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China set to strengthen economic ties with Japan, South Korea amid trade row with United States
8-May-2018 South China Morning Post
Premier Li Keqiang says three nations should speed up free-trade talks, as Beijing also seeks to maintain influence on Korean peninsula.
China hopes for breakthrough in RCEP negotiations: premier
8-May-2018 Xinhua Net
China hopes for substantive breakthroughs made in negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here on Monday.
EU-Japan FTA text (Dec 2017, updated Apr 2018)
8-May-2018 European Commission
As released by the European Commission
EU-Singapore trade and investment agreements: Final text (Apr 2018)
8-May-2018 European Commission
Authentic texts as of April 2018
EU-Mexico FTA: Agreement in principle text (Apr 2018)
8-May-2018 European Commission
As published by the European Commission
Telefonica Mexico withdraws EUR 850 mln arbitration request - report
7-May-2018 Telecompaper
Telefonica Mexico has withdrawn its arbitration claim against the Mexican government in which it had requested compensation amounting to around EUR 850 million after reaching an agreement with the country.
NAFTA talks enter critical week with US still pushing hard line
7-May-2018 Reuters
Talks to update the NAFTA trade deal enter a make-or-break week, as ministers from Canada, the United States and Mexico seek to resolve an impasse in key areas before elections in Mexico and the United States complicate the process.
Sri Lanka Thailand to begin talks on FTA from May
7-May-2018 Economic Next
Sri Lanka and Thailand will begin talks on setting broad parameters for a free trade deal from May 2018, officials said.
Asean gets tough on the US over trade, but tiptoes around South China Sea build-up
7-May-2018 South China Morning Post
With Singapore as chair of the regional bloc this year, China has an advantage as the focus shifts from geopolitics to trade and investment.
EU- Japan EPA presented to the European Council, ratification begins
7-May-2018 Lexology
On 18 April 2018 the European Commission (the “Commission“) presented the finalised text of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (“EPA“) to the European Council and thereby took the first step in the EPA’s ratification process at the EU level.
The EU caught in the trap of Nigeria’s refusal to sign the West Africa Economic Partnership Agreement and the Continental Free Trade Area
7-May-2018 SOL
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria very explicitly stated to the new Ambassador of the European Union that Nigeria was determined not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement for West Africa.
Ratifying CETA after ’Achmea scandal’ is anti-European
6-May-2018 EU Observer
Keeping the European project alive requires EU members to abide by the principle of loyalty to European institutions.
EU open to ’limited’ US trade deal: Top official
6-May-2018 Indian Express
Malmstrom spoke just days after Washington granted Europe and other allies a one-month delay from imposing controversial tariffs on steel and aluminium, averting a trade war for now.
Swiss farmers dig in against South American trade deal
4-May-2018 Swiss Info
The Swiss Farmers’ Union, on the other hand, has made its position very clear: it is against a free-trade deal.
ASEAN leaders call for boosting connectivity, resolving RCEP trade talks "expeditiously"
4-May-2018 International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
Leaders of the ASEAN gathered in Singapore on Saturday 28 April to review the bloc’s goals going forward, with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong calling for greater regional collaboration and integration as a way to bolster against external pressures, including trade tensions among major economies such as the US and China.
RCEP trade round: Singapore host privileges business over people’s rights
4-May-2018
Trade officials from 16 countries that are negotiating RCEP are meeting in Singapore this week. But Singapore government has gone backwards excluding trade unions, farmers and civil society organisations who will be adversely affected by RCEP that has gain a voice in previous rounds, although not nearly enough.
International Trade Committee launches probe into UK investment policy as Brexit approaches
3-May-2018 IBS Intelligence
The International Trade Committee launches an inquiry concerning the UK’s investment policy, which will examine the Government’s performance in promoting and facilitating inward and outward investment and its approach, upon UK exit from the EU, to negotiating agreements that liberalise and protect foreign investment.
Canada loses bid to overturn NAFTA ruling on rebuffed N.S. quarry
3-May-2018 CBC
New Jersey company behind quarry proposal in Digby Neck claims damages of $443M US in lost profits.
Brexit: Are countries really ’queuing up for trade deals’ with Britain?
3-May-2018 The Independent
Brexiteers have claimed that other countries are “queuing up” to strike trade agreements with Britain after it leaves the bloc. In reality, though, the situation is more complicated.
France supports Australia-EU FTA: Macron
2-May-2018 Xinhua
French President Emmanuel Macron has thrown his support behind Australia’s push for a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.