangkok is continuing to negotiate with the Seoul government after refusing to sign an Asean-Korea trade pact last month because of Korea’s resistance to opening up its rice market.
EU promises are hollow: Pacific society groups
19-Jun-2006 Scoop
Civil society groups from 12 Pacific countries meeting in Nadi, question what’s in it for the Pacific in negotiations on a Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU.
US-Jordan free trade agreement descends into human trafficking
19-Jun-2006 NLC
Tens of thousands of foreign guest workers are stripped of their passports, trapped in involuntary servitude, sewing clothing for Wal-Mart, Gloria Vanderbilt, Target, Kohl’s, Thalia Sodi for Kmart, Victoria’s Secret, L.L.Bean and others.
Interview: Protect Korean cinema
17-Jun-2006 OMNI
"The fight to save the Korean screen quota isn’t only for the benefit of the Koreans, but it is also for the global cultural movement."
World health: A lethal dose of US politics
17-Jun-2006 Asia Times
An Asia Times Online investigation reveals that at the time of his death, World Health Organization (WHO) director general Lee Jong-wook, a South Korean national, had closely aligned himself with the US government and by association US corporate interests, often to the detriment of the WHO’s most vital commitments and positions.
US/Colombia: Dead unionists no hurdle to free trade
17-Jun-2006 IPS
The US government is not only a step away from ratifying a new free trade agreement, but also from rewarding persistent and severe human rights abuses in Colombia, where each year more trade union leaders are murdered than in all other nations put together, a new report charges.
Malaysia and America as free trade partners?
17-Jun-2006 Daily Times
The American-backed FTA is certainly not designed to serve the interest of ordinary Malaysian or American workers (it may well lead to the practice of dumping and out-sourcing instead), but it will invariably open up the Malaysian economy to the rigours and discipline of the global market.
Bolivia changes mind on US trade deal
17-Jun-2006 AP
The government of President Evo Morales said Friday it hopes to negotiate a free trade agreement with the U.S., a policy turnaround apparently influenced by pressure from business groups.
US expects Malaysia FTA talks to conclude by year-end
17-Jun-2006 Business Times
The US is pleased with the progress of the first round of the US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, and expects it to conclude by the end of the year, after four more rounds.
Gulf, EU show flexibility in reaching a compromise
17-Jun-2006 Gulf News
A free trade agreement (FTA) between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and 25-member European Union (EU) could be clinched as early as year-end as there seems to be a possibility that the two sides will relax rules related to investments and rules of origin.
Najib: KL will review ‘lopsided’ FTA with Japan
17-Jun-2006 The Star
Malaysia will review its free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan following claims that it is lopsided, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
Bahraini-US FTA likely to go into effect on August 1st
17-Jun-2006 BNA
A US source, close to the Free Trade Agreement negotiations, said it is likely the Bahraini US commercial agreement will go into effect in early August 2006 after Bahrain endorses all Intellectual Copyright Laws.
Korea, EU set to start FTA talks
16-Jun-2006
The chief of South Korea’s trade promotion agency Friday called for Korea to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) as soon as possible.
US draws distinct lines on what Congress will reject in Korea FTA
16-Jun-2006 Yonhap
A senior US senator drew clear lines Wednesday on what the Congress will not accept in a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, including imports from an industrial complex inside North Korea.