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Bad blood over FTA
15-May-2006
Australia’s monopoly blood processor, CSL, has backed Red Cross calls for a ban on plasma imports and warned against opening up the nation’s supply network to overseas companies.
Korea completes draft for FTA with US
15-May-2006
Reducing or scrapping the 40 percent tariff on beef imports will be on the agenda at FTA negotiations with the US scheduled to start on June 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Monday, under first drafts Korea and the US have completed.
MTMA optimistic on govt’s free trade agreement with US
15-May-2006
The Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA) is optimistic on the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s effort to launch a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States (US).
Honest approach required in Korea-U.S. FTA negotiation
15-May-2006
I read an article by Woo Seok-gyun, an official from the Korea Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights (KFHR), regarding the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation on medical care and education. Mr. Woo described the upcoming negotiation as a ’game of truth’ by the government.
S Korean actors to protest FTA with US in Cannes
15-May-2006
A group of South Korean movie workers left for France Monday to protest at the Cannes film festival against South Korea’s plan to sign a free trade pact with the United States, representatives of the group said.
Lanka FTA misused to dump spices
15-May-2006
The customs authority is probing the misuse of the Indo-Sri Lanka free trade agreement (FTA), whereby cloves and arecanuts of different origins have come into India recently from Sri Lanka.
Korea, US FTA no longer an option
15-May-2006
A free trade agreement with the United States has sparked a heated debate in Korea. The two major labor unions and the nation’s largest environmental group have jointly launched a nationwide campaign against a Korea-US FTA. There are also plenty of pro-FTA supporters.
US FTA: A good opportunity to upgrade Korean economy
15-May-2006
Korea and the US officially announced the start of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) three months ago. The two sides are set to begin negotiations this June after gathering opinions from various fields of society.
US invites African ministers to talks on market access
15-May-2006 Business Day
Washington has invited African trade and finance ministers for talks on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) - the US partial free trade regime for imports from Africa.
US-SACU free trade talks hit snags
15-May-2006 Islam Online
The latest round of talks between the US and the five-member Southern African Customs Union (SACU) on a free trade agreement has failed to yield fruits, with many blaming the US for seeking to impose a one-size-fits-all formula.
S Korea considers FTA with Gulf countries: Roh
15-May-2006 Korea Times
President Roh Moo-hyun said Saturday that the government will consider signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
US-Ecuador free trade agreement frozen
15-May-2006 MercoPress
Ecuador’s chief trade negotiator, Manuel Chiriboga, admitted that a huge "uncertainty" surrounds the future of the free trade negotiations with United States suspended since the end of March.
Treasury dismisses bilateral free trade deals in Asia
14-May-2006 ABC
Australia’s Treasury has dismissed the Australian Government’s quest for bilateral free trade deals in Asia, saying that there are no clear benefits.
EU forges ahead with free trade plans
14-May-2006 AP
The European Union and six Central American leaders said Saturday they hoped to launch free trade talks before the end of the year.
ASEAN trade ministers meet to accelerate creation of European-style economic community
14-May-2006 Philippine Star
Southeast Asian trade ministers, pressured by China and India’s growing economic might, will gather this week in Manila to chart plans to accelerate their daunting ambition of creating a European-style economic community. They will also assess progress of ASEAN’s various free trade negotiations.
UK and Mexico sign trade agreement in Vienna
13-May-2006 MercoPress
United Kingdom and Mexico signed Friday a bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) in Vienna.
Spain seeks agreement with CAN
12-May-2006
The Andean Community of Nations (CAN) should come to terms first, before pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), sources of the Spanish Foreign Ministry reported Thursday.
Taiwan seeks better bilateral trade with India
12-May-2006
Taiwan is keen on a free trade agreement (FTA) with India and is also seeking the cooperation of Indian business houses to improve economic relations and increase connectivity between the two countries.
Further NZ-China FTA talks
12-May-2006
A further round of New Zealand-China FTA negotiations will take place in Queenstown next week (15-19 May).
DR: New US exigencies for integration onto Free Trade
12-May-2006 Dominican Today
The United States reportedly threatened to leave the Dominican Republic out of the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the U.S. (DR-CAFTA), if local authorities do not accept other requirements aside from the original negotiation.