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UAE to only amend existing labour law
24-Mar-2005 Khaleej Times
Dr Khalid Mohammed Al Khazraji, UAE Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, denied reports that the country would be enacting a new labour law, stressing that the UAE Labour Law No. 8 of 1980 is undergoing several amendments. He also denied any link between the amendments under way and proposals submitted by the US delegation in the context of the US-UAE FTA negotiations.
Thai FTA accord in sight
24-Mar-2005 Asahi Shimbun
Japan and Thailand are expected to reach basic agreement as early as next week on agricultural, forestry and fishery products, moving closer to the conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
China, Australia inch closer to FTA talks
24-Mar-2005 Asia Times
China and Australia may be one step nearer to launching talks on a free trade agreement (FTA), and a feasibility study to be released this month strongly proposes the deal.
Australia: Push to free up Japan on trade
23-Mar-2005 The Australian
John Howard will ask Japan to support an official feasibility study as the first substantial step towards a bilateral free trade agreement when he visits Tokyo next month.
Indigenous groups against the FTA
23-Mar-2005
On March 6, six indigenous communities in the Cauca valley in southwest Colombia voted in a referendum to reject the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.
Japan-South Korea ties on the rocks
23-Mar-2005 Asia Times
When are a few sea-swept, uninhabited rocky islets more than a bunch of rocks? When they involve lucrative fisheries and emotional issues that hark back to the days of the Japanese Empire.
Italy claims SA in breach of treaty
23-Mar-2005 Business Day
The minerals and energy department is engaged in talks with Italian companies operating in SA over possible breaches of the SA-Italy bilateral investment treaty in the implementation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
RI-Japan partnership too exclusive
23-Mar-2005 Jakarta Post
The public, along with NGOs, academics and business groups — both pro- and anti-free trade — should be well-informed about the development of the Indonesia-Japan EPA.
China fears FTA’s impact on farming
22-Mar-2005
As the prospect of Australia and China negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) appears increasingly likely, China has flagged that Australian farmers may not get all they wish for.
Music case to test US-Australia FTA laws
22-Mar-2005
The music industry’s legal assault on BitTorrent file sharing will provide the first major test of new laws designed to limit ISPs’ liability for copyright breaches by their customers.
Mercosur resumes EU talks; signs with India
22-Mar-2005 MercoPress
Mercosur and European Union negotiators resumed Monday in Brussels discussions with the purpose of reaching a much delayed free trade agreement between the two blocks. Meantime in New Delhi a framework trade understanding was signed with India.
Bush’s pointsman has his job cut out
21-Mar-2005
After weeks of uncertainty, President George W Bush has nominated as US Trade Representative Rob Portman, a Republican Congressman from Ohio, better known for his loyalty to the President than for any experience in international trade negotiations.
Entrepreneurs apprehensive of Pak-Lanka FTA misuse
21-Mar-2005
Upcountry industrialists and business community have asked the economic managers to strictly monitor goods traded under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka.
China, ROK initiated joint study on feasibility of FTA
21-Mar-2005
China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have initiated the non-government joint study on the feasibility of free trade agreement (FTA), announced Wang Mengkui, director of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) here Monday.
Howard cautious on China FTA
21-Mar-2005
Prime Minister John Howard said tonight Australia would continue to have strong trade links to China even if a free trade agreement could not be settled.
US pushes bilateral trade pact
21-Mar-2005
US Assistant Trade Representative Barbara Weisel yesterday urged Manila to sign a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Washington to boost its underperforming economy and keep it globally competitive.
FTA with US premature at this time, says Santos
21-Mar-2005
Trade and Industry Secretary Juan B. Santos sees no need to rush a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. According to Santos, an FTA with the US at this time may even be "premature."
US-RP free trade pact a blow to economic sovereignty
21-Mar-2005 IBON
IBON calls on the Arroyo government to discontinue any negotiation on the proposed bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, saying that the free trade pact is a blow to economic sovereignty and would bring the economy back to the era of the Bell Trade Act, which has stunted the Philippine economy to its pre-industrial level.
Global bully goes to Guatemala
21-Mar-2005 IP-Health
The global bully, the United States, has just coerced Guatemala, its latest victim, into repealing an important law to lower the price of pharmaceuticals and promote generic competition. The U.S. ambassador to Guatemala acknowledged that the Guatemalan law was intended to advance public health objectives. But, no matter, he said — U.S. commercial interests in the form of Big Pharma demanded that the law go.
No rush in free-trade deal with US - DTI
21-Mar-2005 Manila Bulletin
Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Juan B. Santos said there is no rush in the proposed bilateral free-trade agreement with the US noting the country’s trade with the US is slowly losing steam while gaining markets elsewhere particularly, ASEAN, Japan and Greater China.