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How the trade deal Boris Johnson is pursuing threatens workers’ rights
2-Feb-2021 Left Foot Forward
The danger is that the UK Prime Minister is eager to get a deal, so he could accept whatever terms the CPTPP countries demand.
Unsustainable RCEP
1-Feb-2021 The Statesman
If the latest flare ups over the contentious territorial issues and popular anti-China sentiments in the region are anything to go by, it seems likely that uncertainty over domestic ratification of the RCEP agreement by the signatory states would persist in the days ahead.
EU-Canada FTA (CETA): investment court texts (Jan 2021)
1-Feb-2021 European Commission
The EU and Canada adopt rules putting in place the CETA investment court
1-Feb-2021 European Commission
The EU and Canada adopted four decisions putting in place the Investment Court System provisions agreed in the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
India may offer Cairn oilfield against $1.4 billion arbitration award
1-Feb-2021 Business Today
For a government struggling to find revenue to boost a COVID-19 battered economy, options of appeal against the arbitration award are limited and it may not have the financial bandwidth for such a payout.
UK to apply to join free trade pact with nations on other side of world
1-Feb-2021 The Guardian
The British government to seek to join 11-nation trans-Pacific partnership, whose nearest member is 3,000 miles away.
EAEU to set up free trade zones with Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mongolia
1-Feb-2021 BELTA
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is conducting necessary work to conclude free trade agreements with Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Mongolia. In particular, EAEU plan to resume the negotiation process in the first half of the year, to hold negotiations along the tracks that they have.
AfCFTA and the economic emergence of Africa
1-Feb-2021 Enquête+
Economists deconstruct the myth surrounding the trade agreement
Biden to focus on trade enforcement after years of Trump tariffs
1-Feb-2021 Bloomberg
President Joe Biden’s administration is setting up its trade policy to prioritize enforcement of existing commitments by the US’s partners over negotiating more deals to open new export markets.
Brunei to host the RCEP Interim Joint Committee meeting
1-Feb-2021 Foreign Brief
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Interim Joint Committee is to hold a virtual meeting on 30 January 2021 and will be the first joint committee meeting since the formal signing of the RCEP agreement.
EU-India investment agreement?
29-Jan-2021 Euro Intelligence
The EU will be able to strike an investment deal with India, but a full-blown free trade agreement will be a much harder sell, said Portugal’s foreign minister.
British and Turkish unions want to suspend fledgling trade deal over labor concerns
29-Jan-2021 Politico
UK government urged to use deal to demand Turkey ‘recognizes and respects’ labor standards.
Rush order on India signings
29-Jan-2021 Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia and India have agreed to speed up negotiations on a number of key documents that will lead to the signing of two significant accords.
S. Korea vows to speed up trade talks with Central, South America in 2021
29-Jan-2021 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry vowed to make more progress in expanding trade pacts with counterparts from Central and South America this year, in line with its efforts to diversify its export portfolio amid the growing protectionism around the globe.
Table of foreign investor-state cases and claims under NAFTA and other US “trade deals”
28-Jan-2021 Public Citizen
ISDS tribunals have ordered governments to pay corporations more than $989 million in compensation after ISDS attacks launched just under U.S. agreements.
The status of investor-state arbitration in Latin America in 2021
28-Jan-2021 Lexology
Last year saw a wave of cases against Latin American states, driven in particular, but not exclusively, by a large number of claims filed against Peru, Colombia and Mexico. This wave is likely to continue in 2021.
UK will apply to trans-Pacific trade bloc before publishing economic impact - officials
28-Jan-2021 Reuters
The move is likely to increase opposition fears that Boris Johnson’s government is using Britain’s exit from the European Union to drive through policy in an opaque way and will rush into trade deals, with unintended consequences.
Drystock farmers to lose out to increased imports in EU plans for 12 trade agreements
28-Jan-2021 Irish Examiner
It is envisaged sheep meat imports from Australia and New Zealand would result in sheep prices in the EU falling by 1.9% to 3.1%.
Next round of UK, Australia trade talks set for February: source
28-Jan-2021 Reuters
The deal with Australia could be completed as soon as March, Britain’s talks with Australia being likely to conclude before similar negotiations with New Zealand and the United States.
As largest FDI recipient, China improves business climate for investors
28-Jan-2021 Global Times
As its economy maintains recovery momentum, the country aims to attract foreign investors this year by encouraging investment in more industries, shortening negative lists for foreign investment, and further expanding the free-trade network.