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Civil society groups sound alarm over COVID-19 claims in ’corporate courts’
5-Jul-2020 Civil society groups sound alarm over COVID-19 claims in ’corporate courts’
Countries could be facing a wave of cases from transnational corporations suing governments over actions taken to respond to the Covid pandemic using a system known as investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS. Some 630 organisations from across the world, representing hundreds of millions of people, are calling on governments in an open letter to urgently take action to shut down this threat.
Swiss ‘Stop Palm Oil’ plea ready for referendum consideration
3-Jul-2020 Swiss Info
Activists in Switzerland are calling for a ‘Stop Palm Oil’ referendum opposing the Swiss free trade agreement (FTA) with Indonesia. They submitted thousands of signed petitions to the Federal Chancellery in Bern on Monday.
Niue ratifies regional PACER Plus trade agreement
3-Jul-2020 RNZ
Niue has ratified the regional trade agreement PACER Plus, pushing it closer to implementation.
Brexit: Serious differences over trade deal, say UK and EU
3-Jul-2020 BBC
The UK and EU have said serious differences remain over a post-Brexit trade deal, following the latest negotiations in Brussels.
EU-Mercosur deal will have devastating impact on climate, NGOs warn
3-Jul-2020 Euractiv
While the agreement still has to be approved by the European Parliament and Council, farmers and environmental NGOs remain disappointed.
Countries serious about climate change should leave the Energy Charter Treaty, says former ECT official
3-Jul-2020 bilaterals.org
Interview with Yamina Saheb, former head of unit in the Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat .
Japan and Britain aim for trade deal by end-July
3-Jul-2020 Auto Economic Times
Japan and Britain aim to clinch a trade deal by the end of July and Tokyo wants to secure at least the same automobile tariffs as it has in its existing European Union trade pact,
Prairie Mining secures litigation funding to sue Poland
2-Jul-2020 ShareCast
The claims had arisen out of certain measures taken by Poland, allegedly in breach of the Energy Charter Treaty and the Australia-Poland Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Mercosur leaders look to close EU deal despite Macron’s resistance
2-Jul-2020 Reuters
Mercosur ministers reported progress on the final text of a trade agreement with the European Union on the eve of a summit meeting overshadowed by French President’s latest comments against the deal.
How CPEC left behind the people of Gwadar
2-Jul-2020 The Diplomat
The locals of Gwadar have little to show from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor – except for broken promises.
Thailand prepares to sign RCEP pact minus India
2-Jul-2020 The Star
Fifteen Asia-Pacific countries will sign the RCEP trade pact by the end of 2020 but India will not be among them.
New NAFTA trade deal deepens oil and gas dependency during climate crisis
1-Jul-2020 Desmog
The deal provides loopholes for oil, gas, and mining companies to operate across borders, and paves the way for US companies to export even more fracked natural gas across the border into Mexico.
Putting sombreros on par with Champagne
1-Jul-2020 Politico
The European Union mulls protecting handicrafts in the same way as gourmet food amid a push from Latin American countries.
EU-Vietnam free trade deal to take effect 1 August
1-Jul-2020 Seafood Source
The free trade agreement between the European Union and Vietnam, known as EVFTA, will come into force on 1 August, according to a Vietnamese government statement on 18 June.
Africa free-trade vision clouded by virus and pace of talks
1-Jul-2020 Yahoo
A historic deal to smash down tariff barriers within Africa is being braked by the coronavirus pandemic and a thicket of negotiating problems.
Switzerland — UK to negotiate a bilateral financial services agreement
1-Jul-2020 MENAFN
Cross-border financial services trade between the UK and Switzerland is set to become easier, thanks to a commitment signed June 30.
New North American trade deal launches under growing threat of disputes
1-Jul-2020 Reuters
The revamped trade pact between the United States, Canada and Mexico taking effect on Wednesday was meant to create a kind of fortress North America, boosting the region’s competitiveness - but cracks are already starting to show in the foundation.
Timeline: The long bumpy road from NAFTA to USMCA
1-Jul-2020 Reuters
After an long, arduous road the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement replaced its predecessor, the quarter-century-old North American Free Trade Agreement. Following are key moments in the history of the deal since 1990.
Morocco’s new model BIT: Innovative features and policy considerations
1-Jul-2020 IISD
In the face of the increasing number of claims brought by investors against host states on the basis of BITs and the exorbitant amounts awarded to investors, Morocco has undertaken a review of its model BIT using a flexible and rational approach.
China-Taiwan trade pact fails to deliver 10 years on
30-Jun-2020 Nikkei Asian Review
A decade on from the signing of what amounts to a free trade agreement between Taiwan and China, the economic integration it was meant to accelerate remains a long way off.