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Lanka sees end to trade bias
23-Jun-2005
Sri Lanka is hopeful that whatever trade asymmetries remain, even after the adoption of the Indo-Sri Lanka free trade agreement (FTA), will be sorted out while finalising the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with India by the end of this year. This is according to a high-ranking Sri Lankan official.
JPEPA: News in brief
23-Jun-2005 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines government is completing its "clean-up drive" on the country’s legal and dispute settlement mechanism before finally giving its final go signal to the implementation of the country’s first bilateral free trade area (FTA) deal, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
OIC edges towards free trade area
23-Jun-2005 Business Recorder
Muslim nations moved closer to forming a free trade area (FTA) on Monday, with plans to adopt tariff-cutting steps by end-2005 to bridge a gap between oil-rich and poor members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
United States and Mozambique sign TIFA
23-Jun-2005 USTR
US Trade Representative Rob Portman and the Mozambican Minister of Industry and Commerce Antonio Fernando signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) today that will provide a forum to address trade issues and will enhance trade and investment relations between the United States and Mozambique.
US-Mozambique TIFA (2005)
23-Jun-2005 USTR
US, Indonesia build on Trade and Investment Agreement
23-Jun-2005 US State Dept
US and Indonesian officials met in Washington June 20-21 for the second time in three months to discuss ways to deepen their trade relationship, according to a June 22 press release from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).
Pak, US discuss FTA
22-Jun-2005
Commerce Secretary Tasneem Noorani held a detailed discussions at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Washington DC the other day along with their team of experienced negotiators to study details of a free trade agreement (FTA) with USA.
India set to get access to Bimstec markets
22-Jun-2005
India and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) member countries plan to sign a deal to provide access to each others’ markets for the pharmaceuticals and services sectors.
Musharraf meets Thaksin: FTA between Thailand, Pakistan in offing
22-Jun-2005
Pakistan and Thailand moved closer to free trade pact as leaders of the two countries moved closer for establishing an agreement on the topic after they met over the weekend, credible sources said here on Monday.
Thai-Japan FTA talks hit snags
21-Jun-2005
Prospects for Japan signing free trade agreements with Thailand and South Korea are being stymied because the countries remain seriously divided on key industrial and farm sectors, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported yesterday quoting diplomatic sources.
Breakthrough in FTA talks expected soon
21-Jun-2005
The third round of negotiations between China and New Zealand to establish a free trade area (FTA) did not result in a major breakthrough. But a breakthrough may be achieved in the not-too-distant future.
Thai-Chinese FTA leads to soaring bilateral trade
21-Jun-2005
Trade between Thailand and China has shot up to 24 billion baht ($60 million) over the first 20 months of the enforcement of the bilateral free trade area (FTA) agreement, with Thailand holding the balance of trade by over 11 billion baht ($27.5 million), according to the Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Rachane Potjanasuntorn.
UAE rejects GCC pact on free trade deals: Official
21-Jun-2005
Gulf Arab efforts to defend a customs union suffered a setback after the United Arab Emirates refused to sign an accord barring bilateral trade deals except with the United States, Gulf sources said yesterday.
Steel goes on back burner at FTA talks
21-Jun-2005
The Thailand-Japan free trade area (FTA) negotiations will resume in July, with discussions over liberalising steel imports postponed until later rounds, even though Tokyo has come up with a new proposal on the controversial issue, according to Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement comes into force
21-Jun-2005
The Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has come into force from June 12, marking a new stage in regional economic integration.
Human rights ’not on table’ in China FTA
21-Jun-2005
Trade Minister Mark Vaile says the Government will not "sell out" human rights issues to get a better deal on a free trade agreement with China.
Textile sops for Sri Lanka under FTA
21-Jun-2005
India will grant more concessions to Sri Lanka in the apparel and clothing sector under the existing bilateral free trade agreement. New Delhi has agreed to remove the present annual cap of 1.5 million pieces of clothing per category in the sector.
New rules of origin approach for India-Asean FTA by mid-July
21-Jun-2005
India is set to finalise new Rules of Origin (ROO), the criteria that determine the country of origin of the product, for the India-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by July 15, 2005.
S’pore pact gets Cabinet nod
21-Jun-2005
India has agreed to provide a series of tariff concessions to Singapore under the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which was approved by the Union Cabinet today.
Thailand firm on positive list
21-Jun-2005
Thailand insists that it will negotiate a bilateral free-trade area agreement with the United States only through a ``positive list’’ approach.