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JPEPA to encourage trade in hazardous and toxic waste
A summary of the current debate over the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement by the Philippine Centre for Investigative Journalism.
US, India hold high level dialogue to deepen economic ties
The United States and India have held high level talks to boost bilateral trade and investment following a blueprint drawn up by the US-India CEO’s Forum.
Uruguayans divided on free trade agreement
Adults in Uruguay are split over a proposed commerce deal with the United States, according to a poll by Interconsult published in Últimas Noticias. 49 per cent of respondents oppose signing the free trade agreement, while 43 per cent are in favour.
IP developments in the DR-CAFTA countries
Current state of play with intellectual property law reforms in Central America under the US-DR-CAFTA.
Opposition opens up Central American trade deal
In an effort to ensure that the protection of labour and human rights are built into a free trade agreement being negotiated with four Central American countries, the Standing Committee on International Trade passed a resolution last week calling for the disclosure of all agreement draft texts and Canadian negotiating proposals.
Pakistan, China to sign FTA
Pakistan and China will sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Pakistan next month. This will be Pakistan’s first comprehensive FTA with any country.
DENR opposed waste dumping in trade deal but gave in to DTI
The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) tried but failed to stop the government from including toxic and hazardous wastes from the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), yielding to pressure.
Senate indignant, CBCP sad over ‘toxic’ accord
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, yesterday said he was saddened by the agreement that environmentalists fear would turn the Philippines into Japan’s dump for toxic wastes. Indignation was also voiced in the Senate and calls were made for an investigation of the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
USA free trade agreement still on cards
A US-New Zealand free trade agreement is still on the cards according to US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.
Bangkok is ready to ink Thai-Japan FTA : FM
Thai government is now ready to sign Thai-Japan Free Trade Agreement that has been concluded in the previous government, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said Wednesday.
Great leap in Japanese investment in Vietnam forecast
Vietnam and Japan have had an agreement on investment liberalisation and protection which works as the foundation for attracting and creating open environment for investment. The economic partnership agreement will further focus on trade: commodity trade, service trade and intellectual property protection.
Anti-FTA protesters clash with riot police in Jeju
Korean riot police, using water cannons and clubs, on Tuesday dispersed hundreds of anti-globalization protesters trying to disrupt free trade talks between South Korea and the US, witnesses said.
RP-Japan accord ‘toxic’
A new dump for toxic waste may soon open for Japan — and it has 7,100 islands. This is how concerned environmentalists see the likely effect of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed on Sept. 9 in Helsinki on the side of the Asia-Europe Meeting.
Swiss look to free trade after WTO failure
Switzerland is looking to boost its free trade accords with other countries following the collapse of world trade talks, says the country’s top economics official.
Pacific ACP united against pressure
Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare said that after much negotiation, the European Commission had conceded that not all Pacific ACPs would need to sign up to a single, comprehensive EPA.
US makes proposal on FTA screen quota issue: sources
With the fourth round of talks underway for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), the US has reportedly made a proposal regarding protections currently in place on the South Korean film industry.
About 10,000 farmers protest over US-S Korea trade talks
In the wake of protests from thousands of farm activists and unionists, South Korean and U.S. negotiators resumed controversial free-trade talks on Monday, on the resort island of Cheju.
Costa Rica and the shout of the excluded
The Costa Rican people are in the streets and on a general strike Monday and Tuesday to challenge the free trade agreement with the United States, which President Oscar Arias has approved to accelerate.
Evo Morales rejects US-boosted FTAs
Bolivian President Evo Morales rejected on Monday the free trade agreements the United States is trying to impose on the regional nations, considering them overwhelming for small economies, and counterpoised the Trade Agreement with the Peoples.
S. Korean officials walk out of one committee in free trade talks with US
Free trade talks between Seoul and Washington hit a rough patch on Monday as South Korean officials walked out of one committee handling tariff concessions on mobile phones and other industrial products.