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Longing for modest gains from SAFTA
26-Jun-2005 Financial Express
Much though economic integration is desirable, the SAARC nations will first have to create a politically harmonious subcontinent, and that is a formidable task. The ball is now in India’s court. It must take frantic efforts to wipe out elements of mistrust, shun big brotherly attitude and help restore confidence among its neighbours.
India-Thailand FTA (2003)
26-Jun-2005 Thai Law Forum
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR ESTABLISHING FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND
Syria chides activists over EU pact comments
26-Jun-2005 Daily Star
The Syrian government has taken prominent human rights activists to task for calling on the EU not to sign a billion-dollar trade deal with Damascus due to its poor human rights record.
Conversation: Rob Portman
25-Jun-2005 Public Broadcasting Service
Rob Portman, the new US trade representative, discusses the US trade deficit with China and the controversial Central America Free Trade Agreement.
India replacing China as new trade attraction
24-Jun-2005
With China-ASEAN free trade already under way, other free-trade agreements that are in the works include China-Australia, China-New Zealand, China-India, China-Pakistan and China-Chile as well as recent initiatives with Iceland, Japan, Korea and Thailand. However, this focus is likely to change, shifting slowly but steadily toward India.
India proposes FTA with Bangladesh
24-Jun-2005 Sify
India has proposed Free Trade Agreement with Bangladesh according transit rights for Indian goods through Bangladesh territory.
S. Korea, S. Africa to discuss possible FTA
24-Jun-2005 Yonhap
South Korea and South Africa will hold talks next week in Pretoria to discuss a variety of issues, including the possible signing of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), South Korean officials said Thursday.
Lanka sees end to trade bias
23-Jun-2005
Sri Lanka is hopeful that whatever trade asymmetries remain, even after the adoption of the Indo-Sri Lanka free trade agreement (FTA), will be sorted out while finalising the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with India by the end of this year. This is according to a high-ranking Sri Lankan official.
JPEPA: News in brief
23-Jun-2005 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines government is completing its "clean-up drive" on the country’s legal and dispute settlement mechanism before finally giving its final go signal to the implementation of the country’s first bilateral free trade area (FTA) deal, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
OIC edges towards free trade area
23-Jun-2005 Business Recorder
Muslim nations moved closer to forming a free trade area (FTA) on Monday, with plans to adopt tariff-cutting steps by end-2005 to bridge a gap between oil-rich and poor members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
United States and Mozambique sign TIFA
23-Jun-2005 USTR
US Trade Representative Rob Portman and the Mozambican Minister of Industry and Commerce Antonio Fernando signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) today that will provide a forum to address trade issues and will enhance trade and investment relations between the United States and Mozambique.
US-Mozambique TIFA (2005)
23-Jun-2005 USTR
US, Indonesia build on Trade and Investment Agreement
23-Jun-2005 US State Dept
US and Indonesian officials met in Washington June 20-21 for the second time in three months to discuss ways to deepen their trade relationship, according to a June 22 press release from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).
Pak, US discuss FTA
22-Jun-2005
Commerce Secretary Tasneem Noorani held a detailed discussions at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Washington DC the other day along with their team of experienced negotiators to study details of a free trade agreement (FTA) with USA.
India set to get access to Bimstec markets
22-Jun-2005
India and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) member countries plan to sign a deal to provide access to each others’ markets for the pharmaceuticals and services sectors.
Musharraf meets Thaksin: FTA between Thailand, Pakistan in offing
22-Jun-2005
Pakistan and Thailand moved closer to free trade pact as leaders of the two countries moved closer for establishing an agreement on the topic after they met over the weekend, credible sources said here on Monday.
Thai-Japan FTA talks hit snags
21-Jun-2005
Prospects for Japan signing free trade agreements with Thailand and South Korea are being stymied because the countries remain seriously divided on key industrial and farm sectors, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported yesterday quoting diplomatic sources.
Breakthrough in FTA talks expected soon
21-Jun-2005
The third round of negotiations between China and New Zealand to establish a free trade area (FTA) did not result in a major breakthrough. But a breakthrough may be achieved in the not-too-distant future.
Thai-Chinese FTA leads to soaring bilateral trade
21-Jun-2005
Trade between Thailand and China has shot up to 24 billion baht ($60 million) over the first 20 months of the enforcement of the bilateral free trade area (FTA) agreement, with Thailand holding the balance of trade by over 11 billion baht ($27.5 million), according to the Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Rachane Potjanasuntorn.
UAE rejects GCC pact on free trade deals: Official
21-Jun-2005
Gulf Arab efforts to defend a customs union suffered a setback after the United Arab Emirates refused to sign an accord barring bilateral trade deals except with the United States, Gulf sources said yesterday.