2-Sep-2005
In advice for a new report by the development charity ActionAid a lawyer in Matrix Chambers today warns that European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson is violating a legal duty to Africa by undermining alternatives to his trade plans which, critics fear, threaten the jobs of millions of poor people.
2-Sep-2005
Japan Times
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his visiting Thai counterpart, Thaksin Shinawatra, agreed Thursday on a basic accord to lower mutual trade barriers that left key decisions on high tariffs on Japanese cars and Thai rice unresolved.
1-Sep-2005
This IMF working paper of July 2005 describes the proliferation of PTAs in the Asia-Pacific region, discusses their
characteristics and implementation, and assesses their potential effects.
31-Aug-2005
Dawn
Of late, there has been an outbreak of activism in the realm of bilateral free trade and investment agreements across the world. Many developing countries have found themselves swept off by the wave of bilateralism, not realizing it only weakens the cause of multilateralism.
31-Aug-2005
Business Day
Negotiations for a free trade agreement between the US and the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) stalled last year in an atmosphere of impasse rather than acrimony. But on the explicit instruction of President Thabo Mbeki, the talks are now on again and new, ambitious targets have been set for their completion, as well as a new plan for getting past the problems that plagued the last effort.
31-Aug-2005
Arabic News
The US Administration will put forward the draft to the Egyptian-US free trade agreement to the Congress by the end of the current year, Egypt’s Foreign Trade and Industry Minister Rashid Mohamed Rashid said.
31-Aug-2005
Asia Pulse
The president of United Parcel Service (UPS) said today a free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia and China could deliver the logistics giant a similar surge in business that followed the signing of the Australia-US FTA in May last year.
31-Aug-2005
ECO Secretariat
31-Aug-2005
Trade Compliance Center
30-Aug-2005
The Star
Negotiations on bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) are going on at a blazing speed worldwide. Not much is known on how these talks are going. But they have a lot of effects on local industries and farms, on medicine prices and on what can be included in future development strategies.
29-Aug-2005
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said she was confident that Malaysia would be able to sign a free trade agreement with Japan by December this year.
29-Aug-2005
Gulf News
GCC and EU foreign ministers will hold crucial talks in New York next month to remove obstacles hindering a free-trade agreement between the two groups.
26-Aug-2005
ASEAN General Secretary Ong Keng Yong has called on Japan make more compromises in free trade talks between the country and the regional grouping.
26-Aug-2005
As part of efforts to promote free trade agreements (FTA) with Asian countries, Japan will step up such industrial aid as technical cooperation and personnel development for their automotive sectors.
26-Aug-2005
The process of negotiation for the possible Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be concluded by mid-2006, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said.
25-Aug-2005
The launch of free trade agreement (FTA) talks between South Korea and Mexico have stalled, on the latter’s request for an additional concession.
24-Aug-2005
Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile is to hold a round of free trade talks with his Malaysian counterpart at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
24-Aug-2005
Dawn
Pakistan has asked the United States to sign the proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) by dropping its demand that in case of an arbitration only the Washington based International Centre for Settlement of Disputes (ICSID) should be approached for a decision.
24-Aug-2005
China Daily
China is likely to eclipse the World Trade Organization and regional market-opening pacts to become the main driver of freer global trade in the 21st century, a prominent trade academic said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
24-Aug-2005
GRAIN
A detailed roster of FTAs and other bilateral agreements that impose "TRIPS-plus" standards with regard to biological diversity in developing countries.