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EU delays massive free-trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur
19-Dec-2025 AP
The European Union is delaying a massive free-trade deal with South American countries after fiery protests by farmers and last-minute opposition by France and Italy threatened to derail the pact.
Big Tech presses for expanded giveaways in upcoming USMCA review
19-Dec-2025 Public Citizen
New analysis of public comments by lobbyists for the tech industry shows that Big Tech is aggressively pushing for even more deregulatory giveaways, despite the agreement already tilting heavily in their favor.
Canada and the US to launch formal talks to review their free trade agreement in mid-January
19-Dec-2025 The Boston Globe
Canada and the US will launch formal discussions to review their free trade agreement in mid-January, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.
Farmers block roads in Brussels to protest EU-Mercosur free-trade deal
19-Dec-2025 Euronews
Proponents argue the agreement would provide an alternative to Beijing’s export controls and Washington’s tariff policies. Critics warn it would weaken environmental regulations and damage the EU’s agricultural sector.
Trump’s point man on trade floats separate deals with Canada and Mexico
19-Dec-2025 CBC
US President Donald Trump’s lead trade negotiator says the administration is considering breaking up the three-way free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, moving toward separate deals instead.
Trump trade rep targets Canada’s beer and dairy rules in new CUSMA review conditions
19-Dec-2025 CBC
US Trade Representative said the US will take aim at two major Canadian policies: the Online Streaming Act, which brought online platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube under Canadian broadcasting rules, and the supply-managed dairy sector, among others.
EU-Morocco agreement, resolution 2797: the predation of Western Sahara continues
19-Dec-2025 Tomate sahraouie
To be more explicit, predatory practices have always existed and are becoming more pronounced, solely for the benefit of the king and his oligarchs, who are imposing an agro-export model that is disastrous for the population and the environment. Large retailers in France and Europe also play very damaging role: that of importing tomatoes produced… in the middle of the desert.
Eswat­ini val­id­ates AfCFTA invest­ment reforms
18-Dec-2025 Times of Eswatini
The coun­try has taken a key step towards align­ing its invest­ment frame­work with the African Con­tin­ental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) after con­ven­ing a stake­holder engage­ment and policy dia­logue on invest­ment.
Somalia joins regional leaders at AfCFTA Business Forum in Marrakech
18-Dec-2025 FTL Somalia
Throughout the forum, Abdullahi engaged in high-level bilateral discussions with senior AfCFTA officials, Morocco’s Prime Minister, the Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, as well as trade ministers from Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Djibouti. These talks emphasized strengthening bilateral ties, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and elevating Somalia’s role in Africa’s economic integration.
Non-binding instruments in international economic diplomacy: A look at the US critical minerals deals
18-Dec-2025 EJIL: Talk!
The US critical minerals deals highlight the deepening turn to soft-law instruments in economic diplomacy. But they also coexist with binding trade agreements.
EMB and ECVC farmers mobilise at Liège airport: “No to the EU-Mercosur agreement, yes to a strong CAP and the regulation of agricultural markets!”
18-Dec-2025 European Coordination Via Campesina
Farmers from Mig, AbL, FUGEA, Boerenforum, and La Confédération Paysanne gathered at this key hub for international trade with a common message that firmly rejects the EU-Mercosur treaty.
EU agrees on tougher Mercosur safeguards in bid to placate Italy, France
18-Dec-2025 Politico
The EU institutions agreed to strengthen protections for European farmers under a trade deal with the Mercosur bloc, in an eleventh-hour push to rally heavyweights France and Italy into backing the controversial pact.
Italy’s Meloni pours cold water on EU-Mercosur deal, calling it ’premature’
17-Dec-2025 Euronews
Signing the EU-Mercosur deal in the following days is "premature," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said during an address to the Italian parliament in Rome.
Is US pressure against foreign digital policy working?
17-Dec-2025 Digital Policy Alert
An investigation of US tariff deal priorities and government responses, including an annex with annotated tariff deal texts.
The failed USMCA project
17-Dec-2025 Mexico Solidarity
Transnational corporations have won, and they have won at the cost of displacing Mexico’s national producers and leading the national economy to stagnation and dependence on foreign capital & indebtedness.
Trade agreements risk undermining consumers’ right to repair, warns TACD Report
17-Dec-2025 TACD
The report details how digital trade rules, such as so-called “source code protection” provisions threaten to override ambitious right to repair laws now advancing in both the United States and European Union.
Korea to push for service sector FTA with China, CPTPP affiliation for export momentum
17-Dec-2025 Korea JoongAng Daily
Korea aims to strengthen its export-driven economy by pursuing a service-sector Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China and joining the Japan-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
EU Parliament votes to harden Mercosur safeguards before crunch talks with capitals
17-Dec-2025 Politico
The European Parliament voted to tighten additional protections on the EU’s trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc, opening the way for talks with member countries that will need to find a rapid compromise to finally get the deal done.
India, Oman to sign free trade agreement on Thursday in Muscat
17-Dec-2025 Business Standard
India and Oman will sign a free trade agreement on Thursday in Muscat with an aim to boost economic ties between the two countries.
ISDS tribunal publishes decision in first Clive Palmer ISDS case more than a year after hearings
17-Dec-2025 AFTINET
The tribunal in the first Clive Palmer ISDS case, which claimed $300 billion from the Australian government, has published its decision 10 weeks after it was announced by the government and more than a year after the original hearings.