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UK, Egypt sign post-Brexit trade agreement
7-Dec-2020 Arab News
The agreement will allow British businesses and consumers to benefit from continued preferential access to the Egyptian market after the end of the Brexit transition period.
Tonga not ready for new trade rules as PACER Plus comes into force on 13 December
7-Dec-2020 Matangi Tonga
When the PACER Plus comes into force on 13 December 2020, Tonga will face a major financial difficulty of countering big trade deficits with two of its main trading partners, Australia and New Zealand.
Commission reports on negotiating round with five Eastern and Southern African countries
7-Dec-2020 European Commission
The third round of negotiations was held virtually from 24 to 27 November 2020. The next round is foreseen for April 2021.
Russia suffers new blow in $50 billion Yukos case
7-Dec-2020 The Moscow Times
The Netherlands’ top court ruled that shareholders in dismantled oil giant Yukos can continue to pursue Russia for $50 billion in compensation pending a final judgement in a long legal saga.
RCEP fails to promote a people-centred ASEAN
7-Dec-2020 The ASEAN Post
If indeed the RCEP is an ASEAN-led initiative, it fell short of supporting the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The RCEP offers little in terms of shedding ASEAN’s elitist image and committing to the development of a highly inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community.
“It did not go well” - Barrick continues pressure on Papua New Guinea government while ignoring human rights
4-Dec-2020 Mining Watch
Barrick is offering the government of Papua New Guinea to pause legal proceedings upon signing of a framework agreement to reverse the decision not to grant it a licence renewal for its former Porgera mine.
Post-Cotonou: Negotiators reach a political deal on a new EU/Africa-Caribbean-Pacific partnership agreement
4-Dec-2020 European Commission
The chief negotiators from the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) reached a political deal on the text for a new partnership agreement that will succeed the Cotonou Agreement.
North Macedonia and UK sign partnership, trade and cooperation agreement
4-Dec-2020 UK Government
The UK has signed a partnership, trade and cooperation agreement with North Macedonia.
EU Commission could pull out of controversial energy treaty
4-Dec-2020 EU Observer
The European Commission has confirmed for the first time that Brussels could withdraw from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which critics say shields the fossil-fuel industry.
India’s withdrawal From RCEP: is it better off?
4-Dec-2020 India’s withdrawal From RCEP: is it better off?
India’s focus has shifted to the creation of a strong domestic agricultural and industrial base, and therefore, joining the RCEP no longer appears to be a priority.
EU and ASEAN focus on connectivity in move towards free trade agreement
3-Dec-2020 Computing
The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a first step to simplified trade between the bodies.
New report: The EU ignores its own court on conflict trade
3-Dec-2020 WSRW
The report shows the efforts that the EU is taking to politically undercut the ruling of EU Court of Justice that prevented products from occupied Western Sahara from being part of EU’s trade agreements with Morocco.
Joe Biden says trade agreements are not a priority, in blow to Boris Johnson’s hopes of a post-Brexit deal
3-Dec-2020 The Independent
‘I’m not going to enter any new trade agreement with anybody until we have made major investments here at home’
Indonesia expects to ratify trade deal with EFTA soon to attract new investment
3-Dec-2020 The Jakarta Post
The Indonesian government is expecting to finish the ratification of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement with EFTA early next year in a bid to attract investment from those countries amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Chile aims to seal updated EU trade deal in early 2021
2-Dec-2020 Reuters
Chile and the European Union could seal a deal on a modernised free-trade accord by April, Chile’s deputy trade minister said.
Biden says will not kill Phase 1 trade deal with China immediately: NYT
2-Dec-2020 Reuters
Joe Biden will not immediately cancel the Phase 1 trade agreement that President Donald Trump struck with China nor take steps to remove tariffs on Chinese exports.
Ukraine plans to negotiate FTA with several countries
2-Dec-2020 Xinhua
Ukraine plans to start talks or resume negotiations on free trade agreements (FTA) with several countries, including China, Britain and North African countries.
Far from a change, RCEP agreement is more capitalism as usual
1-Dec-2020 Counter Punch
“It’s not as bad as the worst agreements out there” really shouldn’t be a cause for celebration.
No text yet for Canada-UK trade deal, minister says as Dec. 31 tariff deadline looms
1-Dec-2020 CBC
The announcement of the Canada-UK deal came in a hastily-called teleconference with no accompanying briefings about the content of the deal.
EAC upbeat Biden will revive stalled trade talks
1-Dec-2020 The East African
The East African Community is optimistic that the US President elect Joe Biden will revive the negotiations and implementations of the EAC-US Trade and Investment Partnership.