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Free Trade Fervor - Careful, Comprehensive Strategy Leads to Success
2-Apr-2005
The government’s plan to conclude 15 free trade agreements by 2007 is the right move - if somewhat overambitious.
AGCC and EU to sign FTA soon
1-Apr-2005 Khaleej Times
The long-standing row over European duty on aluminium imports from the Gulf, a major irritant in EU-AGCC trade relations, is likely to be resolved this year with both sides gearing up for the final round of talks to seal a free trade agreement.
Warning on cost of vitamins under US FTA
1-Apr-2005 The Age
The cost of vitamins could rise by 8% under the Australia-United States free trade agreement, vitamin makers have warned.
Indonesia and bilateral trade agreements (BTAs)
1-Apr-2005 APNFS
Paper presented to the APNFS workshop on Regional & Bilateral Trade Agreements & Looking at Agriculture Subsidies in the North: Common Advocacies for Food Sovereignty (November 2004)
Japan, Thailand strike pact on FTA talks’ farm aspects
31-Mar-2005
Japan and Thailand have struck a basic deal on the contentious farm products segment of trade talks, Japanese government sources said Wednesday.
FTA lays foundation for more open economy
31-Mar-2005
The first free trade agreement with Chile has brought an array of benefits to Korea in the past year, not least contributing to the speeding up of the nation’s FTA talks with other trade partners.
Malaysia FTA on fast track
31-Mar-2005
The government wants to fast track a newly emerged free trade agreement proposal with Malaysia, getting it done within a year.
Japan, Thailand strike pact on FTA talks’ farm aspects
31-Mar-2005 Japan Times
Japan and Thailand have struck a basic deal on the contentious farm products segment of trade talks, Japanese government sources said Wednesday. The deal is a major step toward striking a bilateral free-trade agreement as early as next month.
NZ and Malaysia launch FTA negotiations
31-Mar-2005 Scoop
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today that Malaysia and New Zealand have agreed to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement as soon as possible.
The mother of all FTAs
31-Mar-2005 Asia Times
Riding on a 79% growth in bilateral trade in 2004 at US$14 billion, China has expressed an interest in formulating a free-trade agreement (FTA) with India, saying that closer trade relations could make it easier to solve political differences. If the FTA is achieved, it would result in the biggest free-trade region in the world.
CAFTA’s profit motive
31-Mar-2005 Washington Post
The fundamental reality of most of the US’ trade accords is that they are designed to maximize corporate profits no matter the cost to the peoples of the signatory nations.
Analysis: S. Korea’s FTA push
31-Mar-2005 UPI
Upbeat about surging exports following its first free trade accord with Chile a year ago, South Korea unveiled an ambitious plan on Wednesday to push for free trade agreements with more than 15 countries by 2007.
Business leaders recommend FTA between Bangladesh and Pak
31-Mar-2005 Deepika Global
Business leaders of Bangladesh and Pakistan today recommended pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries to help boost bilateral trade and investment.
Sandinistas say FTA bad for health
31-Mar-2005 Prensa Latina
Sandinista National Liberation Front legislators will present a minority report against ratification of the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with the United States, Nicaraguan Congresswoman Alba Palacio said.
Thai govt urged to remove medicines from FTA deals
31-Mar-2005 TNA
Non governmental organizations (NGOs) yesterday made an impassioned plea to the government to remove the subject of medicines from negotiations on the proposed Thai-US free trade area (FTA), warning that Thai patients suffering from chronic conditions could be hit with sky-high costs for medication.
USTR 2005 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers
31-Mar-2005 USTR
Office of the US Trade Representative has released its 2005 report on country-by-country barriers to US global trade interests.
Korea has high hopes of Canada FTA talks
29-Mar-2005
Korea and Canada will hold their second round of preliminary meetings for a free trade agreement in Ottawa, Canada, from Thursday.
S. Korea, Canada to discuss feasibility of FTA
29-Mar-2005
South Korea and Canada will hold their second round of meetings in Ottawa, Canada, between March 31 and April 1 to study the feasibility of a free trade agreement (FTA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) said Tuesday.
Open letter from civil society on the US-Thailand FTA negotiations
29-Mar-2005 FTA Watch
On 4-8 April 2005, negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Thai and the US will take place in Pattaya. Following two previous rounds in Hawaii, the US is expected to submit demands on remaining issues, the most important of which is the issue of patents. This is a sign-on statement to call on the Thai government to halt the third round of negotiations in order to conduct a through review of the outstanding points and the negotiating position towards the FTA.
Mideast building trade ties with US
29-Mar-2005 LA Times
The Bush administration’s plan: to negotiate a series of trade agreements that would eventually fuse one of the world’s most economically and politically unstable regions into a giant free-trade zone.