bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

CAFTA deserves a quiet death
27-Jun-2005 Znet
The White House’s failure to push forward its latest "free trade" deal is a victory for working people throughout the Americas.
FTA talks with US without domestic private sector termed not good - UAE
27-Jun-2005
Chairman of the Emirates Bank Group Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer has expressed disappointment about not involving the private sector in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US, fearing it may turn out to be an ’agreement of mass destruction’ for the domestic economy.
Beef holds up Korean-Canadian FTA
27-Jun-2005
Canada and Korea have enjoyed decades of positive bilateral relations and the future looks bright except for one major obstacle - beef - that is holding back negotiations for a free trade agreement between the countries.
Urge Congress to vote NO on CAFTA!
27-Jun-2005 Global Exchange
Global Exchange, an international human rights organization, calls on citizens across the country to make their voices heard with their elected officials in opposition to CAFTA.
Wisdom ultimately prevails on Gulf states’ FTAs with US
27-Jun-2005 Zawya
The wise decision adopted by the GCC Finance and Economy Ministers to exclude the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) signed or expected to be signed with the United States from the Gulf agreement concerning unified customs tariffs is considered a prudent decision that serves the interest of enhancing Gulf economic co-operation and integration.
Bush likely to pay high price for CAFTA accord
27-Jun-2005 Financial Times
A US trade official acknowledged that the lack of Democratic support [for the congressional vote on CAFTA] “means we are going to have to make some trade-offs with elements of the Republican party that do not normally support trade agreements. That will probably involve making some uncomfortable deals.”
No quota under proposed JPEPA
27-Jun-2005 Manila Bulletin
The Japanese government is considering the position of the Philippines that there should be no quota and volume limit on the entry of Filipino IT and medical professionals to Japan but rather the entry of Filipino labor to Japan be driven by demand and qualification.
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).