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For George Bush, a fair deal means what American farmers demand
2-Aug-2006
When the Doha round of global trade talks collapsed last Monday, suddenly and acrimoniously, after five long years, furious trade ministers seemed to agree about only one thing - they were throwing away the best hope in decades of helping poor countries trade their way out of poverty.
Sri Lanka asked to notify FTA duty cuts
2-Aug-2006
Even as vanaspati imports from Sri Lanka continue to be a contentious issue, it has now come to light that the island country is yet to notify the second phase of tariff liberalisation under the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with India.
No san-tong, no U.S. FTA
2-Aug-2006
The U.S. has bluntly warned the pro-independence government of President Chen Shui-bian that it will not negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Taiwan unless the island opens san-tong (three direct transport links) with the mainland, the island’s biggest export market.
Australian Companies Urged To Use M’sia As Regional Hub
2-Aug-2006
Australian companies have been urged to use Malaysia as a regional hub for their businesses, taking advantage of the free trade agreements (FTAs) that Malaysia had signed with several countries.
Japan faces rocky FTA road
2-Aug-2006
Now that the global trade talks under the World Trade Organization have collapsed, Japan will be forced to walk down what looks like a rocky road to seek bilateral free trade agreements, marking a departure from its trade policy based on both multilateral and bilateral approaches.
Downer upbeat on Japan FTA talks
2-Aug-2006
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer ended a Tokyo visit yesterday confident that negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan, the most lucrative bilateral deal available to Australia, can start next year.
Saarc defers free trade dispute
2-Aug-2006
South Asian foreign ministers have agreed to defer a dispute between India and Pakistan over the implementation of a regional free trade agreement.
Australia, Japan hope to start FTA talks
2-Aug-2006
Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed hope that Canberra could enter into official negotiations on a free trade agreement with Japan next year by concluding the ongoing feasibility study at an early date, Japanese officials said.
Business Lobby Group Urges FTA with EU
2-Aug-2006
Korea’s big-business lobby is urging a free-trade agreement with the European Union. The Federation of Korean Industries reports the Korean and the European economies are complementary, hence there will be few hurdles to sealing a pact.
Costa Rican Greens slam US-FTA
2-Aug-2006 Prensa Latina
Some 60 Costa Rican ecologist organizations protested Monday against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Central America and the United States, due to its risk for the environment.
Implications of Colombia’s integration into Plan Puebla Panama
2-Aug-2006 Scoop
From July onwards, Colombia will form part of the one-sided geopolitical mega-project that seeks to consolidate the neoliberal model in the western Latin America with the aim of privatizing highway infrastructure, public services and natural resources.
Half of Koreans oppose US FTA
2-Aug-2006 Korea Times
Half of South Koreans said in a recent poll that they oppose a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
Japan trade deal ’bigger than China’
2-Aug-2006
A free trade deal between Australia and Japan could be a multi-billion dollar bonanza for both countries, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has suggested.
Japan to propose 16-nation Asian FTA, including India
2-Aug-2006 Economic Times
Japan’s trade minister will propose forming a 16-nation East Asian free trade zone, including India, that covers half the world’s population and a quarter of its gross domestic product at an upcoming regional forum, an official said.
Anti-FTA bodies join forces against US deals
1-Aug-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s anti-FTA movements have formed an alliance with counterparts in other countries including South Korea, Costa Rica and Colombia against US efforts to strike bilateral trade agreements across the globe.
WTO is dead, long live free trade: globalisation and its new avatars
1-Aug-2006
Bilateral and unilateral, initiatives are the new avatars of globalisation and free trade. And it is these avatars we must challenge to stop corporate rule, while WTO hangs between intensive care and the crematorium.
Japan: Free trade deal with Manila stumbles over labour
1-Aug-2006 IPS
While 23 July marked the 50th anniversary of bilateral friendship between Japan and the Philippines, Tokyo has decided not to use the occasion to conclude a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) with a fellow Asian country.
Malaysia and Australia set to enter new era with FTA
31-Jul-2006
Economic relations between Malaysia and Australia are set to enter a new era when the two countries conclude a free trade agreement (FTA).
India to raise SAFTA issues in Dhaka
31-Jul-2006
India, which has called for an emergency meeting of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Ministerial Council, is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan backing away from its commitment under the multilateral agreement.
Academics branded ’anti-US over FTA research’
31-Jul-2006
The head of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra says there has been an attempt to silence academics who are making critical comments about issues of public importance.