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US FTA a different ball game altogether
13-Jun-2006
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Malaysia and the United States, which kicked off yesterday (12 June 2006) on the island of Penang, were wrapped in secrecy even though the issues to be discussed have far-reaching implications for Malaysian citizens and Malaysia as a sovereign nation. Mind you, all this is unfolding within the larger context of the din, frenzy and exhilaration of the World Cup.
United States and Rwanda sign agreement to deepen trade and investment relations
13-Jun-2006
The United States and Rwanda today signed an agreement aimed at deepening and strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries.
Malaysia says cautious on US trade deal
13-Jun-2006 AFP
Malaysia said it was proceeding cautiously with negotiations for a free-trade deal with the United States which began this week, and would not act against the national interest.
Japan-Malaysia FTA to take effect on July 13
13-Jun-2006 Kyodo
A free trade agreement between Japan and Malaysia will take effect on July 13 to scrap tariffs on essentially all industrial goods and most agricultural, forestry and fishery products within 10 years, the Japanese government said Tuesday.
Seoul gives much, takes little in FTA talks with Washington
13-Jun-2006
South Korea and the United States ended their first round of formal five-day talks for a free trade agreement, but South Korean negotiators returned home empty-handed.
US envoy addresses Qatari businessmen
13-Jun-2006 The Peninsula
The US ambassador to Qatar, Chase Untermeyer, has said he hoped that Qatar follows into the footsteps of its GCC neighbours and concludes a free trade agreement (FTA) with his country.
Ex-US official sees S Korea-US FTA as ’wake-up call’ to Japan
13-Jun-2006 Kyodo
A successful conclusion of South Korea-US free trade agreement talks would be a "wake-up call" to Japan and the United States for a similar accord between the two countries, a former senior US trade official said in a recent interview.
Malaysians protest against free trade talks with US
13-Jun-2006 TWN
As Malaysia and the United States began their first round of talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), they were confronted by a group of Malaysian protesters concerned that the agreement will cause the country more harm than good.
By 80%, Dominican firms cannot compete in Free Trade
13-Jun-2006 Dominican Today
Approximately 80% of the 4,000 firms that operate in the country are not prepared to compete in the framework of the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and Central America (DR-CAFTA).
Atlantica trade zone talks spark 2nd day of protest
12-Jun-2006 CBC
Activists protested for a second day in New Brunswick on Saturday as business leaders met to discuss a proposed free-trade zone for the Maritimes, Quebec and northeastern United States.
Canada hopes to conclude free trade agreement with India
12-Jun-2006 New Kerala
Canada hopes to sign an investment promotion and protection agreement with India later this year that would encourage free trade between the two countries, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said.
EU presses for conclusion of free-trade deal with GCC
12-Jun-2006 The Daily Star
European Union trade chief Peter Mandelson called Saturday for talks in Brussels with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, so that a final free trade deal with the Gulf Arab bloc can be struck by year-end.
Free trade fears in Snowy backflip
12-Jun-2006 The Age
The last-minute scrapping of the $3 billion Snowy Hydro float, attributed by the Government to the public outcry at the prospect of losing control of an "icon", may have been partly prompted by fears it would contravene Australia’s free trade agreement negotiated with the US last year.
S Korea-EU FTA to generate more benefits than US FTA, reports say
12-Jun-2006 Yonhap
A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the European Union will bring greater benefits to Asia’s fourth-largest economy than a similar trade pact with the United States, reports showed Sunday.
The myth of free trade
12-Jun-2006 The Standard
Once we confront the flimsiness of the free trade ideal and admit that every deal has varied implications, the sleight of hand that characterizes so-called global free trade might begin to be broken down and something called fair trade might yet emerge.
Malaysia, US face big task as free-trade talks kick off
12-Jun-2006 AFP
The United States and Malaysia are to embark on free-trade talks in the resort island of Penang, which are being fast-tracked with the goal of striking a deal by the end of the year.
Uruguay: ’We are not going to sign the FTA with the US’
12-Jun-2006 Green Left Weekly
“We are not going to sign the TLC [Free Trade Agreement] with the United States”, said Hugo Rodriguez, secretary of the Chamber of Senators and director of the Uruguayan Socialist Party. “But we are in a difficult situation.”
Free-trade agreement with Laos not in cards, US official says
12-Jun-2006 Green Bay Press Gazette
The United States has no plans to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Laos, according to the new US trade representative Susan Schwab. "That isn’t even in the cards," she said.
Mercosur-EU Relations - Historical background and perspectives
12-Jun-2006 Eyes on Europe
Despite the promised benefits for both sides, and in particular for Mercosur, there are few chances for significant changes to occur in the EU’s protectionism in its agricultural sector which would favour Mercosur. Considering this, Mercosur countries should be more concerned that the signature of an agreement based on limited market access concessions for few products is not an important step forward.
China’s Minister of Commerce holds talks with EU Trade Commissioner
11-Jun-2006 People’s Daily
The two officials exchanged views on modification of the present economic cooperation agreement between EU and China.