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IFC: AfCFTA is becoming a lot of talk — we need to fix regulations
19-Apr-2023 The Cable
Makthar Diop, the managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), says the Africa Free Trade Continental Agreement (AfCFTA) is becoming a lot of talk, and may not become a reality if laws and regulations are not fixed.
Corporations dominate trade advisory panels
19-Apr-2023 The American Prospect
Trade advisers get special access to agreements and can comment on them before they are made public. More than 4 out of 5 advisers represent corporations.
International “digital trade” agreements: the next frontier
19-Apr-2023 AI Now
International trade agreements, typically negotiated in secret and without public deliberation, could prematurely deter or undercut ongoing efforts to regulate the tech industry.
International preemption by “trade” agreement: Big Tech’s ploy to undermine privacy, AI accountability, and anti-monopoly policies
19-Apr-2023 Rethink Trade
The bottom-line is that the USMCA and related TPP digital rules that represent the agenda promoted by Big Tech interests must not become the model or starting text for future agreements.
Big Tech lobbyists explain how they took over Washington
19-Apr-2023 The American Prospect
An amazing research paper unearths how the tech industry invented the concept of digital trade and sold it to government officials.
Britain inks trade deal with Oklahoma, hails architects’ licensing pact
19-Apr-2023 Reuters
British trade minister Nigel Huddleston signed a trade deal with the US state of Oklahoma in Washington.
India-Israel FTA should be as wide as possible: Israeli Minister
19-Apr-2023 The Indian Express
The minister said he will hold discussions with the Indian side regarding an FTA between the two countries, negotiations for which have been going on for over a decade.
Public services in the crosshairs
19-Apr-2023 TNI
The impacts of investment protection regimes on the public services sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Let’s speed up Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations: Jokowi
19-Apr-2023 Jakarta Globe
Indonesia once again called for the conclusion of the lengthy negotiations on its trade pact with the European Union (EU). President Joko Widodo raised the subject of the long-awaited Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) when receiving a visit from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
The garment dilemma in Indonesia-Bangladesh trade talks
19-Apr-2023 The Diplomat
Jakarta is committed to promoting free trade through PTA, but it is also keen to protect some domestic industries, such as garment manufacturing, from low-cost import competition due to their importance to the economy.
Philippines eyes free trade deal with US
19-Apr-2023 ABS CBN News
The Philippines is eyeing a free trade deal with the United States while waiting for the renewal of its eligibility to the US GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) program which expired in 2020, a trade official said.
India, Russia in talks for FTA, BIPA to deepen commercial ties: Russian Deputy PM Manturov
18-Apr-2023 The Hindu BusinessLine
India and Russia are discussing a free trade agreement and a bilateral investment protection agreement.
Cariforum and UK sign economic partnership agreement
18-Apr-2023 Guyana Government
Ambassador David Hales last Friday signed the CARIFORUM-United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Government of Guyana.
Air Tanzania aircraft may be seized over $100 million mining compensation claim
18-Apr-2023 Simple Flying
Australian-based exploration company Indiana Resources has threatened to attach one of Air Tanzania’s aircraft to force the Tanzanian government to pay nearly $100 million as compensation for a failed nickel project.
Smallholder farmers group wants US-Kenya trade deal stopped
18-Apr-2023 Capital Business
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 14 – The Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum (KESSFF) is asking the Kenyan government to halt ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, saying the deal favors America and that they have not been involved.
India, Russia discuss FTA to guarantee investment, says Russian deputy PM
17-Apr-2023 Live Mint
India and Russia are discussing a free trade agreement to guarantee investment between the two countries. The New Delhi-Moscow relations have withstood the West’s pressures, and bilateral trade has been the biggest benefactor as well as a catalyst in this transformation.
Germany to support critical minerals-rich countries build processing capacity
17-Apr-2023 Yahoo
Germany wants to help countries that are rich in critical minerals such as Chile, Indonesia and Namibia to build their own processing infrastructure to cut dependency on China.
Taiwan, Canada to launch FIPA investment agreement talks
17-Apr-2023 Taiwan News
Taiwan and Canada are likely to start the first round of talks about a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) in Taiwan within two weeks.
India, Mexico exploring free trade agreement: Envoy
17-Apr-2023 Live Mint
India and Mexico have launched studies to explore the potential for a free-trade agreement (FTA), given India’s preoccupation with ongoing FTA negotiations with the UK, Australia and other partners.
India-Canada conclude 7th round of talks on Early Progress Trade Agreement
17-Apr-2023 Hindustan Times
Indian and Canadian negotiators have concluded their seventh rounds of discussions towards securing an Early Progress Trade Agreement or EPTA between the two countries.