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Cooperation between SADC and SACU
20-Jun-2006
The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community, Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao, says exchanges made during his meeting with the Southern African Customs Union Executive Secretary, Tswelopele Moremi, will increase cooperation between SADC and SACU.
South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has calls for more regional trade cooperation
20-Jun-2006
The South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has called for more regional trade cooperations among African states.
New trademark law
19-Jun-2006
Bahrain is set to join the Trademark Law Treaty and Regulations enacted in Geneva, Switzerland in 1994.
US-Uruguay Trade: Consolidate Ties Now
19-Jun-2006
The U.S.-Uruguay investment treaty will boost two-way investment and commerce and help advance economic freedom in Latin America.
Mircea Toader - Suspension of free trade agreement between Moldova and Romania will poise trade balance
19-Jun-2006
Suspension of the free trade agreement between Moldova and Romania on January 1, 2007, when Romania is expected to join the European Union (E.U.), will poise the trade balance between the two states, according to Mircea Toader, undersecretary of the Romanian Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
Korea-US Business Council meets Tuesday
19-Jun-2006
The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement will top the agenda in talks of the 19th Korea-US Business Council meeting starting Tuesday in Seoul for two days, according to the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).
KORUS FTA launch
19-Jun-2006
We opened a new chapter in the U.S.-Korea relationship last week with conclusion of the first round of negotiations for the Korea-U.S. (KORUS) Free Trade Agreement. Negotiators from both countries had an impressive start, working with great determination and mutual respect to conclude what we hope will be one of the most significant such agreements worldwide and one of the most important developments in U.S.-Korea relations since the signing of our Mutual Defense Treaty more than a half-century ago.
Towards an East Asian economic unit
19-Jun-2006
The developments of recent years have led to an Asian resurgence, with the emergence of China and India as engines of growth, the recovery of Japan from a decade-old recession, rise of the Asian middle class as a source of final demand, and increasing resilience of Asian countries to external shocks such as oil price rises, etc. Over the past decade, Asian countries have also integrated themselves within the region, as evident from a high and growing proportion of intra-regional trade and investments. Besides growing economic inter-dependence, Asian countries also face shared vulnerabilities to external shocks and natural disasters.
FTA with Asean faces deadlock over tariff cuts
19-Jun-2006
Negotiations between India and Asean over the proposed Free Trade Agreement are deadlocked, with the latter now asking India to prune its list to just 60 items on which it will offer no tariff cuts. Asean has also rejected New Delhi’s offer for a Tariff Rate Quota on palm oil, tea and pepper.
Other countries urged to join P4 trade agreement
19-Jun-2006
New Zealand and Singapore are encouraging other countries to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, dubbed the "P4" that also includes Chile and Brunei.
Singapore and Peru conclude second round of negotiations for FTA
19-Jun-2006
Singapore and Peru have concluded their second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.
Taiwan, Nicaragua sign free trade agreement
19-Jun-2006 AFP
Taiwan and Nicaragua have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) pledging to join forces to explore the North American market, the Board of Foreign Trade said.
Jordan shutting abusive factories
19-Jun-2006 Washington Times
Jordan’s trade minister yesterday acknowledged that his country had failed to enforce its own labor laws in some instances. Mr. Zu’bi was in Washington to meet with the Bush administration, lawmakers and business groups after a May report by the National Labor Committee said the US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement encouraged sweatshop conditions in Jordanian garment factories.
Musharraf’s visit to China boosts chances of free trade accord
19-Jun-2006 Gulf News
Pakistan’s interest not withstanding, there are many who believe that a free trade deal with China would adversely affect the south Asian country’s economic prospects.
Indo-Jap deal holds productive promise
19-Jun-2006 Economic Times
If commerce minister Kamal Nath’s statements in Tokyo are any indication, the proposed trade agreement with Japan will mark a distinct shift from the free-trade agreements India has favoured with other countries.
Korea FTA threatens Thai leather industry
19-Jun-2006 Bangkok Post
Bangkok is continuing to negotiate with the Seoul government after refusing to sign an Asean-Korea trade pact last month because of Korea’s resistance to opening up its rice market.
EU promises are hollow: Pacific society groups
19-Jun-2006 Scoop
Civil society groups from 12 Pacific countries meeting in Nadi, question what’s in it for the Pacific in negotiations on a Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU.
US-Jordan free trade agreement descends into human trafficking
19-Jun-2006 NLC
Tens of thousands of foreign guest workers are stripped of their passports, trapped in involuntary servitude, sewing clothing for Wal-Mart, Gloria Vanderbilt, Target, Kohl’s, Thalia Sodi for Kmart, Victoria’s Secret, L.L.Bean and others.
Interview: Protect Korean cinema
17-Jun-2006 OMNI
"The fight to save the Korean screen quota isn’t only for the benefit of the Koreans, but it is also for the global cultural movement."
World health: A lethal dose of US politics
17-Jun-2006 Asia Times
An Asia Times Online investigation reveals that at the time of his death, World Health Organization (WHO) director general Lee Jong-wook, a South Korean national, had closely aligned himself with the US government and by association US corporate interests, often to the detriment of the WHO’s most vital commitments and positions.