bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

FTA ’followed in letter and spirit’
29-May-2006 Gulf Daily News
The US government has confirmed that Bahrain is no longer part of an Arab boycott of Israeli products in line with its commitment to the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Officials head to South America to initiate FTA talks
27-May-2006 Taipei Times
The first round of Taiwan’s free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with El Salvador and Honduras is expected to take place from Monday to Wednesday in Central America, officials with the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Thursday.
Tensions stall Japan/South Korea FTA
27-May-2006 Stuff.co.nz
Negotiations for a free trade pact between South Korea and Japan have been deadlocked for more than a year partly due to differences over how the two sides view their history, South Korea’s commerce minister said on Friday.
Australia at your service, but China still cagey
27-May-2006 The Age
After a year of skirmishing, Australia’s free trade discussions with China are taking shape, with China agreeing in principle to include the sensitive areas of government procurement and investment in any agreement.
Hyosung head calls for corporate-led FTA
27-May-2006 Korea Times
Business leaders in South Korea and Japan need to play an active role in achieving a free trade agreement between the two countries, a Korean conglomerate owner said Thursday.
Rice remains biggest hurdle to trade pact in Korea talks
26-May-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand has reaffirmed that it did not sign the Asean-South Korean free trade agreement on goods because of rice. South Korea insisted on excluding rice under its sensitive list, but Thailand, the world’s largest rice exporter, demanded that it open up its local market.
US ’better free trade partner than Japan, China’
26-May-2006 Chosun Ilbo
The US is a much better free-trade partner for Korea than China or Japan, where issues of race and historical animosities would make an agreement difficult, Korea’s chief negotiator in free-trade talks with the US said Thursday.
Ecuador: Government gears up for Oxy fallout
26-May-2006 IPS
Showing the door to Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and scuttling US free trade negotiations have long been agenda priorities for Ecuadorian social movements and political sectors. But following government steps that have all but made these goals a reality, the atmosphere seems more anxious than celebratory.
S Korea says differences over free trade with US
25-May-2006 Reuters
The first draft statements of a free trade agreement exchanged by South Korea and the United States show "considerable differences" between the two sides, an agriculture ministry official said.
SC has no jurisdiction over treaties, says Sol-Gen
25-May-2006 PDI
The Supreme Court of the Philippines has no jurisdiction to issue a ruling on a petition filed by party-list group Akbayan seeking to stop the government from signing a bilateral trade pact with Japan without a full disclosure of its provisions to the public.
US envoy to Japan calls for economic treaty
25-May-2006 FT
Washington’s ambassador to Japan on Wednesday added his voice to those calling for closer economic integration between the world’s two biggest economies, though he stopped short of formally proposing talks aimed at the conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement.
US labor groups to join forces in anti-FTA rallies
25-May-2006 Korea Herald
US labor groups will join forces with Korean counterparts for rallies in Washington early June against a proposed free trade agreement, the KCTU said yesterday.
The treatment of geographical indications in recent regional and bilateral FTAs
25-May-2006
The objective of this paper is to analyze what has been the treatment of GIs in the new generation of regional trade agreement as well as the content of the new standards being set.
Court asked to throw out FTA with Australia
25-May-2006 Bangkok Post
FTA opponents yesterday asked the Constitution Court to annul the Thai Australian Free Trade Area agreement (Tafta) on the ground that the Thaksin government entered into it unconstitutionally two years ago.
Singapore-Pak FTA by year-end
25-May-2006 Sify
Singapore and Pakistan will sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before the end of this year, Federal Minister of Commerce, Himayun Akhtar Khan has said.
Pakistan begins talks with China for free trade accord
24-May-2006 Financial Express
Pakistan is in separate bilateral talks with China and Malaysia to ease trade restrictions between the nations and is close to signing an accord with Singapore, commerce minister Humayun Akhtar said.
Arab agricultural engineers review effects of free trade zone
24-May-2006 MENAFN
The Arab Agricultural Engineers Union on Monday convened its 16th technical conference to discuss "Agricultural Integration under the Establishment of Greater Arab Free Trade Zone." The zone, which came into effect in late 2005, includes 18 member states and represents 94 per cent of all Arab trade.
US won’t negotiate with caretaker govt
24-May-2006 Bangkok Post
The United States is ready to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand when the political situation here is clearer, US ambassador Ralph Boyce said yesterday. Washington cannot negotiate a deal with a caretaker government, he said.
Ecuador to oppose arbitration claim filed by Occidental Petroleum
24-May-2006 MarketWatch
Ecuador will oppose an arbitration suit filed last week by Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY) with the World Bank’s International Center for Investment Disputes in Washington, DC, said Ecuadorean Attorney General Jose Maria Borja.
Globalized protests
23-May-2006 Korea Times
Korea and the United States will start formal negotiations on a bilateral free trade accord in Washington on June 5. Flying to the US capital for the occasion are not only government delegates but also a contingent of about 100 demonstrators. Having heard much about Korean protesters’ militancy, local police have reportedly entered a state of emergency.