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US-Guatemala FTA unconstitutional
6-Apr-2006 Prensa Latina
The free trade treaty between US and Guatemala is unconstitutional and violates everything from the principle of equality of enterprises to working rights, declared Guatemalan attorney Ramon Cadenas Wednesday.
Japan proposes huge free trade zone
6-Apr-2006
Japan’s sponsorship of a vast free trade area including most of Asia, Australia and New Zealand is expected to be on the agenda when Associate Trade Minister Jim Sutton visits Tokyo later this month.
Ecuador writer takes trade protest to city walls
6-Apr-2006 Reuters
With can of spray paint in hand, Ecuadorean author Alex Ron has turned his writing talent loose on the walls of Quito to vent his anger about a pending U.S. free-trade pact that has sparked weeks of Indian protests.
RP sees Japan trade deal in July
5-Apr-2006 ABS-CBN
The Philippines’ top diplomat said Wednesday he hoped to sign a delayed free-trade deal with Japan in July to mark the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of relations after World War II.
US, Indonesia eye future free trade agreement
5-Apr-2006 Reuters
The United States and Indonesia launched talks on Tuesday to curb illegal logging that threatens the Southeast Asian country’s rain forests and advanced other initiatives that could lead to a free trade pact, top trade officials from both countries said.
The impact of free trade agreements on intellectual property standards in a post-TRIPS world
4-Apr-2006
We are living in a post-TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) world. Almost every member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has had to reform their intellectual property laws in order to meet the minimum standards of protection that TRIPS prescribes .
Japanese govt to propose big Asian free-trade zone
4-Apr-2006 AFX
The Japanese government plans to propose the formation of an Asian free-trade zone which could include half the world’s population and rival the EU and NAFTA, an official of the trade ministry said.
All-People Struggle against FTA declared in S. Korea
4-Apr-2006 Korean News Service
Representatives of south Korean civic and social organizations reportedly called a press conference on March 28 to declare the inauguration of the "Headquarters of the All-people Movement for Checking the Conclusion of FTA."
Former presidential aide slams FTA talks with US
4-Apr-2006 Yonhap
A former aide to President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday denounced the president’s push for a free trade agreement (FTA) deal with the United States as a "grave blunder" that could endanger the Roh regime and the entire Korean economy.
Beirut begins implementation of EU Association Agreement
4-Apr-2006 Daily Star
The implementation of the Association Agreement-signed four years ago by the European Union and Lebanon-was announced Monday, and is expected to boost bilateral trade, increase the access of Lebanese exports to Europe, and strengthen institutional and political ties between the two sides.
Economy too deserves an Arab Summit
4-Apr-2006 Dar Al Hayat
The Great Arab Free Trade Area Agreement (GAFTA) was enforced in January 2005 after a 7-year preparatory transition period. This is the first joint Arab economic action likely to help the Arab countries gain huge profits in line with the regulations of the WTO, the venue absorbing regional economic blocs. Most probably, the results in the first experimental year were not up to the expectations.
EU backs southeast Europe free-trade pact in 2006
4-Apr-2006 Daily Times
The European Union will give strong support to efforts by the continent’s southeastern countries, most of them in the Balkans, to sign a regional free trade deal this year, EU officials said on Monday.
US presses Peru on farm imports before signing deal
4-Apr-2006 Reuters
The United States is pressing Peru to remove technical barriers to US agricultural products concerning food safety before the two countries sign a bilateral free trade deal, a senior US lawmaker said on Monday.
FTA to leave Hondurans jobless
4-Apr-2006 Prensa Latina
Honduran humanitarian bodies predicted Monday that the implementation of the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will increase unemployment in agriculture and in small and medium companies.
Joint study group to initiate Pakistan-Canada FTA
4-Apr-2006 Daily Times
Steps are under way to set up a Pak-Canada Joint Study Group for initiating Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, as the volume of two-way trade is not up to the mark in Pakistan and Canada.
Ecuador, US delay free trade talks in Washington
4-Apr-2006 Reuters
Ecuador and the United States decided to suspend free trade negotiations until late April after a deadlock in talks, the Ecuadorean president’s spokesman said on Monday.
Focus on bilateral trade deals, Bush is urged
4-Apr-2006
Bill Thomas, President George W. Bush’s most important congressional ally on trade liberalisation, is urging the administration to focus its energy on concluding bilateral trade deals, warning on Monday that the Doha multilateral round of talks was heading for failure because of conflicts between the US and the European Union.
EU-Latin America: Doubts arise over May summit
4-Apr-2006 IPS
The European Commission’s objective is to ’’establish an enhanced partnership through a network of association agreements (including free trade agreements) involving all the countries of the [Latin America and Caribbean] region and liable to contribute to the integration of the region as a whole.’’
Former PMs aim for closer US-NZ links
3-Apr-2006
A delegation of New Zealand political and business leaders is heading for the United States to forge closer links between the countries, despite fading hopes of a free trade deal in the short term.
Manufacturing a trade pact with China
3-Apr-2006
The proposed free-trade agreement with China is intended to better position South African business to gain access to China’s economy. But will it?