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Asean signs FTA with South Korea after Thailand opts out
16-May-2006 The Nation
South Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday but founding member Thailand was left out due to internal disagreements and objections to Seoul’s barriers on farm products.
Trade deal to bring harsh competition to Vietnam
16-May-2006 Financial Express
Vietnam’s trade deal with the United States — meant to facilitate Vietnam’s accession to the WTO — lowers Hanoi’s tariffs on US industrial and farm products and removes other barriers that block US companies in the telecommunications, retailing, banking, insurance and energy sectors.
Comoros, Libya join COMESA free trade area
16-May-2006 Xinhua
Comoros and Libya have joined the Free Trade Area (FTA) of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the continent’s largest economic group.
Myanmar an obstacle as EU pushes for FTA with Southeast Asia
16-May-2006 Today
The European Union wants to strike a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but human rights issues in Myanmar could be a problem, EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has said.
Thailand to be left out of ASEAN FTA with S. Korea
15-May-2006
Thailand will not be included in a free trade agreement to be signed between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)and South Korea this week, the Philippine trade secretary said Monday.
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.