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EU-Mercosur trade talks still alive, Brussels says in rebuke to France’s Macron
31-Jan-2024 Euronews
The European Commission assured that talks on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement continue after a French official claimed President Emmanuel Macron had convinced the bloc’s executive to bury the deal.
Vietnam eyes new economic pact
31-Jan-2024 Vietnam Plus
Vietnam should adopt a wait-and-see policy while negotiating with other IPEF members for a clarification from the US on how developing countries will be compensated for the costs of meeting high labour and environmental standards.
Srettha to pay visit to Sri Lanka to sign free-trade agreement
31-Jan-2024 Bangkok Post
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to visit Sri Lanka to sign a free-trade agreement, marking Thailand’s 15th FTA and the first under Mr. Srettha’s premiership since August last year.
Interim analysis of JSI E-commerce Chairs’ text 15 January 2024, INF/ECOM/85
30-Jan-2024
The 15 January 2024 chair’s text (INF/ECOM/85) for the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on electronic commerce is to be discussed in a round from 30 January to 2 February 2024.
ASEAN delegation to visit India on 17 Feb for FTA review
30-Jan-2024 Mint
The review will focus on the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, which has been in place for over a decade, and will likely include more goods and services under non-tariff barriers.
France says EU Commission to end trade deal talks with Mercosur countries
30-Jan-2024 Reuters
French President has told the European Commission that it was impossible to conclude trade deal negotiations with South America’s Mercosur bloc and understands the EU has put an end to the talks, his office said.
S. Korea, India to hold new round of talks on upgrading free trade pact
30-Jan-2024 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and India will launch a new round of negotiations to upgrade their bilateral trade pact, Seoul’s trade ministry said.
WTO electronic commerce draft Chair’s text (Jan 2024)
29-Jan-2024
AfCFTA: Women and youth in trade protocol (draft, Jan 2024)
29-Jan-2024
EU foreign policy chief warns agricultural crisis may block Mercosur trade deal
29-Jan-2024 Buenos Aires Times
The crisis affecting the agricultural sector in many countries of the European Union could be an “obstacle” to the approval of the free trade agreement with Mercosur, as suggested by the EU head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
France ’opposes signing’ of EU-Mercosur trade deal, says prime minister
29-Jan-2024 Buenos Aires Times
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal says President Emmanuel Macron "has always opposed" the free-trade deal negotiated between the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc.
Country to pursue FTAs to build new partnerships
29-Jan-2024 China Daily
China will push ahead an extensive lineup of free trade agreement negotiations this year, as part of the country’s efforts to foster deeper economic integration and forge new partnerships, opening-up opportunities for increased foreign trade and stable economic growth.
Zim govt pays heavily for seizing timber company’s land
27-Jan-2024 Zimeye
A London court has ordered Zimbabwe to pay US$125 million to two timber firms whose land was seized by the government, rejecting its claim of state immunity in a case that tests the enforcement of international arbitration awards.
AfCFTA secretariat set to establish protocol on digital trade this month, says Wamkele Mene
27-Jan-2024 Asaase Radio
The secretary general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, has said the secretariat is set to establish a protocol on digital trade this month.
Delay on tariff offers to affect AfCFTA implementation
26-Jan-2024 The Citizen
Full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could be delayed further due to the failure of some countries to act decisively on its key pillars.
Three years after AfCFTA ratification: should Africans still rely on it?
26-Jan-2024 Modern Diplomacy
The concept of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) was formed during the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Head of the States and Government of African Union (AU) in January 2012, on the theme “Boosting Intra-African trade”, which adopted the decision to establish a free trade area.
Explainer: The different types of investor-state dispute settlement
26-Jan-2024 bilaterals.org
What type of ISDS arbitration has been the most used by corporations? Why is it important to understand the different forms of ISDS?
Ecuador-China free trade agreement poses serious environmental risks, critics say
26-Jan-2024 Mongabay
The focus of concern has been the waste that Ecuador would receive from China, including pharmaceutical products, electrical parts, batteries, scrap metal, single-use plastics, glass and contaminated liquids.
Rejection of free trade agreements and the demand for a decent income at the heart of farmers’ mobilizations in Europe
26-Jan-2024 La Via Campesina
We demand an immediate end to negotiations on the FTA with MERCOSUR countries and a moratorium on all other FTAs currently being negotiated.
EU-ASEAN trade deal remains long-term objective: Envoy ​​​
26-Jan-2024 Jakarta Globe
The European Union recently said that reviving the regional trade pact with ASEAN remained a “long-term objective” as the group tried to finish similar negotiations with the individual members of the Southeast Asian bloc.