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ASEAN talks hit a trade barrier
23-Oct-2005 The Age
Australia and New Zealand want a comprehensive free trade agreement with ASEAN, but some ASEAN nations have no competition policy, and reject any negotiations on intellectual property and government procurement.
As the TNCs catch you: An analysis of the liberalization of biotechnological products in the Thai-US FTA
21-Oct-2005 APRN
One of the books the Thai Prime Minister suggested his cabinet members read was “As the Future Catches You” by Juan Enriquez, a Mexican writer. The book’s contents relate to the fact that countries need to catch up with the development of biotechnology. Otherwise they will be alienated and left behind.
UNESCO adopts convention to protect diversity
21-Oct-2005 IPS
The United Nations cultural body adopted an international treaty Thursday to protect cultural diversity. This a moral victory, but the real test is whether developing countries will resist US pressure to commit their audiovisual and information services to bilateral trade agreements.
American Chamber warns of urgent measures prior to Free Trade
21-Oct-2005 Dominican Today
The American Chamber of Commerce yesterday submitted to both chambers of Congress a number of administrative and legislative measures that the country should adopt, within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Central America (DR-CAFTA), while warning that all imported products must be treated with the same guidelines as local goods.
General Motors applauds successful US-Oman Free Trade Agreement
21-Oct-2005 AME Info
General Motors, the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer, applauds the successful conclusion of negotiations to create a US-Oman Free Trade Agreement.
Peters to oppose FTA with China
20-Oct-2005 stuff
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says he will continue to oppose a free trade agreement with China, although it is government policy to negotiate one.
Screen quota defenders rally for Unesco draft
20-Oct-2005 JoongAng Daily
The long-running dispute over Korea’s screen quota system is moving onto new ground: the quota’s supporters are rallying around the final draft of a Unesco convention that would exclude the cultural industries in all of the organization’s member states from free trade agreements or World Trade Organization bylaws.
The dynamics of regional trading arrangements
20-Oct-2005 South Centre
There has been a spate of trade agreements signed between countries in recent years - from the same region and even beyond. And this may not necessarily have to do with the fact that it has been a tough going for the multilateral trading system. Regionalism may have its own dynamics.
Romanian lawyers won an USD 353m international arbitration case against an US investor
19-Oct-2005
Romania has won at the International Court of Arbitration in Washington, the case brought by the American company Noble Ventures that contested the Romanian state actions in the privatization process of Resita Steel Plant (CSR).
Need for FTA between India, Bangladesh: High Commissioner
19-Oct-2005 Asia Pulse
Underscoring the need for a Free Trade Agreement between India and Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Veena Sikri today said it was important to overcome a "negative" mindset to help boost trade between the two countries.
The global governance of foreign direct investment: madly off in all directions
19-Oct-2005 GURN
Notwithstanding substantial doubts that increased FDI and economic growth are not automatically linked and that investments agreements may be less important in attracting FDI than other economic and socio-political framework conditions, the proliferation of bilateral investments agreements (BITs) goes ahead unrestrained.
Social standards in bilateral and regional trade and investment agreements
19-Oct-2005 GURN
Is the stalemate over the incorporation of core labour standards at the multilateral WTO level being compensated for by progressive promotion of labour rights in bilateral and regional agreements?
Bilateral and regional trade agreements: Report of a GURN online discussion
19-Oct-2005 GURN
In order to increase and improve trade union participation in trade agreements an online discussion was organised in March 2005, over 4 weeks, which considered the involvement of trade unions in trade agreements, the role they play and the influence they have on the final outcome of trade agreements.
Real deal is in the fine print
19-Oct-2005 The Age
For Australian manufacturing companies the key concessions of any FTA with China are only half the battle - the devil is in the detail.
Japan, Chile to begin free trade talks: report
19-Oct-2005 Channel News Asia
Japan and Chile are likely to begin formal negotiations next year on an economic partnership centring on a free trade agreement (FTA), a newspaper said.
China-ASEAN FTA steps into implementation period
19-Oct-2005 People’s Daily
With cooperation between China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) deepening, the construction of a China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) has entered a full-spectrum cooperation period, said Chong Quan, spokesman for China’s Commerce Ministry.
Mitsubishi eyes Asia for expansion
19-Oct-2005 Business Report
Japan’s Mitsubishi Motor has set its sights on Thailand and other Asian nations for future expansion, the president of the automaker said on Tuesday. "With FTAs (free trade agreements) envisioned with Asian countries, such as ASEAN and India, we should reap benefits of such initiatives," Masuko said.
Japanese investment in Indonesia to double
19-Oct-2005 Asia Times
The Indonesian government expects Japan’s investment and the value of export by Japanese companies in Indonesia to double in the coming five years, as the first-round negotiation between the Indonesian and Japanese governments on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has run smoothly.
Filipino solons to probe 35 unratified bilateral agreements
18-Oct-2005 Asia Pulse
Philippine House Committees on globalization and trade will study 35 bilateral agreements the Philippines forged over the past decades with some countries.
Top US executives set for FTA tour of Central America
18-Oct-2005 Taipei Times
Taking advantage of a newly approved free trade agreement, the US begins a commercial offensive in Central America this coming week, prompting concerns that local economies weakened by recent floods could represent easy targets for US corporations.