bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles


’Banks need to prepare for FTA’
A free trade agreement with the United States could have a profound impact on the regulatory environment of the Korean banking sector and reshape the industry’s landscape, a think tank said yesterday.
Japan, India agree to launch FTA talks
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, agreed Monday that Japan and India will begin work to enter negotiations to conclude a free trade agreement between them.
Dhaka to sign preferential trade accord with Tehran
Bangladesh is going to sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Iran may lead to signing of Free Trade Agreement between the two Muslim nations.
Local drug makers may lose out under US FTA
Malaysia’s generic drug manufacturers might find it more difficult to conduct business if the US’ negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) are influenced by the strong US pharmaceutical lobby there.
Taiwan to hold 2nd round of FTA talks with El Salvador, Honduras
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs announced Sunday that a second round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks with El Salvador and Honduras was scheduled to kick off the following day in San Francisco.
US, Cambodia sign trade, investment framework
The United States and Cambodia signed an agreement on Friday to increase trade and investment flows as part of a broader American initiative in the region, the US Trade Representative’s office said.
Thailand : US FTAs push Thai garment exporter out of the country
Thai garment manufacturers are currently on tenter hooks as the US goes about concluding Free Trade Agreements with different countries having apparel and textile manufacturing bases.
Pak decision on SAFTA will make agreement meaningless: India
Unhappy over Pakistan’s decision to limit trade with it to a few items under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), India on Tuesday said such a move would make the agreement meaningless and sought an "urgent" meeting of the SAARC Commerce Ministers to discuss the issue, an Indian newspaper reported.
Venezuela’s Chavez looms large over US vote on Peru trade pact
Free-trade agreements generally set tariffs on beef and commodities and deal with government procurement contracts and labor provisions. But as US Congress prepares to vote on a contentious free-trade accord with Peru, the figure of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is looming large.
EFTA to pursue FTA with Malaysia
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, intends to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with Malaysia and will decide on it by year-end.
Malaysia to protect sovereign rights in any FTA talks
Malaysia will not sign any agreement that is to its disadvantage. Malaysia suspended FTA talks with New Zealand recently because it did not agree with that country’s requests in the areas of government procurement, environment, manpower and competition policy.
FTA to herald new era of partnership between EU and GCC
The EU-GCC free trade agreement will open a new era of economic, trade, investment and commercial activities between the two blocs, a top French envoy in the Kingdom told Bahrain Tribune.
UNICE Chairman: Russia and the EU must conclude a full package free trade deal
The UNICE (Union of Manufacturers in the European Community) Chairman, Ernest-Antoine Seillière, has encouraged Russia and the European Union (the EU) to conclude a full package free trade agreement to reach close, reciprocal economic integration.
Lanka offers free trade pact to Bangladesh
Sri Lanka has mooted a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh citing its positive experience with the ones it has signed with India and Pakistan.
Korea, US fail to complete second FTA talks
The second round of formal free trade talks between Korea and the United States ended earlier than scheduled today, suggesting that the talks may have reached an impasse.
India, France to strengthen IPR ties; agreement soon
India and France have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of intellectual property rights (IPR) and will soon sign a bilateral agreement regarding the same.
Israel and Mercosur make progress on free-trade agreement
Israel and Mercosur (Mercado Comun del Sur, the Common Market of the South, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay) are making progress in negotiations for a free-trade agreement. Mercosur and Israel representatives held intensive discussions last week.
FTA threatens blood supply: study
The safety of the Australian blood supply could be jeopardised under the free trade agreement with the United States, researchers have warned.
UN court allows Uruguay pulp mill project
The United Nations’ highest court has ruled that Uruguay does not have to suspend building two giant pulp mills that neighbouring Argentina says will harm the environment.