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US pushes to limit generic drug rights
18-Apr-2006
Under global trading rules, the inventors of medicines ordinarily enjoy the right to a 20-year monopoly on their inventions. But five years ago, the United States joined 141 other countries to sign the Doha Declaration, confirming the right of poor countries to break drug patents and produce cheap generic drugs in the event of contagions like HIV.
US FTAs could hit Pak gains in exports: ADB
18-Apr-2006
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cautioned that free trade agreements between the US and many of Pakistan’s competitors in clothing exports as well as the trade diversion effect of the May 2005 inclusion of 10 East European countries in the EU (itself one of the top three T&C exporters), could affect the country’s potential gains in exports.
A US-Caricom free trade agreement?
18-Apr-2006
US Trade Representative, Robert Portman, met Trade Ministers of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries on 12 April giving rise to speculation that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the US and Caricom countries might be in the offing.
UAE-US free trade to be signed before year-end
18-Apr-2006
The US free trade agreement with the UAE might take unspecified time to sign, but the US hopes to ink the deal before the end of this year, although nothing is clear as yet, according to a senior official from the US Embassy in Dubai.
Ecuador may clinch FTA
18-Apr-2006
The Ecuadorian government insisted Tuesday on having the last Free Trade Agreement (FTA) round of negotiations with the US and is readying a formal request from Washington.
Industry FTA team launched
18-Apr-2006
Representatives from a variety of industries have formed a private board to closely monitor the government’s negotiations with the United States for a free trade agreement (FTA).
Indo-Nepal trade treaty to be recast
18-Apr-2006 Financial Express
The Indian government plans to broadbase the scope of the bilateral Indo-Nepal treaty for trade to make it less import-centric and more comprehensive and mutually beneficial.
Indonesia, Japan resume free trade negotiations
18-Apr-2006 Jakarta Post
Indonesia and Japan began their fourth round of official negotiations for a bilateral trade and economic cooperation agreement Monday, and hope to reach a basic accord by the end of the year at the latest.
Peru: Date for FTA debate to be set
18-Apr-2006 Prensa Latina
The draft free trade agreement with the US still lacks a date for discussion in the Peruvian Congress Constitution Committee as the text has not yet been submitted, Parliament Speaker Antero Flores said Monday.
METI’s Asia-Oceania FTA pitch surprises but is predictable
18-Apr-2006 Japan Times
Trade minister Toshihiro Nikai’s announcement earlier this month that Japan plans to start talks with 15 other nations in 2008 to create an Asia-Oceania free-trade zone took many by surprise — not only experts but also those within government — sparking speculation about the ministry’s true intentions.
Int’l Intellectual Property Alliance supports US-Taiwan FTA
18-Apr-2006 Asia Pulse
The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), an influential business entity, expressed strong support for the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Taiwan.
DPM instructs postponement of US-Thai FTA talks
18-Apr-2006 MCOT
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Monday revealed that he had instructed postponement of negotiations for the proposed free trade area (FTA) agreement between the United States and Thailand until the new government is formed.
Sri Lanka FTA gives traders oily woes
18-Apr-2006 CNN-IBN
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka is costing Indian vanaspati-makers a fortune. With the Sri Lankan vanaspati flooding the Indian market, factories are shutting down, rendering hundreds of people jobless.
S Korea warns of collapse in free trade talks with US
17-Apr-2006 Asia Pulse
South Korea’s trade minister warned Monday that the upcoming negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States could collapse if the deal harms South Korean national interests.
Seoul attempts to appease farmers
17-Apr-2006 IHT
The South Korean government may offer more incentives for farmers and their families in an attempt to curb protests over its negotiations with the United States for a free-trade agreement, South Korea’s chief negotiator said Monday.
EU-Latin trade up
17-Apr-2006 Latin Business Chronicle
The European Union posted strong trade growth with Latin America last year, led by Venezuela and Mexico. But future EU relations with the region will depend on expanding free trade agreements.
US refuses to budge ahead of S. Africa trade talks
17-Apr-2006 Reuters
The United States hopes to agree a road-map with southern Africa on reaching a trade pact this week but will not budge on key issues that have previously stalled talks, a top official said on Monday.
Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (draft, 2003)
17-Apr-2006 JPEPA Research Project
Working draft of the agreement as of 21 April 2003
Nesac urges caution over US FTA talks
17-Apr-2006 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Advisory Council has urged the government to delay free trade negotiations with the US on financial services and take intellectual property rights and agriculture liberalisation off the agenda.
Oil law may hit Ecuador-US deal
17-Apr-2006 FT
New legislation designed to increase the state’s share of windfall oil revenues by some $600m a year is set to derail Ecuador’s plans to negotiate a trade deal with the US, according to government officials.