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Trade deals weaponised to enforce strict seed patents, warns new report
17-Oct-2025 Down to Earth
Countries in the global South being pressured through trade agreements to adopt restrictive UPOV seed laws, threatening farmers’ rights and food sovereignty.
First comprehensive review of USMCA labor cases shows tool delivered wins, but structural gaps threaten long-term success
17-Oct-2025 Rethink Trade
Recently initiated six-year USMCA review must include improvements to the USMCA rapid response labor mechanism for intended benefits to materialize
Not a border crisis, but a “free trade” crisis
17-Oct-2025 Public Citizen
A new report unpacks how decades of corporate-led trade agreements have displaced millions of people, stripping them of their livelihoods and forcing them to migrate to survive.
EU seeks to conclude FTA talks with Philippines before GSP+ expires
17-Oct-2025 Manila Bulletin
The European Union aims to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines by the end of 2027, ahead of the expiration of the current GSP+ arrangement that grants the Philippines duty-free access to the EU market for over 6,200 products.
South Africa and USA close to making deal
17-Oct-2025 Business Tech
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau said a trade deal with the US was very close, without providing details.
Türkiye, UK complete 2nd round of talks on upgrading FTA
16-Oct-2025 Daily Sabah
Türkiye and the UK are set to hold a third round of negotiations after the second in September to reach a "next-generation" and comprehensive free trade agreement to replace the existing one since 2021.
Will AfCFTA liberalisation cushion african countries against the end of AGOA?
16-Oct-2025 Tralac
This blog attempts to shed light on the question of whether the liberalisation of merchandise trade on the African continent – which is the stated goal of the AfCFTA – will help cushion the trade impacts of US tariffs and the end of preferences under AGOA.
COMESA and Kenya launch electronic certificate of origin to drive digital trade integration
16-Oct-2025 Tech Africa News
The new digital platform streamlines exporter registration and the issuance of Certificates of Origin — documents that are vital for traders seeking preferential access under COMESA, the East African Community (EAC), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Afreximbank, AfCFTA Secretariat roll out digital trade portal in Rwanda
16-Oct-2025 The New Times
The Afreximbank and the AfCFTA Secretariat have joined forces to roll out the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a digital trade platform aiming to help Rwandan businesses identify partners, access financing, complete cross-border payments, and expand into new markets.
Revised EU-Morocco trade agreement: ECVC denounces this agreement which goes against the CJEU ruling and will defend the rights of European and Moroccan peasants in solidarity with the Saharawi people
16-Oct-2025 ECVC
ECVC denounces the steps taken by the European Commission and Morocco regarding the EU-Morrocco trade agreement, as they try at all costs to save the interests of a minority of transnational corporations and foreign investors at the expense of the Saharawi people and Moroccan and European peasants.
Thai trade negotiators accelerate crucial FTA talks with the EU
15-Oct-2025 The Nation Thailand
The 7th round of Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in Brussels marked significant progress, with breakthroughs in capital movement, financial services, and market access. Key issues like trade remedies, State-Owned Enterprises, and the automotive annex are nearing resolution, while talks intensify on outstanding challenges—market opening levels, agricultural standards, intellectual property, and digital trade.
ICA-CEPA signed, Indonesia and Canada boost trade relations
15-Oct-2025 ANTARA News
The Indonesia–Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA) was signed on Wednesday, with President Prabowo Subianto and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney witnessing the signing at Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
Bangladesh-Malaysia FTA seen as gateway to ASEAN exports
15-Oct-2025 JagoNews24
The Bangladeshi government has begun preparing for FTA negotiations, with a draft framework ready and formal talks expected to start in mid-2025. They highlight Malaysia’s role as a gateway to ASEAN’s 660 million people.
French farmers and NGOs protest European Union’s trade deal with Mercosur bloc
15-Oct-2025 AP
These protests come a week after the EU Commission unveiled detailed proposals to protect farmers from being undercut by imports from South America as it seeks to build support for this deal.
Thailand, US trade talks set for completion by year’s end, Commerce Minister says
15-Oct-2025 The Diplomat
Thailand expects to finalize its trade deal with the United States by the end of the year, the country’s commerce minister said yesterday, while issuing a warning about the uncertain trajectory of the Thai economy.
Cambodia ‘dodged a bullet’ by securing 19% tariff deal with US
15-Oct-2025 Khmer Times
Cambodia dodged a bullet by successfully negotiating a tariff deal with the US, which brought down the rates from 36 percent to 19 percent.
Georgia, Serbia move toward signing free trade agreement
15-Oct-2025 Trend
The parties discussed priority areas of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Special emphasis was placed on the readiness of both Georgia and Serbia to sign a Free Trade Agreement and the importance of the steps already taken in this direction.
Pakistan, Vietnam begin trade pact talks
15-Oct-2025 The Express Tribune
Pakistan and Vietnam have officially launched negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement to enhance bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
Trump says he’ll discuss trade deal with Milei, defends Argentina lifeline
15-Oct-2025 Buenos Aires Times
US President Donald Trump says he will discuss a potential free-trade agreement with Argentina during White House talks with President Javier Milei.
Ethiopia Officially Launches First Trade Under African Free Trade Area
14-Oct-2025 Addis Insight
Ethiopia marked a historic milestone today with the official launch of its first trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a move expected to boost the country’s regional trade integration and export potential