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2-Jan-2006
Some observers believe that certain FTA provisions may lock the United
States into current intellectual property policies, inhibiting opportunities for future
reform. Others are concerned that under existing multilateral
agreements, the intellectual
property obligations found within one FTA may extend beyond that particular treaty
partner. Some perceive FTAs to be an inappropriate and unfair
vehicle for international intellectual property reforms due to the strong bargaining
position of the United States.
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2-Jan-2006
The New Standard
As CAFTA member-nations struggle to comply with the free trade pact’s requirements, opponents of the deal say the delays show how unpopular and undemocratic the mandated reforms are.
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1-Jan-2006
Economic Times
South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), paving way for free trade of goods among countries of the region, came into being on Sunday but Pakistan was yet to complete the formality of ratifying it.
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1-Jan-2006
Stabroek News
Guyana and the Swiss Confederation recently signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty which will facilitate an increase in Swiss investments in the local economy.
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1-Jan-2006
Trade Negotiation Committee has finalized rules for settling disputes in BIMSTEC free trade agreement. It has, however, failed to converge on the percentage of value addition for rules of origin.
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31-Dec-2005
Ecuadoran President Alfredo Palacio will travel to Bogota in January to discuss with his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, a free trade agreement (FTA) that their countries are negotiating with the United States.
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30-Dec-2005
Asia Pulse
The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) has benefited Australian companies since it began in January through expanded opportunities and increased market access, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, said.
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30-Dec-2005
UNDP
This UNDP paper is divided into four main parts. Parts I, II and III examine the
phenomenon of FTA proliferation and the underlying forces and
motivations of key players at work. Part IV builds on the analysis to
address the impact of the FTA explosion on human development policy
choices in key areas such as agriculture, textiles, rules of origin,
intellectual property, trade in services, and investment.
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30-Dec-2005
Dissident Voice
The decisive numbers of Evo Morales’ election victory in South America’s poorest country give him the legitimacy he needs to redistribute Bolivia’s wealth in favor of the impoverished and excluded majority. But he faces enormous pressure from foreign corporations and international financial institutions to continue promoting superficial economic growth for the benefit of a small elite.
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30-Dec-2005
The hundreds of bilateral and regional trade deals around or being crafted is creating a brave new world for business, reports Daniel Hilken
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30-Dec-2005
The Central American Free Trade Agreement, a Bush administration priority passed by the House in July after a bruising political fight, will not take effect New Year’s Day, the target date set by the White House.
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30-Dec-2005
Pakistan and China are set to launch the much awaited free trade regime under the Early Harvest Programme (EHP) from January 1.
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30-Dec-2005
Business Monthly
When representatives of Egypt, Israel and the US met in Cairo last December, they signed a historic agreement that more or less linked Egypt’s industrial success to its willingness to cooperate with its traditional foe, Israel.
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30-Dec-2005
The US-Thailand FTA negotiations are of interest to Congress because (1) an
agreement would require passage of implementing legislation to go into effect; (2)
an agreement could increase U.S. exports of goods, services, and investment, with
particular benefits for agricultural exports; and (3) an agreement could increase
competition for U.S. import-competing industries such as textiles and apparel and
light trucks, thereby raising the issue of job losses.
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29-Dec-2005
Washington File
The Uruguayan government has ratified a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with the United States that is intended to enhance bilateral relations as well as trade and investment ties, according to the U.S. State Department.
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29-Dec-2005
Mozambique and Malawi are to liberalise trade between the two countries, under a preferential trade agreement to be signed on Wednesday, trade and industry ministry officials said here Tuesday.
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29-Dec-2005
Pakistan and Thailand will hold second round of study group meeting in
February next to pave the way for initiation of talks on the early harvest programme
(EHP) leading to zero rate of duty.
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29-Dec-2005
William Jefferson Clinton once said that “the opposition to globalisation in the world is rooted in people who feel left out, left behind and stepped on in other countries.” Apparently, having accepted our status as doormats, the developing world has once again sent our highest authorities to the other end of the world to continue to hammer out a trade deal that maintains our city-mouse/country-mouse dynamic.
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29-Dec-2005
The Dominican government reiterated today that the country “met the requirements” and “is ready” to enter the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the United States (DR-CAFTA), but that it decided to postpone entering free trade until next July.
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28-Dec-2005
The News International
With three days left to meet the deadline, the trade under South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta) among the Saarc counties from January 1, next year is in doldrums as Sri Lanka says it will ratify Safta draft some time in April next year.
