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Tech liability shield has no place in trade deals, groups say
27-May-2021 Bloomberg
The organizations said including a legal shield for tech companies in trade deals “reflects a broad effort by the big tech platforms to use ‘trade negotiations’ to limit domestic policy options.”
US-China trade war: top negotiators hold ‘candid and constructive’ talks, first of Joe Biden presidency
27-May-2021 South China Morning Post
USTR said the phase one trade deal was important but only one part of a challenging and complex relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan to sign preferential trade agreement this year
27-May-2021 Xinhua
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan will sign an agreement on preferential trade by the end of the year.
British government aims for £5bn Gulf trade deal
27-May-2021 The National
UK officials are working on a new trade deal with the six members of the GCC, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
FTA with Malaysia back on the table
27-May-2021 The Daily Star
Commerce minister says Bangladesh government will sign the deal with Malaysia should not be just for the duty free benefits on export but also for securing massive investments, according to economists.
US amping up dispute with Canada over allowed exports of American dairy products
26-May-2021 CBC
American producers say Canada is denying them fair access to the Canadian market.
Truss’s naivety on trade with Australia could leave the UK exposed
25-May-2021 The Guardian
If the UK agrees to Australia’s demands for no tariffs on agriculture, it sets a dangerous precedent for other, bigger deals
Ford writes to EU ministers over Mexico trade deal
25-May-2021 Just Auto
Ford Europe chief has written an open letter to the trade ministers of a number of EU states to express concerns over trade arrangements between Europe and other parts of the world
Brexit exclusive: UK-Norway trade deal close to collapsing as Christian-Democrats block pact to protect farmers from British beef and cheese
25-May-2021 City AM
A comprehensive free trade deal between the UK and Norway is at risk of collapsing as the Christian Democrat party fears such a pact would hit farmers in Scandinavia’s richest country too hard.
UK starts prep for India trade deal in latest Post-Brexit push
25-May-2021 Bloomberg
The UK began formal preparation for a free-trade agreement with India, a post-Brexit target for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he seeks to prove the benefit of leaving the European Union.
Investment treaties and FDI
24-May-2021 The Express Tribune
Not only are the BITs not necessary for attracting FDI, they have potential costs as well. A case in point is Pakistan, which is a signatory to 52 BITs, but has a rather poor record of attracting FDI.
TRIPS Waiver: A BIT of a challenge for India
24-May-2021 The Wire
Potential BIT claims by foreign pharmaceutical companies against India for the revocation, suspension or non-enforcement of IPRs could undermine the benefits of a potential TRIPS waiver.
Services, investment key in UK trade pact
21-May-2021 Mandurah Mail
Services and investment are "huge" for Australia’s imminent trade pact with the United Kingdom, Trade Minister Dan Tehan said.
US no longer wants to buy Greenland, Secretary of State confirms
21-May-2021 The Local
The US wants to find ways to strengthen the commercial relationship with Greenland while the new Greenlandic local government floated the idea of a free trade agreement.
China’s embrace of sanctions costs it an investment deal with EU
21-May-2021 Bloomberg
European lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a resolution to withhold ratification of the investment deal with China, so long as its “baseless and arbitrary” penalties were in place.
South Korea becomes first Asian country to sign free trade agreement with Israel
21-May-2021 i24 News
Israel and South Korea signed a free trade agreement (FTA) earlier this week, which is expected to increase trade between the countries to more than $3 billion.
Pakistan, Thailand to work for free trade agreement
20-May-2021 Daily Times
Delegations from both countries met virtually at the second round of Pakistan-Thailand bilateral political consultations.
Joint India-Bangladesh feasibility study on CEPA gains momentum
20-May-2021 UNB
The first stakeholder consultation meeting of the joint study on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Bangladesh and India was held.
New Zealand is overdue for an open and honest debate about 21st-century trade relations
19-May-2021 The Conversation
The CPTPP risks becoming another merry-go-round in the largely secretive circus of free trade agreements. Countries seem willing to climb on board without prior public scrutiny or any compelling rationale.
US, Canada, Mexico hold ’robust’ trade deal talks, downplay differences
19-May-2021 Reuters
Trade ministers held "robust" talks on the new North American trade deal and pledged to fully enforce its higher standards, while downplaying differences over a range of other irritants.