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Dairy connection to free-trade deal
8-Jun-2005
Despite last week’s political hype caused by Prime Minister Helen Clark’s talks with China’s top leadership - much of it fuelled by Clark - there is a big gap between the two sides on free-trade talks.
Malaysia agrees to examine Bangladesh’s plea for reducing trade gap
8-Jun-2005
Malaysia has agreed to examine Bangladesh’s cause of reducing trade imbalance heavily tilted towards Kuala Lumpur as the first day of official level talks of the two-day Joint Commission meeting concluded here yesterday.
India Inc study shows perils of Thai FTA
7-Jun-2005
Fearing a further surge in imports from Thailand under the Indo-Thai free trade agreement (FTA), India Inc has brought into sharp focus the urgent need to look internally and address the disabilities suffered by Indian companies in terms of high cost of production, higher import duties, infrastructure service cost and huge interest rate differential compared with the neighbouring country.
United Nations children’s committee warns about FTA threats
7-Jun-2005 IP-health
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in recommendations made public this week warned that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) may negatively affect access to affordable medicines and social services for the poor.
Free trade, the new con trick
7-Jun-2005
It is two years since the US and Australia signed a so-called free trade agreement, and it is nearly 60 years since George Orwell introduced the concept of "newspeak", which describes how politicians often subvert language to make it mean the opposite of what it says.
US has stake in Japan-Mexico FTA
7-Jun-2005 IATP Trade Observatory
The agreement deserves particular attention in the U.S., not only because it offers insights into future Japanese FTAs, but also because of its long-range implications for integration of North American and Japanese markets.
India hopeful of FTA with S’pore soon
6-Jun-2005
The South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) is expected to be signed by January 2006, while India is hopeful of a free trade agreement with Singapore very soon, said S.N. Menon, Secretary in the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
US cautions EU over Syria deal
6-Jun-2005 Al Jazeera
Washington has urged the EU to hold off on signing a trade and aid pact with Syria, citing its doubts that Damascus withdrew all intelligence agents from Lebanon and was allowing fighters to enter Iraq.
Local businesses stumble over Angola visas
6-Jun-2005
The issue of trade visas, transfer pricing of goods and the long outstanding issue of the Bilateral Investment Agreement between Namibia and Angola are some of the challenges facing businesses in the country.
Dance with the dragon
6-Jun-2005
Negotiating a free-trade deal with China will secure our interests and smooth the way for further exports.
Seoul plans safety net for free trade victims
6-Jun-2005
Seoul on Friday decided to support workers and businesses that fall victim to trade liberalization, even as APEC ministers in Jeju pledged to back a formula that would drastically slash tariffs in non-agricultural sectors.
No FTA talks until Seoul resumes beef imports: US
6-Jun-2005
US Trade Representative Rob Portman on Friday said Korea must resume import of U.S. beef and lift a screen quota that disadvantages Hollywood films if it wants to start negotiating a free trade agreement with Washington.
FTA to allow Morocco export non-Moroccan textile products to USA
6-Jun-2005
The free trade agreement signed between Morocco and the USA will grant Morocco a waiver from the normal rules of origin and allow the kingdom export textile products from less developed African Sub-Saharan countries.
SA to push for agreement to protect assets in Zimbabwe
6-Jun-2005
South Africa is set to push once more for the signing of an investment protection agreement with Zimbabwe as President Robert Mugabe starts implementing threats to abolish private ownership of land.
Brunei too in historic free-trade agreement
5-Jun-2005
Brunei Darussalam together with Chile, New Zealand and Singapore are now the founding members of the first ever Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement.
APEC trade ministers agree to promote trade facilitation in RTA/FTAs
5-Jun-2005
APEC Trade Ministers have agreed to develop possible model measures on trade facilitation for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Regional Trading Agreements (RTAs) for endorsement by APEC Leaders in November.
Dhaka, KL Jt body meets today: FTA, duty-free access for 19 goods on agenda
5-Jun-2005
The 3rd Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) begins here today (Monday) after a hiatus of over 10 years to explore intensified cooperation in potential sectors of trade, investment and manpower.
Atiyya: FTA agreements with the US will not hinder GCC march
5-Jun-2005
The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Atiyya, has said that the next GCC summit in Abu Dhabi would boost the GCC march and joint economic work, particularly in the area of ensuring the implementation of the customs union and expediting steps towards the implementation of a Gulf Common Market.
Korea sees progress in FTA talks with EFTA
5-Jun-2005
Korea made progress in talks for inking a free trade agreement with the four countries of the European Free Trade Association, the government said yesterday.
Gulf Arab states exclude US from collective trade agreements
5-Jun-2005 AFP
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have agreed to exclude the United States from collective trade agreements, allowing members to strike bilateral free trade deals with Washington, the Kuwaiti foreign minister said.