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EU seeks ASEAN investors for new member states
9-Feb-2007 jurnalo
The European Union is seeking ASEAN investors for its new member states with a free trade agreement in the pipeline, the ambassador of the EU Commission said in a broadcast report on Wednesday.
Memorandum to the European Commission from 30 000 citizens at the World Social Forum
9-Feb-2007 TWN Africa
We the people attending the World Social Forum (WSF) are here today to call on the European Commission to stop negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA’s) with our governments.
Another fast track to the unemployment line?
9-Feb-2007 People’s Weekly World Newspaper
President Bush has asked Congress for approval of "fast track" authority. For most workers, "fast track" is the code word for giving the capitalists the opportunity to move more jobs out of the country.
S Korea to seek ’package’ free trade deal with US, trade minister says
9-Feb-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korea said Thursday it plans to make a "package deal" on antidumping rules, automobiles and other key pending issues in next week’s free trade talks with the United States.
Malaysia, US to take contentious issues ’off the table’
9-Feb-2007 Business Times
Malaysia and the US have agreed to take contentious issues "off the table" in their ongoing (free trade agreement) FTA negotiations, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said.
A new fast track for unfair trade
9-Feb-2007 TomPaine.com
If a US-Korea trade deal is signed next week, Congress has an opportunity to vote it down. Social movements in South Korea and the United States must ensure that Congress is not reading outdated rhetoric claiming the limitless benefits of free capital.
FTA with EU may cut Burma out
9-Feb-2007 The Nation
A planned free-trade agreement (FTA) between Asean and the European Union hit a snag recently, as the EU might not sign if the agreement includes Burma, says a senior Thai official.
Stop unfair trade deals between Europe and ACP countries!
9-Feb-2007 WEED
Open letter by more than 180 European NGOs to German Chancellor Angela Merkel
FTA - The poor fear for their future
8-Feb-2007 Malaysiakini
A 52-year-old rubber tapper from Semenyih rode on a bus for more than an hour to bring his concerns to the doorstep of the United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur today.
Cattle farmers protest US-South Korea beef talks
8-Feb-2007 Houston Chronicle
Korean cattle farmers protested today as US and South Korean officials discussed easing restrictions on imports of American beef, an issue Washington says threatens to scuttle a possible free trade agreement.
GPKK demonstrates against FTA outside US Embassy
7-Feb-2007 Bernama
The Coalition of Factory Workers and Trade Unions (GPKK) demonstrated for half-an-hour outside the United States embassy, here Wednesday to protest against the on-going Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation which it claimed violated the rights of the lower-income group.
Malaysia: Iran deal clouds free trade plans with US
7-Feb-2007 IPS
A free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Malaysia, in its final round this week, has run into opposition from trade unions and also from U.S. lawmakers opposed to an energy deal struck between this country and Iran.
Senior US official dashes FTA hopes
7-Feb-2007 Taipei Times
A senior US trade official on Tuesday dashed Taiwan’s hopes that Washington could enter into negotiations on a US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) anytime soon, and said that Taiwan would have to gain strong support from the US business sector and Congress before an FTA could ever be considered.
US reaffirms commitment on FTA with Oman
7-Feb-2007 Times of Oman
The United States yesterday reaffirmed its commitment for expanding trade ties between the two nations and implementing the free trade agreement (FTA) as early as possible.
Taiwan asks US to use security law as model for FTA
7-Feb-2007 Channel News Asia
Taiwan has asked the United States to use a special law that commits American defence to Taipei as a framework for forging a free trade agreement between the two economies.
Colombian president asks congress to fast track FTA with US
7-Feb-2007 Dow Jones
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Tuesday asked Congress to fast track a free trade agreement with the US, saying prompt approval is a "necessity" because the US is Colombia’s main trading partner.
W. Africa accepts year-end EU trade deal deadline
7-Feb-2007 Reuters
West African countries said on Tuesday they had agreed to conclude a new trade deal with the European Union by the end of this year and drop demands for a two-year delay.
Joseph Stiglitz defends public ownership
7-Feb-2007 Periódico 26
The Nobel prizewinner said he believes neither Colombia nor the United States needs a Free Trade Agreement. “It’s not necessary. One of the problems is that within these treaties there isn’t really much commerce. They are mainly about protection of investments and intellectual property that will make it harder for Colombians to acquire medicines that can save their lives,” Stiglitz said.
Intellectual property, bilateral agreements and sustainable development: The challenges of implementation
6-Feb-2007 CIEL
What appears to be the experience of countries that have negotiated FTAs is that the process of negotiations does not conclude with the signing of the agreement. The implementation process is a complex and tedious one. In addition, once this implementation phase has been concluded, a subsequent and difficult phase begins with the monitoring of this implementation.
Korea, Canada make progress on farm issues in FTA talks
6-Feb-2007 Korea Times
Korea and Canada have made progress on agricultural issues in their latest free trade talks, brightening the prospect for a formal agreement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest said Tuesday in Seoul.