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Free trade with China is key
7-May-2005
Economic diplomacy was "a central pivot" around which the South African Foreign Affairs department was anchoring its efforts to address poverty and underdevelopment in South Africa and the continent, deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said on Friday.
’India under cheap textile imports threat’
7-May-2005
Though the end of the quota regime has made India a much sought-after destination in the textile sector, the industry here is reeling under fears of cheap imports from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Thaksin tells businessmen to shape up for free trade
7-May-2005
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday took local industrialists to task for criticising the government’s efforts to forge a free trade area (FTA) agreement with Japan, even as negotiators on both sides continued working to close a deal.
’India under cheap textile imports threat’
7-May-2005
Though the end of the quota regime has made India a much sought-after destination in the textile sector, the industry here is reeling under fears of cheap imports from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Zoellick hits RP violations of IPRs
7-May-2005 Philippine Star
Washington said it would use the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and the out-of-cycle review to assist the Philippine government in strengthening its IPR regime.
SA to reopen US free trade talks
7-May-2005 BUA News
The South African government is to revive talks with the US on trade policies between Washington and the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu).
Vietnam-US: Former enemies to become WTO buddies
6-May-2005
With the painful chapter of war between them closed, both Vietnam and the United States seem to be moving to new horizons in the realm of business relations.
Dominican president to visit US for FTA
6-May-2005
Dominican President Leonel Fernandez will visit the US next Monday to attend a meeting convened by President George W Bush to examine free trade agreements (FTA) together with several Central American counterparts.
It’s make or break time for free trade, says Supachai
6-May-2005
World Trade Organisation chief Supachai Panitchpakdi has described this month as a crucial period that could make or break the highly-anticipated WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December.
Abdullah says FTA with Pakistan can spur bilateral trade
6-May-2005
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and Pakistan can spur faster growth in bilateral trade and investments.
Interview: NZ-China economic ties can be closer, stronger
6-May-2005
New Zealand, expectedly the first developed country to make a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) deal with China, can tap boldly China’s vast market and share more common interests in the future, said Jean-Christophe Iseux, a China expert here Friday.
Steps needed to avoid legal disputes with US
6-May-2005 Bangkok Post
The Thai government must become more efficient and enact more ironclad laws in order to avoid unnecessary legal disputes with US investors once the Thailand-US free trade area (FTA) agreement takes effect, says a local researcher.
UN Cultural Diversity treaty negotiations to tackle trade/investment treaty relationship
6-May-2005 IISD
One of many vexing questions remaining to be worked out by negotiators of the draft convention for the protection of the diversity of cultural products and artistic expression will be the relationship between the proposed convention and existing and future trade and investment treaties which may apply to cultural industries and which might impose restrictions on government cultural policies.
Germans worry about impact of free-trade deal with Japan
6-May-2005
The Thai-Japanese free trade agreement should not put German car makers at a disadvantage, German ambassador Andreas von Stechow said yesterday.
Changing minds
5-May-2005
Rachid Mohamed Rachid, appointed to the industry and foreign trade portfolio last July, speaks to Al-Ahram Weekly about his efforts to reinvigorate the industrial sector and to integrate Egypt more fully into the global economy.
China floats FTA study group with Korea, Japan
5-May-2005
China has proposed a study group to stimulate free trade agreements between Korea, China and Japan bringing together governments, businesses and academics.
Lien plugs FTA, promises closer ties with Beijing
5-May-2005
Capping off his tour of China, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan yesterday said he had encouraged Beijing to support a free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and ASEAN, while elaborating on the role of cross-party communications between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party.
’Mutual benefit’ essential: Tokyo’s car-import requests opposed
5-May-2005
Thai auto parts manufacturers and industrialists remain adamantly opposed to liberalising car imports under the proposed Thai-Japan free trade area agreement.
Initial phase of talks with Tokyo to be wrapped in July, says Somkid
5-May-2005
Agreement on the initial phase of the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement is expected by July, according to Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
FTAs protectionism in disguise: Garnaut
5-May-2005
This week, to the fanfare of headlines trumpeting talk of a $24 billion bonanza, Australia and China announced the start of formal negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). However, the Federal Government’s pursuit of FTAs all over the globe has its detractors who argue that they are a sort of Trojan horse for protectionism and they also damage relations with countries that we don’t have deals with.