bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Articles by language

English
Tagalog
‘A lot of life years lost’: How NAFTA shortened American life spans
16-Mar-2026 The New York Times
A study tracks how the North American Free Trade Agreement and trade competition with Mexico led to earlier deaths for American factory workers.
Tricky negotiations begin Monday to renew a trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada
16-Mar-2026 AP
The North American economies could agree to renew USMCA as it is for another 16 years— a prospect that appears unlikely. Or they could keep working on ways to improve it; under a convoluted renewal process, they have until 2036 to reach an agreement — or the pact expires.
India to hold off on US trade deal amid new probe, sources say
16-Mar-2026 Reuters
India will hold off on signing a trade deal with the United ​States for several months, four Indian sources said, as fresh investigations by President Donald Trump’s administration into what it calls excess industrial capacity ‌among trading partners add new friction.
S. Korea wins int’l arbitration case against elevator maker Schindler
16-Mar-2026 Yonhap
South Korea has won an international arbitration case brought by Swiss elevator manufacturer Schindler Holding AG, avoiding a potential payout of 320 billion won ($211.4 million) in damages, the justice ministry said.
US, Ecuador sign trade deal cutting tariff rates
16-Mar-2026 News of Bahrain
The United States and Ecuador have agreed to reduce tariff rates between the two nations, officials said, as countries seek to navigate US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff campaign.
US-Ecuador trade agreement text (Mar 2026)
16-Mar-2026 USTR
Report of the 5th round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Philippines
13-Mar-2026 European Commission
The 5th round of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and the Philippines took place between 2 and 6 March 2026 in Brussels.
EU Commission moves to apply Mercosur trade deal from May
13-Mar-2026 Politico
Brussels now needs to formally notify the South American group of its intention to provisionally implement the accord.
Empowerment or exploitation? The false promise of a women-inclusive trade deal
13-Mar-2026 bilaterals.org
The Canada-Indonesia trade deal’s “women-inclusive” label masks a neoliberal agenda that benefits Canadian corporations more than Indonesian women. It exploits feminist language to legitimize market expansion, while reinforcing structural inequalities—especially the burden of unpaid care work on women—and enabling corporate power through costly investor rights (ISDS). True gender justice requires systemic change, not just market inclusion.
Deals made under repealed tariffs should be reconsidered
12-Mar-2026 Public Citizen
The US Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the tariffs is yet another reason for countries like Indonesia to be wary of ratifying these deals negotiated with the Trump administration.
Zimbabwe’s seed sovereignty is under threat – and with it, the legacy of land reform
12-Mar-2026 Peoples Dispatch
Developing nations are compelled to adopt legal frameworks favoring multinational seed companies, often through trade agreements and regional protocols that serve imperialist interests and control over the economies of the Global South.
Bangladesh, Indonesia move to fast-track trade pact
12-Mar-2026 The Business Standard
Bangladesh and Indonesia have agreed to accelerate negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement to expand bilateral trade and deepen economic cooperation.
Mercosur wants to sign two more FTAs this year
12-Mar-2026 Latin Finance
Leaders of the South American bloc hope the recent EU trade deal will provide the political will for other pacts with the United Arab Emirates and Canada.
ASEAN digital economy negotiators convene in Manila to advance landmark regional digital trade agreement
12-Mar-2026 PIA
The meetings brought together lead negotiators and legal experts from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat to advance discussions on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
Indonesia–US Trade Agreement challenged in Court, civil society coalition warns of risks to economic sovereignty
12-Mar-2026 CELIOS
A civil society coalition consisting of CELIOS, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Solidaritas Perempuan, and supported by WALHI Nasional and Trend Asia has officially filed a lawsuit for Unlawful Government Act (Onrechtmatige Overheidsdaad) against the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN) on March 11, 2026.
Oman, China discuss acceleration of GCC Free Trade Agreement
12-Mar-2026 Muscat Daily
The Omani Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry met the Chinese Ambassador to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment, with a key focus on accelerating the GCC-China Free Trade Agreement to boost regional economic integration and market access.
Philippines to finalize free trade agreement with EU
12-Mar-2026 Business Inquirer
Negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the European Union (EU) may be concluded by June or July this year, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said.
Lee, Singapore PM agree to launch FTA upgrade talks, strengthen AI cooperation
12-Mar-2026 Yonhap News Agency
President Lee Jae Myung and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to launch negotiations to upgrade their countries’ free trade agreement (FTA) and step up cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) during summit talks.
Apple farmers’ body demands scrapping of India-US trade deal
12-Mar-2026 Hindustan Times
Demanding the scrapping of the India-US trade agreement, the Apple Farmers’ Federation of India (AFFI) will hold a protest outside the Parliament next month. The AFFI said it will mobilise apple growers and farmers from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for this protest.
US reciprocal tariffs is illegal, Agreement of Reciprocal Trade must not be ratified
12-Mar-2026 Koalisi Masyarakat untuk Keadilan Ekonomi
The Civil Society Coalition for Economic Justice (Koalisi MKE) urges President Prabowo Subianto not to ratify the reciprocal trade agreement (ART) between Indonesia and the United States (US) signed on February 19, 2026. The 19% tariff reduction obtained by Indonesia in this agreement is not commensurate with the surrender of the country’s sovereignty to US interests.