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UK faces ‘cliff edge’ over EU trade pacts, warn MPs
13-Mar-2018 Euractiv
Rolling over EU trade agreements with third countries after Brexit must be treated as “an urgent priority” if the UK is to avoid a trade ‘cliff edge’, UK MPs have warned.
New centre opened in Thailand as part of China’s Digital Belt and Road program
13-Mar-2018 Open Govt Asia
DBAR ICoE-Bangkok is one of eight such centres around the world. It will leverage Earth observation and big Earth data from satellites and other sources to support decision-makers in the implementation of projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative and managing risks associated with climate change.
India, EU to decide fate of trade agreement next month
13-Mar-2018 The Economic Times
India and the European Union will discuss next month resumption of the much-delayed Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) that hasn’t progressed much over the past five years.
South Korea considers joining revamped Pacific trade deal CPTPP
13-Mar-2018 The Straits Times
South Korea needs to move faster to join a Pacific trade deal signed by 11 regional nations last week without the presence of the United States says experts.
RCEP talks advance as members set sights on 2018 conclusion
13-Mar-2018 Business Mirror
In a speech at the Malaysia Business Forum, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez revealed that the RCEP will have substantial documents ready before the end of Singapore’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. This was agreed upon by trade ministers of RCEP negotiating countries in their recent meeting in Singapore.
Pakistan, Iran agree to conclude FTA on priority
13-Mar-2018 Samaa TV
Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and his Iranian counterpart Dr. Javad Zarif on Monday agreed to continue engagement for enhancing economic cooperation including bilateral trade, investments, and commercial interaction to promote shared prosperity.
Mercosur, Canada begin free-trade talks
12-Mar-2018 Xinhua
The foreign ministers slated the first round of talks for the Mercosur-Canada FTA from March 20 to 23 in Ottawa, Canada.
Fears tobacco giants will use TPP to sue Australia over plain packaging as secrecy shrouds legal costs in Philip Morris case
12-Mar-2018 South China Morning Post
Political party says the newly signed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, which contains similar clauses to the Hong Kong deal, could prompt more costly challenges in The Hague
UK defies EU over Indonesian palm oil trade, leaked papers show
12-Mar-2018 The Guardian
UK is pushing for a deal that would boost imports linked to deforestation despite EU moves to ban unsustainable palm oil, diplomatic papers reveal.
Don’t sign CFTA, Labour; ex-NACCIMMA boss, others beg Buhari
12-Mar-2018 Vanguard
Organised labour pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the African Continental Free Trade Agreement CFTA.
African trade ministers approve Free Trade Area in Kigali summit
12-Mar-2018 The Star
Africa Ministers of Trade have approved an agreement to give local traders access to the continental trade market.
Sri Lanka president on China’s Belt and Road plan
12-Mar-2018 NHK World
Sri Lanka’s president has warned that China’s Belt and Road economic initiative should not be allowed to pose a threat to the international community.
Minister assesses trade motives of China, US
12-Mar-2018 China Daily
China’s top commerce official said on Sunday that it has no intention to start a trade war with the United States and will not initiate one, but the country can cope with any challenge and will defend its national interests.
South Korea, Israel to hold 6th round of FTA talks
12-Mar-2018 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and Israel are set to hold a sixth round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks aimed at boosting bilateral economic exchanges and investment, the government said today.
Mustapa: After CPTPP, Malaysia’s focus now on RCEP
12-Mar-2018 The Malaysian Reserve
Following the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) last week, Malaysia is now shifting its focus to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
EU, ASEAN ministers call for greater efforts to advance trade talks
12-Mar-2018 International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
Officials from the EU and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) pledged on Friday 2 March to speed up their efforts to negotiate free trade agreements, both at the bilateral level and eventually at the region-to-region level, following a meeting in Singapore.
Turkey’s economy minister seeks Japan trade pact this year
9-Mar-2018 Nikkei
Japan-EU deal adds urgency; Ankara plans ’countermeasures’ against US tariffs
Canada chasing trade deal with South American block after signing new TPP
9-Mar-2018 Today Ville
A spokesman for International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says the negotiations could begin in earnest in the next 10 days.
TPP - Trans-Pacific Partnership final text (2015, updated Nov 2017, updated Mar 2018)
9-Mar-2018 New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade
S. Korea will negotiate US steel tariffs during FTA talks: minister
9-Mar-2018 Yonhap
South Korea will negotiate with the United States over proposed tariffs on imported steel in upcoming negotiations to amend the bilateral free trade agreement to help minimize its impact on the Korean steel industry.