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New push for Asia-Pacific megadeal as trade war eases
4-Mar-2019 Nikkei Asian Review
Ministers from Asia’s leading economies renew their pursuit of a sweeping regional trade deal as an easing of tensions between the U.S. and China gives momentum to multilateral negotiations.
Indonesia FTA: Labor should reject harmful clauses, says AFTINET
4-Mar-2019 AFTINET
The Indonesia FTA has been signed without any public scrutiny of the text and without any independent assessment of its overall costs and benefits.
Concern over food safety as US seeks greater access to UK markets
1-Mar-2019 The Guardian
US sets out aims for post-Brexit trade deal amid fears about chicken and beef standards.
US-UK FTA: Summary of specific negotiating objectives (US, Feb 2019)
1-Mar-2019 Office of the US Trade Representative
As released by the Office of the US Trade Representative
Cambodia to host RCEP ministerial meeting
1-Mar-2019 Khmer Times
Cambodia will host the Seventh Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Intersessional Ministerial Meeting to discuss negotiations over issues of market access for goods, services, and investment and provide guidance to negotiators.
Shell put Nigeria under pressure with ISDS process to obtain oil field OPL 245
1-Mar-2019 SOMO
Shell used the investment agreement between the Netherlands and Nigeria to obtain a lucrative oil field at remarkably good conditions.
ACP-EU negotiations: PNG Minister meets with Commissioner
1-Mar-2019 Loop
PNG to call on EU for a review of the current interim Economic Partnership Agreement. PNG is ready to look into new investments, new industry developments, new commercial services, infrastructure for trade and increase volume of trade in goods.
Robert Lighthizer says trade talks with Japan likely to start in March
1-Mar-2019 Japan Times
The United States and Japan will likely launch trade talks in March, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, suggesting the dialogue would begin earlier than had been anticipated.
Australia to sign free trade agreement with Indonesia, ending months of uncertainty
1-Mar-2019 ABC
Australian industry leaders laud the deal that hit a wall in October over when Australian Prime Minister considered moving the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Angola: Prime Minister of São - Tomé wants strategic partnership
28-Feb-2019 All Africa
The Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe wants a new era of cooperation with Angola, building on the investment protection agreement that was signed in 1995.
Tanzania reviewing stance on EPA
28-Feb-2019 The East African
Tanzania is in talks with EU to resolve some technicalities and will only sign the agreement after all its issues have been ironed out.
Samoa calls for a post Cotonou agreement to broaden Pacific – EU relations
28-Feb-2019 Talamua
The African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) – European Union (EU) high level political dialogue on the post- Cotonou agreement is underway at the Taumeasina Island resort, Samoa.
Philippine civil society letter on RCEP & plant variety protection
27-Feb-2019
The undersigned signatories are writing to strongly stress that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations must not place any obligation on the Philippines or any other developing country to join or implement UPOV systems
Malaysian civil society & farmer groups’ memorandum on RCEP & plant variety protection
27-Feb-2019
RCEP negotiations must not include obligation to join or implement UPOV systems and in anyway undermine farmers’ rights
French firm Suez explores selling off debt claim against Argentina
27-Feb-2019 Buenos Aires Times
French waste and water group Suez SA has contacted "specialised funds" about possibly selling its debt claims to Argentina, the group announced.
Chevron Vs Ecuador: international arbitration & impunity (ISDS case)
27-Feb-2019 Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity
In February of 2011 the Ecuadorian Courts delivered an historic verdict, sentencing the Big Oil Corporation Chevron to pay US$9,500 million dollars for its contamination of the Ecuadorian Amazon (1964-1992). However, Chevron hit back via the Investor-State Dispute Settlement system and sued Ecuador.
India seeks better trade, connectivity with ASEAN
27-Feb-2019 The ASEAN Post
India is hoping that better connectivity will help boost trade ties with ASEAN and decrease its trade deficit with the 10-member bloc
Japan, US likely to launch trade talks in April or May
26-Feb-2019 The Mainichi
Japan and the United States will likely launch trade talks in April or May, later than initially planned, as Washington needs to focus first on ongoing negotiations with Beijing to settle a tariff war.
Kyrgyzstan ratifies EAEU-China agreement on trade, economic cooperation
26-Feb-2019 AKI Press
Kyrgyzstan President has ratified the trade-economic cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union member states from one side and China from the other.
New NAFTA faces ratification deadlock
26-Feb-2019 Rabble
Faced with real 21st century problems — climate change and global inequality exacerbated by globalization and trade agreements — we cannot accept this unambitious agreement which fails to live up to major existential challenges.