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How the toxic EU-Mercosur deal will undermine Brazil’s climate & deforestation goals
26-Apr-2023 Friends of the Earth Europe
While the Amazon passes irreversible environmental tipping points and new toxic chemicals leave a trail of contamination, the European Union is actively signing away more of the planet and people in the lethal EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.
UK should drop Gulf trade deal if rights concerns not addressed, say MPs
26-Apr-2023 The Independent
The UK should be willing to walk away from trade negotiations with Gulf states rather than accept an agreement that fails to address human rights and environmental concerns, MPs have said.
India may find the going tough in FTA talks with UK on agri front
26-Apr-2023 The Hindu BusinessLine
House of Commons panel wants pesticide residue norms undiluted, cut in dairy, alcohol tariffs.
Brazil’s Lula visits Spain with Mercosur deal on agenda
26-Apr-2023 Yahoo
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in Spain on the second stop of a European tour aimed at resetting relations and making progress on a long-delayed trade deal between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur.
New bilaterals.org podcast is out!
26-Apr-2023
Pakistan-China Economic Partnership stalled
25-Apr-2023 The Print
The FTA has been repeatedly been criticised by businessmen in Pakistan, who believe that Pakistan had negotiated poorly.
Commission reports on eleventh negotiation round with five Eastern and Southern African countries to deepen existing Economic Partnership Agreement
24-Apr-2023 European Commission
The European Commission published the report summarising progress made during the latest negotiation round to deepen the existing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with five Eastern and Southern African partners.
Europe’s disunity over China deepens
24-Apr-2023 Politico
France, Germany and EU institutions are at odds over whether to revive the stalled Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with China.
Brazil hopes for conclusion to EU-Mercosur trade deal this year
24-Apr-2023 Reuters
Brazil hopes the Mercosur trade deal with the European Union (EU) will be concluded this year, a government official said, ending years of delay and opening the way to increased trade between the two regions.
Digital divide: India-UK FTA faces data flow rift
24-Apr-2023 Mint
India’s insistence on data localization is a “major stumbling block" to a planned free trade agreement with the UK, a report tabled in House of Commons said, signalling continuing differences on cross-border data flow issues.
MPs criticise lack of information and unhelpful responses from Government on India trade negotiations
24-Apr-2023 UK Parliament
In the International Trade Committee’s report on UK trade negotiations with India, MPs note that the briefings they have received from Government on the negotiations, designed to inform the Committee’s all-important scrutiny, have been extremely limited in scope.
India-UK free trade agreement to resume from April 24; here’s what to expect as PM Modi, Rishi Sunak plan to expedite progress
24-Apr-2023 Live Mint
Negotiations on the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) are set to resume from April 24 after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi spoke over the phone and agreed to expedite progress on outstanding issues.
Albania moves to establish local arbitration court to replace ICSID
21-Apr-2023 Balkan Insight
Despite warnings that it could deter investment, Albania is pushing ahead with plans to establish a local commercial court to replace the World Bank-funded international arbitration body.
EU-Mercosur: Banned pesticides found on Brazilian limes in EU
21-Apr-2023 Greenpeace
A Greenpeace Germany study of Brazilian limes sold in the EU has found residues of several pesticides, some of them banned for use in Europe.
USTR’s Tai: Indo-Pacific trade talks could see results this year
21-Apr-2023 Reuters
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Indo-Pacific Economic Framework trade negotiations are progressing "at a very quick pace" and she expects results from the talks as early as by the end of the year.
Trade rep Kachka: Ukraine plans to start talks on joining Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2023
21-Apr-2023 Interfax
The Government of Ukraine will soon make a decision on Ukraine’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Deputy Economy Minister, Trade Representative of Ukraine said.
Russia embarks on a major BRICS offensive to upgrade BIT and complete EAEU FTA agreements
20-Apr-2023 Russia Briefing
Trade meetings with China, Brazil and India are paving the way for a rapid increase in Russia-BRICS trade and underpinning its strengths
Bangladesh holding free trade talks with 11 countries: PM Hasina
20-Apr-2023 Nikkei Asia
Bangladesh is discussing free trade agreements with 11 countries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, as the South Asian country seeks new means to promote exports once preferential tariff exemptions expire in three years.
Elizabeth Morgan | OACPS/EU – Post-Cotonou Agreement still in limbo
20-Apr-2023 The Gleaner
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 was the third anniversary of the establishment, as a full international organisation, of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
AfCFTA not a silver bullet to increase SA’s agricultural exports in Africa
20-Apr-2023 Cape Business News
Does the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) present an opportunity for South Africa (SA) to further expand its agricultural exports into the continent, or is it just a pipe dream?