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Salvadorans protest trade deal with US
1-Mar-2006 Houston Chronicle
Thousands of street vendors, university students and labor unionists marched in San Salvador Tuesday against a regional free trade accord with the United States, which they say will hurt small businesses and organized labor.
Singapore, Panama sign free trade deal
1-Mar-2006 AP
Panama and Singapore signed a free trade agreement Wednesday that will allow companies in both countries greater access to each other’s markets, as well as enhance collaboration in areas such as investment promotion and science and technology.
Colombian students oppose FTA
1-Mar-2006 Prensa Latina
Students of Colombia’s Teachers College protested on Tuesday against what they described as a free trade agreement with the US that goes against national interests.
Singapore, South Korea FTA takes effect Thursday
1-Mar-2006 Channel News Asia
Three-quarters of Singapore’s domestic exports to South Korea will enjoy tariff elimination from Thursday.
New Zealand to explore S. Korea trade deal
28-Feb-2006 AP
New Zealand is planning to explore the possibility of forging a free trade agreement with South Korea, Minister of State Jim Sutton said Tuesday.
Japan seeks free trade deal with Gulf
28-Feb-2006 Arab News
Japan plans to begin talks with six Gulf Arab states this year toward a free-trade agreement in the aim of securing stable energy supplies, officials said yesterday.
Intellectual property provisions of bilateral and regional trade agreements in light of US federal law
28-Feb-2006 ICTSD/UNCTAD
The critical lesson for developing countries accepting IPRs commitments in FTAs with the United States is that US IPRs law is replete with exceptions to the general rules, in many cases elaborated in considerable detail. If developing countries accept obligations in the FTAs, they must also be prepared to implement a significant level of exceptions so as to create a reasonable balance within their own law. If they do not implement these exceptions, they will find themselves not only with TRIPS-plus levels of IPRs protection, but also with US-plus levels of IPRs protection.
Trade negotiations command attention
28-Feb-2006 Bangkok Post
Amidst the promises of positive benefits of FTAs to Thailand, more and more citizens are raising questions, especially in relation to the services and investment sectors.
EPA signing, FTA parleys postponed
28-Feb-2006
Thailand has postponed the signing of its Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, and suspended free trade area (FTA) negotiations with the US until the formation of the new government, chief negotiators for the two pacts said yesterday.
Indian IT sector eyeing free trade pact with US
27-Feb-2006 Navhind Times
India’s dollar-spinning information technology industry is looking forward to some positive initiatives towards inking a free trade agreement with the US in the services sector during the US President, Mr George W Bush’s visit to the country.
Japan may begin FTA talks with India as early as summer - report
27-Feb-2006 AFX
The government will possibly this summer enter into negotiations with India on a bilateral economic partnership treaty, of which a free trade agreement (FTA) would form the core, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing government sources.
Singapore and Panama to sign FTA on March 1
27-Feb-2006 Channel News Asia
Singapore and Panama will sign a free trade agreement on Wednesday.
US says reaches free trade deal with Colombia
27-Feb-2006 Reuters
The United States has reached a free trade deal with Colombia after nearly two years of talks, the US Trade Representative said on Monday.
Election pushes back Japan FTA
27-Feb-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand and Japan have postponed off the signing of their bilateral trade pact earlier scheduled for April 3-4, pending the outcome of Thailand’s upcoming general election, a senior offcial said Monday.
Costa Rican presidential hopeful promises to obstruct Cafta
27-Feb-2006 FT
The leader of Costa Rica’s second largest political party has vowed to obstruct efforts to ratify a 2004 free trade agreement between Central America and the US.
S Korea’s Roh says FTA with US top priority
27-Feb-2006 AFX
President Roh Moo-Hyun said that reaching a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States will be the top priority for his government during his remaining tenure.
Roadmap for WTO negotiations on Art. XXIV GATT
27-Feb-2006
The WTO rules for bilateral agreements, set by Art. XXIV of GATT are currently under re-negotiation in the WTO. Below is an internal informal WTO discussion paper on these negotiations. This is an invitation to discuss this paper on the Forum of this website on "bilateralism".
IPO plans for state firms, FTAs face uncertain future as new election called
27-Feb-2006 The Nation
The dissolution of the House of Representatives has put the Thai government’s key economic policies - free-trade deals, the privatisation of state enterprises and investment in mega-projects - in limbo.
Cairo angered by US trade talks freeze
26-Feb-2006 FT
Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Egypt’s trade and industry minister, criticised Washington yesterday for mixing business with politics in its decision to freeze negotiations on a free trade agreement.
El Salvador: Free trade to begin in March
26-Feb-2006 Miami Herald
A free-trade agreement with El Salvador will take effect on March 1, the Bush administration announced, initially leaving behind five other Latin American nations that are supposed to be part of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.