All articles

Hong Kong gold exchange seeks to create gold trading corridor along Belt and Road

20-Feb-2018 South China Morning Post

The Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society (CGSE), Hong Kong’s gold exchange, is in talks with Singapore, Myanmar and Dubai to establish a gold commodity corridor to promote yuan-denominated products under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, according to its president Haywood Cheung Tak-hay.

Interview: Japan hopes US returns to TPP but overhaul tough - negotiator

20-Feb-2018 Reuters

Japan’s chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Kazuyoshi Umemoto, told Reuters that an agreement among the remaining 11 member nations, set to be signed next month, may have had an impact on the United States.

Glencore, Randgold form group to challenge Congo law changes

19-Feb-2018 Bloomberg

Randgold is considering launching international arbitration if Congolese President gives his assent to the legislation.

S. Korea, five central American countries to discuss cooperation

19-Feb-2018 Yonhap

The officials will likely discuss the impact that the trade agreement could have on their economic and business relations.

Gambia gov’t spends two billion dalasis on arbitration cases!

19-Feb-2018 Freedom Newspaper

How can the Goverment risk billions of dalasis in arbitration costs, once more, with Africa Petroleum? What money will pay for this trial?

Next Nafta talks scheduled to start with auto content rules

19-Feb-2018 Bloomberg

Seventh round set to run Feb. 25 to March 5 in Mexico City. Rules of origin to be one of most discussed issues in talks.

Moving forward in global trade

19-Feb-2018 Bangkok Post

Thailand has entered into negotiations for a number of free trade agreements (FTA). Its first FTA was the Asean Free Trade Area, signed in 1992. The country has six FTAs with India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Peru and Chile.

Moon sees Korea-US FTA as unfair deal: Cheong Wa Dae

19-Feb-2018 Yonhap

The president believes the Korea-US FTA is unfair largely in that the FTA precedes all other laws in South Korea, but in the US, federal law comes before the FTA

Indonesia, EU kick off 4th round of I-EU CEPA talks

19-Feb-2018 Jakarta Post

The major issue for Indonesia is a trade barrier for Indonesian palm oil following the decision by the EU Parliament on Jan. 17 to phase out the use of biodiesel manufactured from palm.

How international investment agreements have made debt restructuring even more difficult and costly

19-Feb-2018 South Centre

Inconsistencies and even contradictions have emerged in dispute settlement decisions, sometimes at the expense of public good, sovereignty and financial and economic stability.

Arbitrator: EMG due $1.03b from Egypt over canceled gas contract

19-Feb-2018 Haaretz

Decision comes six years after supplies were halted, forcing EMG shareholder Ampal into bankruptcy.

A hard-Brexit think tank accidentally published its plans for US-UK ‘shadow trade talks’

19-Feb-2018 Unearthed

The Initiative for Free Trade - which is supported by trade secretary Liam Fox - has now deleted the plans from its website.

Revising China FTA may not make big difference

19-Feb-2018 The Dawn

Pakistan and China have agreed to amend the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with a view to providing Pakistani exports with better access to the Chinese market.

A four-nation alliance may be rising to counter China’s Belt and Road

19-Feb-2018 CNBC

Four countries — the US, Japan, India and Australia — could join forces to set up an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative in an attempt to counter Beijing’s growing influence, the Australian Financial Review reported Sunday.

India, Iran sign 9 agreements during Hassan Rouhani’s visit: MoUs on medicine, trade and connectivity key highlights

19-Feb-2018 FirstPost

Iran president Hassan Rouhani visited India between 15 and 17 February. In his first-ever visit after taking over as President of Iran, Rouhani met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and held "substantive and productive" talks to boost cooperation in areas of defence and security, trade and investment, and energy, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Indigenous and human rights defenders visiting the EU call for stronger rights protections in agro-commodity business and policies for deforestation-free trade and investment

16-Feb-2018 Forest Peoples Programme

Citing outcomes from a major trade and human rights forum backed by findings from comprehensive new report, delegation demands political action during visits to Amsterdam, Hague, Brussels and London.

Mnuchin says Washington studying possible return to TPP through renegotiation

16-Feb-2018 Japan Times

President Donald Trump’s administration is actively discussing the possibility of rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal on condition that the United States renegotiate it to secure better terms.

PNG to sign free trade agreement

16-Feb-2018 Post Courrier

Papua New Guinea will sign the Melanesian Spearhead Group free trade agreement as soon as the leaders resolve some of the outstanding domestic trade-related issues.