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Are the sustainability criteria in the Swiss trade deal with Indonesia toothless?
23-Feb-2021 Swiss Info
A free trade agreement with Indonesia has sparked backlash and Switzerland’s first national referendum on palm oil imports. On the eve of the vote to take place March 7, SWI swissinfo.ch fact checks claims on sustainability.
Two steps forward, one step back for Vietnam’s labor rights
22-Feb-2021 DW
Several EU statements still refer to EVFTA as helping to create "trade unions" in Vietnam, but WROs are different in many ways. They are only allowed to collectively bargain and organize strikes at the individual enterprise level, meaning they are restricted to individual companies.
EU farmers call for coherence amid Mercosur deal and climate action
22-Feb-2021 AgriLand
An EU-Mercosur deal would be potentially detrimental to European farmers’ stability, EU farm organisation CEJA has warned.
CPTPP: More freedom for capitalists, more exploitation for workers
22-Feb-2021 Counter Fire
Behind the rhetoric of ‘liberalisation’, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is nothing more than vehicle for exploitation and global inequality.
Biden faces South African push to extend trade concessions
22-Feb-2021 Bloomberg
South Africa’s preferential market access to the U.S. is under review, however, the country is apprehensive about striking a new trade deal with the U.S. and would rather maintain existing relations with the world’s largest economy.
Agreement for the promotion, protection and guarantee of investment among member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (Jun 1981)
19-Feb-2021 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Brazil and Britain sign "Poison Memorandum"
19-Feb-2021 Brasil Wire
Brazil and the United Kingdom created a joint committee to facilitate the relationship in agribusiness.
Commission wants to ‘explore options’ for India trade, investment
19-Feb-2021 Euractiv
The European Commission said that it wants to “explore options” for expanding the EU’s trade and investment with India.
India to contest Cairn Energy arbitration award, lawsuits in international court
19-Feb-2021 Mint
The move signals the government’s resolve to defend its sovereign rights in taxation. The government has kept open possibility of settling the dispute within existing Indian laws.
Negotiations on the UK’s future trading relationship with New Zealand: Update
18-Feb-2021 UK Government
The third round of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with New Zealand took place between 25th January and 9th February.
Canada, Indonesia trade talks begin for comprehensive economic partnership agreement
18-Feb-2021 ASEAN Briefing
Bilateral trade between Canada and Indonesia remains small — amounting to just over US$3.7 billion in 2019.
EU to be tougher in trade talks, include climate change goals in deals
18-Feb-2021 Yahoo
The European Union will become more assertive in trade talks and push for its international partners to include combating climate change in future deals, its trade commissioner said.
Here’s why China’s trade deal with Mauritius matters
18-Feb-2021 How we made it in Africa
Mauritius already plays an important role as an investment entrepôt for the subcontinent. This likely makes Sino-Mauritian ties even more important for the rest of the continent to watch.
India calls for ’fresh’ trade talks with US
18-Feb-2021 Hindustan Times
India has called for a “fresh package” for trade talks with the United States and the new Biden administration that will go beyond, this time, the “nitpicking” and the constant shifting of goalposts that had bogged down the last round of discussions with the Trump administration.
Join the movement and sign the petition to #EndFossilProtection
17-Feb-2021 bilaterals.org
A petition to ensure the Energy Charter Treaty will no longer be used against EU climate and energy policies is now available for supporters on the European Parliament website.
Ukraine expects to start talks on free trade with Japan soon – ambassador
17-Feb-2021 Ukrinform
Ukraine looks forward to starting negotiations with Japan on a free trade agreement and updating the convention on the avoidance of double taxation.
Cairn Energy files case in US to push India to pay $1.2 billion award
17-Feb-2021 Mint
Cairn Energy has filed a case in a US district court to enforce a $1.2 billion arbitration award it won in a tax dispute against India, a court document showed, ratcheting up pressure on the government to pay its dues.
Commemoration of 10th anniversary of the first judgment declaring Texaco-Chevron guilty for its crime in the Ecuadorian Amazon
17-Feb-2021 UDAPT
Ten years have passed since the judgment of Lago Agrio. Until today the oil company refuses to comply with the judgement; and, in turn, has chosen to activate a whole system that guarantees corporate impunity.
Cabinet approves trade pact between India and Mauritius
17-Feb-2021 The Hindu
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved signing of a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, a kind of a free trade pact, between India and Mauritius which is aimed at liberalising norms to boost two-way commerce.
Chinese company claims US$55m from Ghana for cancellation of traffic management contract
17-Feb-2021 Ghana Web
A Chinese-based construction company, Beijing Everyway Traffic and Lighting Tech Co Ltd is claiming USD55 million from Ghana for cancelling a contract it awarded it to develop an intelligent traffic management system for the country.