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Laos cuts import tariffs on over 8,000 ASEAN goods
24-Jan-2019 Xinhua Net
Lao authorities have reduced import tariffs on 8,536 items to zero as part of efforts in establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area, which currently Laos is already flooded with foreign product.
India must keep agriculture out of RCEP
24-Jan-2019 The Tribune
India’s foray into the RCEP treaty is being seen as a risky adventure. More so at a time when agriculture is passing through a terrible agrarian crisis and manufacturing sector continues to limp
Clive Palmer threatens to sue Australian taxpayers for $45b as he re-routes business through NZ
23-Jan-2019 ABC
Clive Palmer has channelled his corporate empire through New Zealand and threatened to use free trade rules to sue Australian taxpayers for $45 billion as part of a dispute with a Chinese mining company.
China and Tunisia sign belt and road agreement
23-Jan-2019 Out-Law
Tunisia seeks a meaningful engagement with BRI, to develop its infrastructure and open up trade with China and Africa in order to expand and diversify its trading partners which is currently dominated by Europe.
Nigeria, Canada move to revive stalled bilateral agreement
23-Jan-2019 Premium Times
A foreign innvestment promotion and protection agreement was signed by Nigeria and Canada in May 2014, which Canada ratified in 2014. But Nigeria decided not to ratify the agreement because it was later found unbalanced.
Trade minister Fox to use Davos trip to discuss replicating EU agreements
23-Jan-2019 Reuters
UK Trade minister hopes to replicate around 40 EU free trade agreements with third countries by the time Britain leaves the bloc but the Financial Times reported that none would be ready by the end of March.
China’s Hong Kong seeks Belt and Road opportunities under FTA with Georgia
23-Jan-2019 Xinhuanet
The government of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) expects more Belt and Road opportunities with the Georgia with help of the FTA.
India raises trade deficit, discusses RCEP with China
23-Jan-2019 Business Standard
India raised with China its concerns over the widening trade deficit and doubts over the Beijing-proposed free trade pact, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
More than 70 US health, consumer and other groups demand elimination of NAFTA 2.0 terms that would lock in high US medicine prices
22-Jan-2019 Public Citizen
In a letter to Congress, the groups demand that the pact’s giveaways to Big Pharma that would keep medicines unaffordable be removed before the pact is sent to Congress.
US agribusiness lobby calls on Trump to target UK food and environment rules in Brexit trade deal
22-Jan-2019 Unearthed
American negotiators urged to push the UK into scrapping regulations on pesticides, genetically-modified crops, and the production of chicken and meat products
Ukraine and Israel sign massive free trade agreement
22-Jan-2019 Jerusalem Post
The expectation is that this deal will bring trade between the two countries to over $1 billion within five years.
Morocco-EU Agreement: Polisario Front to again refer to European court
22-Jan-2019 Sahara Press Service
The Polisario Front has decided to again take the controversial EU-Morocco trade agreement including the Sahrawi territories before the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Belarus faces its first investment claims
22-Jan-2019 Belarus Digest
In late 2017 and 2018, Belarus faced a record-breaking three investment arbitration claims.
New Zealand signs post-Brexit recognition agreement with UK
22-Jan-2019 Sydney Morning Herald
New Zealand has joined Australia in signing up to a deal with Britain aimed at softening the impact of Brexit on trade.
Stop ISDS! Rights for people, rules for corporations
22-Jan-2019 TNI
Join the movement to end corporate privilege, sign the petition!
Maldives’s debt to China creates difficulties for Solih
22-Jan-2019 The Siasat Daily
The Maldives incurred huge debts and the amount owed to China is still being assessed given that the pitfalls of China’s influence over the Maldivian economy.
NAFTA 2.0: Nothing for workers
21-Jan-2019 The Bullet
A failure to seriously resist NAFTA 2.0’s passage into law in Canada, the US and Mexico will amount to capitulation and the acceptance of an agreement that by design, like the original NAFTA, intrinsically serves the interests of Capital.
TPP-11 opens doors to new members
21-Jan-2019 Nikkei Asian Review
Japan eager to expand trade pact even though not all signatories have ratified.
EU sets out plans for ’limited’ US trade deal
21-Jan-2019 France 24
Opposition by activists has already resurfaced with some warning that "there can be no trade-offs on food standards" in the deal.
EU-US FTA: EU draft negotiating mandates (Jan 2019)
21-Jan-2019 European Commission
As released by the European Commission