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East Asia FTA can be done in 10 years, says Ong
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) and China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and India (East Asia FTA) is possible in the next 10 years, Asean secretary-general, Ong Keng Yong, said Tuesday.
Trade pact with China stuck over security
Security concerns over investments from China is impacting the proposed Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement with Beijing. North Block’s proposal to amend the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) is stuck, delaying the signing of the agreement.
Thailand may lose US trade privileges
Thailand is included in a group of 13 countries that may lose preferential tariffs when the US revamps its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program at the end of the year, US officials said yesterday.
Managing Globalization: A new trade bandwagon - Are rich-poor pacts fair?
You might as well call it Newton’s Third Law of Trade Negotiations.
Political problems no threat to FTAs, says Kantathi
Thailand yesterday dismissed news reports that political problems at home had delayed negotiations on free-trade agreements (FTAs) among members of the regional Bimstec trade bloc.
FTAs and RTAs: The political imperative
Last week, Sanjaya Baru, the media advisor to the prime minister, and an economist in a previous avatar, published a book called The Strategic Consequences of India’s Economic Performance. Amongst other things in it, he argues for more regional trading agreements.
Economists call FTA with US hasty
Seoul National University President Chung Un-chan, who is also a prominent economist, has criticized the government’s handling of the free trade agreement with the United States as hasty application of theory.
Flower power - But not for the workers
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Colombia and the United States that could be signed in October or November this year will maintain the tariff exemptions already enjoyed by Colombia’s flourishing flower industry. But there are no plans for higher wages and better working conditions for the industry’s 100,000 workers.
US reviews duty-free access to market
The Bush administration is considering ending trade concessions granted to India, Brazil and other fast-developing nations under a three-decade-old program meant to help poor countries. The administration’s review comes as some lawmakers look to punish governments that opposed US policies during World Trade Organization talks — especially a group of middle-income nations led by Brazil and India — by ending their preferences entirely.
India looks at FTA with non-EU nations
India is considering a Free Trade Agreement with non-EU members called the EFTA, which comprises four countries — Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.
Costa Rica: Es obligatorio consultar el TLC a pueblos indígenas
“El texto del proyecto de ley que se tramita bajo el expediente No. 16.047, ‘Tratado de Libre Comercio República Dominicana - Centroamérica - Estados Unidos’ (TLC), en virtud de contener disposiciones normativas que pueden afectar directamente a los pueblos indígenas, debe ser consultado a esas comunidades (...)”. Con este párrafo concluye un informe en el cual el Departamento de Servicios Técnicos de la Asamblea Legislativa se pronuncia sobre la obligatoriedad de consultar a las comunidades indígenas del país sobre el polémico tratado comercial.
CAFTA bait-and-switch destroys Georgia community
Remember during the debate over the Central American Free Trade Agreement, every Republican politician and corporate lobbyist was giving the public the "free trade creates American jobs" line? It’s a line that America has become used to hearing from Washington, D.C. — even though, as both Hostile Takeover and Take This Job and Ship It show, this mantra has no relation to reality.
Ex-Roh supporter calls on president to stop FTA
Well-known social commentator and oriental philosopher Kim Young-oak, better known by his penname Doh-ol, said that Korean President Roh Moo-hyun should stop pushing for the establishment of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, citing the lack of public support.
Australian cabinet split over free trade negotiations with China
Free trade negotiations between China and Australia are sensitive for both countries, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said amid reports the cabinet is split over whether to abandon tariffs protecting Australia’s clothing and motor vehicle industries.
’New Thai govt may push forward BIMSTEC FTA’
The sagging negotiations on the proposed BIMSTEC Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement are likely to get momentum after a new government is installed in Thailand through October 18 elections, the Thai foreign minister said in the city Sunday, report agencies.
Doha failure Beijing’s chance
Separate trade agreements will allow China to cherry-pick the deals it wants.
Defining the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas - ALBA
Much has been written and theorized about the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) since President Chavez first proposed the idea at Isla Margarita at the III Summit of the Heads of State and the Government of the Association of Caribbean States in December, 2001.
EU to make stronger presence in South-East Asia
The European Union (EU) is well on its way to strengthening its “presence” in Malaysia, and in the South-East Asian region.
Guatemala to sue US for dumping
After a month and five days of implementing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with United States, Guatemala is suffering from this pact’s asymmetries and is suing the northern country for unfair competition.
Bilateral gains implied by US-Bahrain FTA
Speaking to members of the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) in Washington last month, I learned that Congress supported the FTA with Bahrain partly because it posed no threat to American farm industry.