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China, Chile sign free-trade agreement
18-Nov-2005
China and Chile signed a free-trade agreement Friday, the first between China and a Latin American country.
Andean Nations seek US patent protection for native medicines
18-Nov-2005 Bloomberg
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are turning the tables on U.S. trade negotiators accustomed to winning tough safeguards for drug patents by demanding similar protections for traditional therapies such as roots and leaves.
EU group sees regional deals’ potential
17-Nov-2005
European Union (EU) trade organisations have called for regional free trade agreements to complement World Trade Organisation negotiations for a global open market.
Israel seeks free trade agreement with Mercosur bloc
17-Nov-2005
At the end of last week, Minister of Finance and Industry, Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert met with Brazil’s State of Sao Paolo Governor Geraldo Alckmin in order to promote a free trade region with the Mercosur bloc (Mercado Comun del Sur), comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. The signing of a framework agreement is expected in December.
FTA between Singapore and Kuwait "a matter of time" — Tarmugi
17-Nov-2005
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Singapore and Kuwait is "a matter of time" as there are some outstanding issues surrounding such agreements that would have to be resolved, a senior Singaporean official revealed on Thursday.
India, look ahead: A two-pronged strategy for boosting trade
17-Nov-2005
The current state of play in the Doha Round negotiations underlines the importance of stronger bilateral and regional trading agreements for India. As of now, India has concluded trading agreements with Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore. In the regional context, Safta and Bimstec are yet to really takeoff.
US ’Big Brother’ attitude in FTAs draws criticism
17-Nov-2005
Arabs attending a conference in Bahrain blasted yesterday Washington’s "Big Brother" attitude in bilateral Free Trade Agreements, saying they are political tools to serve US interests rather than enhance economic prosperity in the region.
Singapore-Panama FTA on track for progress
17-Nov-2005
Singapore’s plans to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Panama remain on track.
Democrats and labor leaders balk at lack of workers rights under CAFTA
17-Nov-2005 AXcess News
Democratic members of Congress and labor leaders say they want the Bush administration to move away from CAFTA’s failed trade model or face another tough battle in Congress.
Goff calls for APEC FTA progress, Doha pressure
16-Nov-2005
Noting that a "spaghetti bowl of rules" would result from multiple bilateral free trade agreements among APEC members, Minister of Trade Phil Goff has called for coherence between FTAs in the region.
Understanding FTAs: going back to the basics
14-Nov-2005 Korea Herald
Despite being a late starter in pursuing bilateral free trade agreements, Korea has been actively seeking Free Trade Agreement talks with its trading partners around the world.
ADB, RBI for FTA between India and Mekong nations
11-Nov-2005 The Hindu
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday advocated that India should go in for a free trade agreement (FTA) with China and five other nations in the Mekong region to sustain high growth.
Attracting FDI through the spread of free trade agreements
10-Nov-2005 Thai Labour Campaign
This paper shows how free trade agreements (FTAs) in Southeast Asia are essentially a means to secure foreign direct investment (FDI) at the expense of labour standards. It explores the significance of FDI in export-oriented industrialisation and for economic transformation in Southeast Asia, with emphasis on the increasing global competition for FDI.
Peruvian farmers buck FTA with US
10-Nov-2005 Prensa Latina
Two important Peruvian agricultural organizations march Wednesday against president Alejandro Toledo’s negotiations for a free trade agreement with the US.
Is an ’FTAA Lite’ a real possibility?
10-Nov-2005 IPS
Most of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean want a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), even in a less ambitious form, as opposed to a handful of nations - albeit an economically powerful minority - that reject the idea.
Chilean FM breaks FTA date with Japan
10-Nov-2005 Prensa Latina
Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker suspended Tuesday a visit to Japan to discuss a free trade agreement as a result of Peruvian ex-President Alberto Fujimori’s arrival in the country, local media said on Tuesday.
UAE and US in third round FTA negotiations
10-Nov-2005 Asharq Awalsat
The UAE and US will resume their FTA negotiations on the 12 through the 16 of November in London.
S’pore benefits to all under new Bipa
9-Nov-2005 Financial Express
Pre-establishment national treatment to foreign investors in India, now a prerogative of Singapore-based entities, will soon be a generic benefit India would offer all eligible investors under the bilateral investment protection agreements (Bipas).
US links beef import to FTA with South Korea
9-Nov-2005 Korea Times
Alexander Vershbow, Washington’s top diplomat to Seoul, said Tuesday that South Korea’s lifting of the ban on US beef could trigger talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
US exports to Arab nations may touch new highs
8-Nov-2005 MENAFN
With many Arab nations going ahead with their plans to sign free-trade agreements (FTAs) with the US, trade and industry associations are projecting extraordinary growth in US exports to the Arab world in the years to come.