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It’s crunch week (again) for Nafta with US and Canada at odds
17-Sep-2018 Bloomberg
Deal likely needed Thursday for Sept. 30 trilateral deadline. Dispute panels, culture and dairy said to be sticking points.
Time for EU to stop being bystander in Western Sahara
17-Sep-2018 EU Observer
The EU has sadly afforded preferential treatment to Morocco’s illegal occupation of Western Sahara including by knowingly excluding from the trade talks the thousands of Saharawis forced to live in exile in refugee camps as a result of the occupation.
India in a catch-22 situation on free trade pact with the US
17-Sep-2018 BusinessLine
While many officials are against a pact as they believe it will hurt domestic industry and agriculture, there is a small but influential group in the government that favours an FTA.
New boots-on-the-ground trade association to boost ties between Canada, EU
14-Sep-2018 Financial Post
The Canada EU Trade Investment Association is a cross-sector industry group out to promote dealmaking.
Mexico prepared to do a trade deal without Canada, official tweets
14-Sep-2018 iPolitics
Mexico is prepared to move ahead with an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement that does not include Canada if Ottawa and Washington cannot resolve their differences.
Japan’s Motegi, USTR Lighthizer likely to hold trade talks on September 21: source
13-Sep-2018 Reuters
Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will likely hold a second round of trade talks.
More than 300 Republican and Democratic state legislators from all 50 states urge end of investor-state dispute settlement system in NAFTA
13-Sep-2018 Public Citizen
In letter to US Trade Representative, lawmakers say ISDS undermines state sovereignty and lawmaking.
RCEP deal can be disastrous for India
13-Sep-2018 Business Line
India’s FTA experience and existing trade imbalance with RCEP nations show that such a trade pact will hurt Indian producers.
Taiwan wants to sign free trade deal with US: foreign minister
13-Sep-2018 Taiwan News
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu made a recorded video for a conference organized by a Washington-based research institute on Sept. 12.
Plan to upgrade China-ASEAN trade agreement unveiled
13-Sep-2018 Ecns
Chinese Vice-Premier announced that China will work with ASEAN to upgrade the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement signed in 2004 and accelerate talks for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Pakistan seeks rejig of economic corridor, trade pact with China
13-Sep-2018 Asia Times
Pakistan seeks to renegotiate FTA as well as China Pakistan Economic Corridor deals
Ecuador: Chevron’s victims vow to fight Hague court ruling
12-Sep-2018 TeleSur
Victims of Chevron-Texaco’s pollution of the Ecuadorean Amazon have vowed to fight to protect the ruling which has granted them compensation.
European Parliament gripes against a France Insoumise MEP
12-Sep-2018 Euractiv
The attempt by the European Parliament administration to exert pressure on a tweet on the EU-Japan trade agreement shocked MEP Younous Omarjeee, who condemned this as an attack on freedom of expression.
Canada ready to allow US dairy access in NAFTA talks: sources
12-Sep-2018 Reuters
Canada is ready to offer the United States limited access to the Canadian dairy market as a concession in negotiations to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement.
’Moving into the heart of negotiations’ for Africa’s free trade agreement
12-Sep-2018 RFI
Some general concerns centre on the potential impact a continental free market could have on particular sectors of national economies.
Extended monopolies on biologic drugs – A warning to developing countries
12-Sep-2018 IP Watch
The United States has throughout history been the principal demandeur of maximalist intellectual property, backed by a powerful pharmaceutical lobby.
EU’s Juncker eyes Africa free trade pact
12-Sep-2018 Reuters
The European Union could one day look to take advantage of African efforts to forge a free trade area within the continent to work toward a comprehensive continent-to-continent free trade agreement.
The real problem with free trade
11-Sep-2018 Project Syndicate
Free trade has enabled a few companies to secure monopolies or near-monopolies, which has given rise to massive inequalities.
Mexico adds rule of origin exception into Colombia FTA
11-Sep-2018 Just Style
Mexico has implemented a temporary exception to the rules of origin for textiles and apparel in its free trade agreement with Colombia.
Labor drops opposition to Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
11-Sep-2018 The Guardian
Caucus and shadow cabinet agree to pass TPP, but also change the way Australia negotiates on trade.