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Scoping studies to pave way for Free Trade Agreement
22-Jan-2006
MALAYSIA and Chile are moving towards an eventual Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both sides to undertake scoping studies. A Joint Study Group has been formed to complete the task and submit recommendations to both governments by the end of the year.
‘Thaksinisation’ strains Thai-US relations
22-Jan-2006 The Nation
When Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra went to Washington DC last September to meet President George W Bush, they agreed that the Thai-US free-trade agreement (FTA) would be completed by this June. At a subsequent meeting with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, he also asked for US assistance in southern Thailand. Obviously there was a clear link between the trade and defence policies of the two countries.
Free trade and movies
22-Jan-2006
The government is hurrying to conclude a free trade agreement with the United States before June 2007 at the latest. It appears natural for Korea to facilitate the FTA process with America, the world’s largest economy and Seoul’s greatest ally. The biggest stumbling block is the screen quota, a protective device for the domestic film industry, or so says Washington.
Panama: Wave of protests
22-Jan-2006 Prensa Latina
Panamanian unions and civilian groups Friday warned they would continue pressuring the government in order to hamper signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US and support a similar pact with Chile.
Investment treaty: Pakistan, US fail to make progress
21-Jan-2006 Dawn
Pakistan and United States on Friday concluded the fourth round of talks on the proposed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which remained inconclusive due to differences on some clauses of the agreement.
Oman pact boosts US agenda in the Middle East
21-Jan-2006 IPS
The Bush administration is pushing a spate of free trade agreements with its allies in the Middle East that mostly lack input from marginalised local communities or civil society groups.
Korea-US trade talks could start soon
21-Jan-2006 donga.com
Trade Minister Kim Hyun-jong said in a news conference Friday, “It remains to be seen whether the upcoming international economic ministers’ meeting scheduled for February 2 will decide to begin Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.” Current Korean FTA regulations stipulate that an international economic ministers’ meeting shall make decisions on whether to start FTA negotiations after taking public opinion into consideration at a public hearing.
Peru endorsed Miami as site of free trade pact secretariat
21-Jan-2006 Miami Herald
President Alejandro Toledo endorsed Miami as the headquarters for a proposed free trade secretariat as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush completed a two-day trade visit to Ecuador and Peru.
Morales not opposed to US trade deal
21-Jan-2006 AP
Backing away from his tough campaign talk against US-sponsored trade initiatives, Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales said Friday he no longer rules out a free-trade deal with the United States and three other Andean nations. But he did not say he supported such a deal, either.
Clashes lead to chaos in Ecuador
21-Jan-2006 BBC
Students and police have clashed again in Ecuador, as protests against a possible rise in bus fares entered a second week. The students also want the government to cancel its contract with the Occidental Petroleum Corporation and for it to refuse to join the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas.
China-ASEAN FTA agreement benefits China’s textile export
21-Jan-2006 Xinhua
Since China and the ASEAN started their tariff reduction process on July 1, 2005 on the basis of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) agreement, the ASEAN would gradually lower its tariff upon Chinese textile and apparel, which may increase China’s textile export to this region.
Korea seeks screen quota reduction
20-Jan-2006
The government Friday launched a campaign to reduce the screen quota in exchange for starting bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United States.
Chile plans more free-trade accords in Asia under Bachelet
20-Jan-2006 Bloomberg
Chile, which counts Asia as its biggest export market, is seeking more free-trade agreements in the region as President-elect Michelle Bachelet pushes for closer trade ties, Foreign Affairs Minister Ignacio Walker said.
US signs trade pact with Oman, keeps Egypt on hold
19-Jan-2006 Reuters
The United States signed a free-trade agreement on Thursday with Oman, a moderate Gulf state and ally in the US war on terrorism, while keeping trade talks with Egypt on hold amid concerns over its commitment to democracy.
EU-Asean FTA talks at intense exploratory stage
19-Jan-2006 The Edge Daily
EU-Asean free trade talks are at "an intense" exploratory stage and the third high-level meeting of trade officials from both regions is scheduled to take place in Bangkok next week, said EU envoy to Malaysia, Thierry Rommel.
US free-trade deal on shaky ground
19-Jan-2006 swissinfo
The prospect of a Swiss-US free-trade accord is in doubt, mainly due to differences over agriculture, according to Swiss Economics Minister Joseph Deiss.
NGOs urge EFTA countries not to endanger public health, food security and development in Thailand
19-Jan-2006
In a letter addressed to the trade and foreign ministers from EFTA states, 50 organisations urged the trade association’s member states to drop provisions from a free trade agreement with Thailand that would restrict access to cheap medicines and credit and limit farmers rights.
Bechtel, Bolivia resolve dispute
19-Jan-2006 San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp. has dropped a $25 million dispute against the Bolivian government for canceling a water contract, after major street demonstrations forced a Bechtel-owned subsidiary to withdraw from Bolivia’s third-largest city.
Joint-study group set up to study Msia-Chile FTA
19-Jan-2006 BERNAMA
Malaysia and Chile have taken the first step towards forging a free trade agreement (FTA) by setting up a joint study group to undertake a feasibility study on the matter.
Egypt-US free trade deal at risk: US official
19-Jan-2006 AFP
Egypt risks missing its chance to clinch a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States if talks do not kick off in the coming weeks, an official with the US Congress said.