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Improbable implementation of free trade by January 2006
9-Dec-2005 Dominican Today
It is still unclear whether the DR-Central America and US Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) will start in January 2006, and if it does, most of the Central American countries lag in preparation to enter commercial activity.
Bilateral investment treaties dangerous traps: experts
9-Dec-2005 New Age
Experts have cautioned that bilateral investment treaties with the rich countries will ultimately lead the developing and least developed countries towards dangerous traps at the cost of their national interests.
Rice row threatens ASEAN-South Korea free-trade deal
9-Dec-2005 AFP
A row over Asia’s staple food, rice, is threatening to scuttle a proposed free-trade deal between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea, which wants to protect the key sector from tariff cuts.
Japan, Malaysia to sign FTA next week in Kuala Lumpur
9-Dec-2005 Antara News
apan and Malaysia are scheduled to sign a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) during their summit talks in Kuala Lumpur next week on the sidelines of the inaugural East Asian Summit, Japanese officials said Friday.
ASEAN to ink FTAs with India, S Korea
8-Dec-2005
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to sign free trade agreements next week with India and South Korea, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz has said.
Second round of Pak-China FTA talks on
8-Dec-2005
Pakistan and China on Wednesday started second-round of negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with a pledge to make it an effective document, giving boost to their bilateral trade and establishing mutually beneficial cooperative partnership.
Regional, bilateral trade pacts to mushroom if WTO talks fail
8-Dec-2005 The News International
Regional and bilateral agreements will proliferate further and protectionist tendencies are likely to increase if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Hong Kong fail, business leaders and analysts say.
US, Peru reach free trade agreement
8-Dec-2005 AP
The US and Peru have wrapped up negotiations on a free trade agreement, officials from both countries said Wednesday. The pact was reached after Colombia and Ecuador halted their own discussions with Washington on what was expected to be a regional agreement linking all three countries with the United States.
US and Peru end trade impasse with agreement
8-Dec-2005 FT
The US and Peru struck a wide-ranging trade agreement on Wednesday after 18 months of talks that had been mired in disagreements over agricultural and intellectual property issues.
House OKs trade agreement with Bahrain
8-Dec-2005 AP
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to make the small Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain one of the few Middle Eastern countries with a free-trade relationship with the United States.
Business chiefs urge METI to bolster Asian FTA efforts
8-Dec-2005 Japan Times
Japan’s business leaders want Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai to promote free-trade agreements between Japan and Asian economies as well as market-opening negotiations under the World Trade Organization.
Free trade, but not fair trade
7-Dec-2005
Early results of the free trade agreements (FTAs) Thailand made with China, Australia, New Zealand and India are quite worrying for the country.
African and European farmers say no to EPAs and no to a WTO agreement in HKG
7-Dec-2005
Farmers organizations from West Africa and the European Union are convinced that the EPA talks will lead to an agreement which will be detrimental to family farming unless strong corrective measures are taken.
Thailand will not sign ASEAN-S. Korea FTA: spokesman
7-Dec-2005 People’s Daily
Thailand will not sign a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Association of South East Asian Nations and South Korea because it does not include rice, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said on Tuesday.
Getting SAARCastic
6-Dec-2005 Hard News
While the temptation exists to conclude as many FTAs as possible - in line with the global trend - India’s aspirations to become a global power will not amount to much unless it defends its exclusive zone of influence in South Asia against China.
Timely demise for Free Trade Area of the Americas
6-Dec-2005 La Prensa San Diego
When the Bush cabinet announced intentions to revive the moribund Free Trade Area of the Americas at the Fourth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, the countries of the Southern Common Market closed ranks to prevent it. What followed was a diplomatic melee that reflects not so much divisions within Latin America, as a growing resistance to the current free trade model throughout the developing world.
US-Taiwan FTA not likely within next few years: USTR official
6-Dec-2005 CNA
A ranking US Trade Representative Office (USTR) official said Tuesday it is not likely that the United States and Taiwan will be able to reach a free trade agreement within the next couple of years as talks on many bilateral trade issues have yet to be completed.
COMESA members told to keep eye on globalisation
6-Dec-2005
ZANIS-Vice President Lupando Mwape has advised the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to take into account the global, regional and local developments in all its endeavours.
Ecuador exec - Govt skirting FTA issue
6-Dec-2005
The Ecuadorian executive and congress have been accused of politicking around a referendum on whether to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the US.
Panama questions FTA with US
6-Dec-2005
Panamanian farmers on Monday called for a mass demonstration December 11 to analyze the state of the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which their government plans to sign with the United States.