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Egypt’s Nazif optimistic on free trade pact with US
18-May-2005 Khaleej Times
Egypt and the United States want to negotiate a free trade agreement but haven’t decided when to begin, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said on Tuesday after talks with US officials.
Racism, rights ’could hurt China FTA’
18-May-2005 Sydney Morning Herald
Racism and left wing politicians focusing on human rights could threaten a proposed free trade deal between Australia and China, a new report says.
US and Malaysia hold more talks on bilateral issues
17-May-2005 The Star
US and Malaysian trade officials recently held a second round of talks to discuss outstanding bilateral issues under the US-Malaysia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa), signed last May.
New wind in Bimstec: Negative list exchange for FTA in June
16-May-2005 Daily Star
Officials of the member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) will meet in Colombo in the first week of June to exchange the negative lists of sensitive goods in the run up for a free trade pact among them.
Land grab to go to arbitration
16-May-2005 The Zimbabwean
About 1 500 commercial farmers who have had their land forcibly and sometimes violently seized by Robert Mugabe’s government have taken their case to international arbitration.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan to implement free trade agreement from June
14-May-2005 AP
A Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement will come into effect next month, Sri Lanka’s trade minister said Friday, in a deal expected to double the amount of trade between the two.
Foreign Trade Council: accompanying measures are crucial for Morocco-US FTA success
14-May-2005 Arabic News
Although the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) offers considerable opportunities to Moroccan textile exporters and an outlet to some agricultural produces, accompanying measures are crucial to benefit the most of the accord, believes Mohamed Benayad, head of the National Council for Foreign Trade.
Japan, Indonesia set to launch free-trade talks; Japan, Malaysia to hold next round
13-May-2005 AP
Japan and Indonesia are expected to agree to formally open free trade talks during an upcoming visit to Tokyo by the Indonesian president, a Japanese official said Thursday.
Argentina to seek annulment of ICSID ruling in favour of CMS Energy
13-May-2005 Forbes
The Argentine government said it will try to annul a ruling by the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in favour of US company CMS Energy Corp.
Experts question whether Arabs, S. Americans can deliver alternative to US domination
13-May-2005 Khaleej Times
South American and Arab leaders showed the US this week that they can be a force to be reckoned with - at least when it comes to talking tough. But whether they will be able to fulfill their pledges hinges on their ability to look beyond domestic agendas and resist American efforts to lure them away with lucrative bilateral trade deals.
Removing IPR - too much at stake for Thailand
13-May-2005
The recently concluded round of US-Thai FTA negotiations brought little contentment for the Thais, especially those with direct interests in maintaining the existing degree of intellectual property right (IPR) protection already in place.
FTA preferable to common market, minister insists
12-May-2005
The government will negotiate with Beijing to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) under the auspices of the WTO, rather than creating a cross-strait "common market," Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh said yesterday.
Singapore and Pakistan to start FTA talks next month
12-May-2005
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that Singapore and Pakistan will begin negotiations next month on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
Feeding on fears
12-May-2005 News International
We need to guard against attempts by vested interests to discourage South-South trade and to divide the economic unity of South Asia.
Land of the rising FTA
12-May-2005 Asia Times
With negotiations of an ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA and a China-Australia FTA already under way, building an FTA relationship with Australia is essential if Japan is to maintain its role as a leader in developing an FTA structure in the Asia-Pacific region.
New US trade czar faces tests at home and abroad
11-May-2005 IPS
US Trade Representative Rob Portman, now in his second week on the job, faces numerous challenges as he seeks to build support at home and abroad for an ambitious US trade agenda, observers say.
Korea, US to discuss FTA in Cheju meeting
11-May-2005 Korea Times
South Korea will discuss the possibility of a free trade pact with the United States at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers’ meeting.
Senate panel urges labour unions to fight trade pact
11-May-2005 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday urged labour unions across the country to take a stand against the Thai-Japanese free trade area (FTA) ahead of a new round of talks in July.
Mercosur, GCC sign free trade zone frame agreement
11-May-2005 Xinhua
The signing of the agreement is regarded as the first concrete fruit of the South American-Arab summit taking place in Brasilia this week.
High price to host, protect APEC ’07
11-May-2005 The Age
Hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in 2007 will cost Australia $216.3 million.