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Tribunal announces tentative date for CAFTA referendum
11-May-2007
Costa Rica’s Supreme Elections Tribunal has set Sept. 23 as the tentative date for a nationwide popular vote on the controversial Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).
NPPC applauds deal to vote on trade agreements
11-May-2007
The National Pork Producers Council has applauded the Bush administration’s House Speaker Pelosi and congressional leadership for reaching a bi-partisan deal to move forward free trade agreements that will enable increased exports of US pork.
FTA: The unstated reason for the watch list
11-May-2007
The US decision to put Thailand on its "priority watch list" this month was prompted by failed talks on a free trade agreement, as well as the patent-busting of US-made pharmaceuticals, a former US trade official said Friday.
US officials reach agreement on trade deals to open way for Peru, Panama, other pacts
11-May-2007 IHT
Congressional Democratic leaders say they have forged new trade policy guidelines with the Bush administration that will elevate labor and environmental rights to key components in future free trade agreements.
US holds talks with Philippines, Brunei to improve market access
11-May-2007 The Raw Story
The United States held separate talks with the Philippines and Brunei this week on steps to enhance market access for a range of products. The talks were held under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA) between the United States and the two Southeast Asian nations.
Comesa signs free trade pact with EU
11-May-2007 The Standard
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has signed an agreement that gives member States uninterrupted European Union market access. The new pact, which covers 25 years will become effective in January next year and is aimed at addressing trade disparities between Europe and Comesa countries.
S Korea, EU to wrap up first week of free trade talks
11-May-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the European Union were to wrap up their first round of free trade talks Friday with Seoul’s negotiators expressing satisfaction over the week-long negotiations, but conceding sensitive issues were barely touched.
Quebec seeks free-trade deals with Ontario, EU
11-May-2007 Globe and Mail
Quebec’s minority government will seek a free-trade agreement with Ontario as part of Premier Jean Charest’s attempt to revive the province’s economy and regain popular support. Mr. Charest also reiterated his proposal to seek a free-trade deal with the European Union.
Japan to draw up farmland reforms to keep up with global FTA trend
11-May-2007 Kyodo
Japan will draw up a package of farmland reform measures by this fall in a bid to enhance the competitiveness of its ailing agricultural sector and keep up with the global trend of sealing free trade agreements, a key government economic panel said Wednesday.
Talks on Pak-Czech investment treaty under way
11-May-2007 The News International
Prime Minister of Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek has assured Pakistan that being the European Union member, Prague would play its role in strengthening Islamabad’s relations and striking a Free Trade Agreement with the bloc.
Sides get closer to a deal on trade
11-May-2007 Washington Post
The Bush administration and Democratic leaders have struck a compromise that would insert stricter labor rules into future trade treaties, potentially lending fresh momentum to the global effort to promote free trade, sources briefed on the talks said yesterday.
Japan should consider free trade agreement with US
11-May-2007 Bloomberg
Japan needs to consider the possibility of signing a free trade agreement with the U.S., the country’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said today.
Goff presses for free trade agreement with US
11-May-2007 stuff
Trade Minister Phil Goff says New Zealand has to "hang in there" in its desire to forge a free trade agreement with the United States.
AIA calls US-Korea free trade agreement strongest in decades
10-May-2007
The American Insurance Association recently strongly praised the work of US trade negotiators who successfully concluded their talks on a Free Trade Agreement with Korea that will provide significant commercial gains for both countries.
Rice says failure to approve Korea FTA will send ’disastrous signal’ to region
10-May-2007
The top U.S. diplomat urged Congress to approve the free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea, saying failure to do so would send "a disastrous signal" to a region where the U.S. has to anchor peace and prosperity.
Trade policy in Asia: where next with a crippled WTO and weak FTAs?
10-May-2007 ECIPE
Trade policy in Asia is dangerously unbalanced. It rests on a shaky leg of discriminatory bilateral and regional FTAs. Its other WTO leg has gone to sleep: most Asian countries have neglected the WTO in favour of FTAs. Its regional-cooperation arm is limp: grand visions for regional economic integration are mostly empty conference chatter.
Indonesia to seek Japan’s confirmation on EPA settlement
10-May-2007 ANTARA
Indonesia will seek Japan’s confirmation regarding the settlement of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with that country, trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu said on Wednesday.
Efta continues to extend its influence
10-May-2007 swissinfo
While world trade talks remain deadlocked, the European Free Trade Association (Efta), of which Switzerland is a member, continues to extend its network of free trade accords.
Officials urged to be critical over FTA
9-May-2007 Jakarta Post
Fearing that the gains promised by an ASEAN-EU free trade agreement (FTA) will turn out to be little more than illusions, a discussion has urged the members of ASEAN to stick together and remain "critical" during the upcoming negotiations.
Bolivia notifies World Bank of withdrawal from ICSID, pursues BIT revisions
9-May-2007 ITN
Investment Treaty News has learned that Bolivia has sent a formal notice to the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) declaring its withdrawal from the ICSID convention.