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Farmers risk violating US patents
29-Sep-2004 Bangkok Post
Thai farmers risk being held liable for patent violations under patent application rights for genetically modified (GM) papaya being considered by American biotechnologists working with Thai scientists, experts said yesterday.
Taking liberties - new Christian Aid report
29-Sep-2004 Christian Aid
This bold new report from Christian Aid explodes the myth that free trade is the answer to poverty.
We denounce the Korea-Japan FTA
29-Sep-2004 Social Movements Network
The governments of Korea and Japan have come together today, 350km away from Seoul, for their fifth negotiation to consolidate a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Ever since the negotiations were initiated last December, many NGOs and people’s organizations have shown concern over the planned FTA.
United States, Pakistan Begin Bilateral Investment Treaty negotiations
28-Sep-2004 US Trade Representative
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and Pakistan Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan announced today that their two countries would begin negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT).
South Asian economic cooperation
28-Sep-2004
The three-day meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) sub-group on Investment and Arbitration beginning today in Kathmandu seeks to further the understanding among member states to set up an investment regime and adopt a dispute settlement mechanism in order to increase economic cooperation throughout the region.
Brazilian minister: no Mercosur-EU FTA before Oct. 31
28-Sep-2004
Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said Monday that differences over agriculture and other issues had made it impossible for negotiations to be completed over a free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) by Oct. 31, the original target date.
Thai dairy farmers make U-turn on FTA plan
28-Sep-2004 Bangkok Post
Key dairy farmers are making a U-turn in their FTA strategy and are now seeking financial, technical and marketing assistance from the big players Australia and New Zealand.
Simultaneous pursuit of trade pacts more desirable: S. Korean FM
28-Sep-2004 Asia Pulse
Visiting South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said on Friday it is "more desirable" to seek free trade agreements (FTAs) with many countries at the same time than to pursue bilateral agreements one at a time.
Leaders face challenge on trade threat to PBS
27-Sep-2004
Twenty leading medical and legal experts, and seven peak health and community services organisations, will send today an open letter to John Howard and Mark Latham demanding changes to the free trade agreement with the US before the agreement is ratified in late October.
Malaysia, India hold talks on FTA
27-Sep-2004
Malaysia is holding negotiations with India on establishing an ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (FTA), covering trade in goods, services and investment, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) CEO Datuk Merlyn Kasimir said today.
Japan-ASEAN: Step back to save deal, says researcher
27-Sep-2004
Asean and Japan should take a step back from the thorniest issues under discussion in order to move forward toward a fruitful free trade area (FTA) agreement, according to a prominent researcher from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
Ecuador: Fight with Occidental to hinder free trade agreement
27-Sep-2004
Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and the Ecuadorian-US Chamber have asked the Ecuadorian government to not transform the non-fulfillments of the US petroleum company Occidental into a political issue while it is a legal problem.
Australian biotech industry sounds warning bells on FTA amendments
27-Sep-2004
Australia’s Biotechnology Industry Organisation representing over 2,000 Members, is deeply concerned at the potential unintended consequences and the uncertainty created by the proposed FTA amendments.
U.S. Urges Dominican Over Corn Syrup Tax
26-Sep-2004
A U.S. lawmaker urged the Dominican president Friday to veto a 25 percent import tax on corn syrup, warning it could bring an end to a free-trade agreement between the two countries.
’FTA offers more risks than gains’
26-Sep-2004
The United States has used free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations to flex its military and economic muscle but developing countries stand to gain little from such deals, a leading Malaysian economist said yesterday.
Pakistan team leaves for TIFA talks
25-Sep-2004
The first meeting of the Pak-US Business Council established under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed by Pakistan and the United States of America will be held in Washington on September 28.
Sugar beet farmers frame presidential election with troublesome trade deal
25-Sep-2004
Sugar beet farmers in a rural Minnesota district that turned out solidly for President Bush in 2000 are having second thoughts about his re-election now that the administration is supporting a trade agreement they see as a threat.
Suspend trade talks with China, says Cosatu
24-Sep-2004
South Africa’s trade negotiations with China should be suspended until their effect on the local economy had been studied, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Friday.
Comesa Trade Improves
24-Sep-2004
Trade among Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states increased by 15 per cent from US$4.5 billion in 2002 to $5.3 billion in 2003 while trade amongst Free Trade Area (FTA) member states rose from $2.1 billion in 2002 to $2.6 billion in 2003.
Preferences, conflicts in the way of free trade pact with EU
24-Sep-2004
The European Union and Thailand are unlikely to forge a free trade agreement (FTA) because the grouping is currently focusing on its 10 new members, business pundits said yesterday.