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Trade: Support builds for labour, environment standards
22-Mar-2007 IPS
Strong majorities in both developing and developed countries believe that international trade agreements should require governments to abide by minimum labour and environmental standards, according to a new survey of public opinion in 10 countries.
EU: APEB wants boycott of banana imports in FTA talks with Latin America
22-Mar-2007 FreshPlaza
The association of European banana producers APEB has announced that it will request the EU to leave any discussion of the banana import tariff out of the negotiations on economic collaboration or free trade agreements with the Andean countries in South America and with the countries in Central America.
Netherlands signs investment agreement with Algeria
21-Mar-2007 NIS News Bulletin
This is important for Dutch investors because the Algerian market is attractive for sectors such as energy and agriculture.
Thailand bilateral free trade with US alarms tuna industry key players
21-Mar-2007 Harold Doan and Associates
Despite the positive prospects of the tuna industry, key players are alarmed with the recent move of other countries like Thailand which is seeking bilateral free trade agreement with the US.
Chile-Mexico: Nothing like free trade
21-Mar-2007 IPS
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s Tuesday-Wednesday visit to Mexico will help strengthen the fastest-growing commercial relationship in Latin America — which expanded by nearly 2,000 percent between 1990 and 2006 — while giving concrete form to a strategic alliance that could also benefit neighbouring countries.
Table FTA document in Parliament for debate - backbencher
20-Mar-2007
A backbencher today called for the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) document to be tabled in Parliament to be debated.
Confusion surrounding FTA due to lack of understanding, says Rafidah
20-Mar-2007
Some of the negative comments made on the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations have been due to a lack of understanding of the FTA and the related issues, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said today.
Singapore signs Japan FTA revision, urges bigger Japan role in ASEAN
20-Mar-2007 Kyodo
Japan and Singapore on Monday officially signed a partial revision of their bilateral free trade agreement to advance financial deregulation and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it is crucial for Japan to have a good and quick agreement on the Japan-ASEAN free trade agreement.
US eyes Vietnam trade accord
20-Mar-2007 Washington Times
The Bush administration yesterday announced the beginning of trade talks with Vietnam that could lead to a free-trade agreement with the former US enemy.
US auto industry, agriculture lobby face off over Korea FTA
20-Mar-2007 The Hill
More than a dozen farm groups are lobbying the US administration in Korea this week to ensure it only concludes a deal that significantly increases US agriculture exports. But agriculture’s interests are somewhat complicated by those of the auto industry, which has warned it could oppose the deal unless it ensures that US exports to Korea will increase. Still, some sources say that support from agriculture could trump opposition from the auto industry if a deal is reached.
Activists seek alternative model to ‘neo-liberal’ trade pacts
20-Mar-2007 New Standard
With two controversial trade deals awaiting ratification, Congress is taking stock of the White House’s free-trade agenda, and activists are seizing the moment to call for policies that respond to the social needs of all countries involved.
Vietnam, Japan to continue free trade talks
20-Mar-2007 Thanh Nien News
The second round of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) featuring a free trade agreement between Vietnam and Japan will be held in Hanoi on March 26-27.
UNCTAD meeting warns of effects of bilateral, regional FTAs
20-Mar-2007 TWN
An expert meeting was held in Geneva last week on the interface between the multilateral trading system and regional trade arrangements, organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
International day of action against the Korea-US FTA and all US FTAs
20-Mar-2007
We, the Korean Alliance against Korea-US FTA (KoA), call for an international day of joint action on Sunday, March 25, 2007. To the people struggling to stop the spread of neoliberal globalization, we ask for your solidarity and strength in stopping the Korea-US FTA and all US FTAs.
FICCI seeks rationalisation of customs duties
19-Mar-2007
Industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has demanded rationalisation of cut in peak customs duties proposed in budget 2007-08 claiming that it is affecting manufacturing of around 20 consumer durables.
PM under trade deal pressure
19-Mar-2007
National is stepping up pressure on Prime Minister Helen Clark to elevate a trade deal to the top of her talks with United States President George Bush as Washington refuses to offer any hope of a breakthrough soon.
Economist says DR-CAFTA “will bring poverty”
19-Mar-2007
Dr Emilio Cordero Michel has warned that the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Central America, known as DR-CAFTA, far from being a panacea, “will only fill the Dominican Republic with poverty and problems that we will never be able to solve”.
Free trade pact is factor in confirmation of Prime Minister nominee
19-Mar-2007
A dark cloud hung over the confirmation of prime ministerial nominee Han Duck-soo at the National Assembly yesterday.
Norway and Peru next trade targets
19-Mar-2007
Peru and Norway are China’s next target as trade partners even as the country is busy discussing free trade agreements (FTAs) with two dozen economies.
Taiwan seeks support for FTA with US
19-Mar-2007
Taiwan’s representative to the WTO, Lin Yi-fu, yesterday called for Taiwanese entrepreneurs operating in the US to help drum up US support for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.