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Diet steps closer to ratifying free-trade pact with Malaysia
The Diet cleared a free-trade agreement with Malaysia on Wednesday, bringing the pact one step closer to coming into force. To complete the ratification process, the Diet still needs to pass related bills concerning rules on product origin and tariff rates. In Malaysia, ratification does not require legislative measures, only administrative procedures.
Iglesias: Minister repeats demand that Bogotá, Lima drop deals with Washington
Light Industry and Trade Minister María Cristina Iglesias reiterated the government’s position that Colombia and Peru would have to abandon the bilateral trade deals they recently signed with the United States if Venezuela were to stay in the Andean Community of Nations.
A US Free Trade Agreement could threaten access to medicine in Thailand
New stringent drug patent and marketing rules being negotiated in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the US and Thailand would limit competition and reduce access to affordable medicines in Thailand.
US free trade deals leave a bitter taste with Latin Americans
"Nobody who sat across the negotiating table from the United States came out of the talks feeling they got a fair deal," said Peter Hakim, president of the nonpartisan Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington. "And many feel they’ve been outright cheated."
Asean-Korea trade deal sealed soon
Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expect to conclude a free trade agreement with South Korea in a meeting to be held in the Philippines next month, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
Free trade pact with Bahrain shortly
Pakistan and Bahrain will shortly ink Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which would boost trade between the two countries.
Shifting centres of gravity in Latin America
COPA the Panamanian airline is now flying the Brazilian company Embraer’s E-190 commercial airliners on routes previously dominated by Boeing 737s. This detail highlights broader shifts in the economic balance of power in Latin America away from United States corporations.
FTA with Japan, China would hurt local fisheries sector: report
A free trade pact between South Korea, China and Japan could damage South Korea’s fisheries industry, a report said Wednesday.
Hopes of US duty-free access fading for Asian countries
The road to US duy-free access could be longer than expected for a series of emerging countries. While Pakistan was recently refused that textiles and apparel benefit from preferential treatment, chances of duty-free access for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Cambodia are progressively fading.
US free trade accord divides Latin American leaders
The US free trade agreements "are destroying the CAN," Bolivian President Evo Morales said.
Turkey: FTA with Tunisia & Morocco vital for textile sector
Currently, Turkey has inked Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with 19 countries and now, the formation of Mediterranean Basin Free Trade Area, is being added which will improve economic and commercial transactions between the Mediterranean countries.
Array of trade pacts a cause for concern: India Inc
With instances of more than one trade pact being inked with a single country under the Government’s bilateral and regional trade agreements policy, Indian industry is apprehending confusion in import clearances arising from multiplicity of rules of origin' norms andnegative lists’ applicable on imports from the same country under the numerous agreements signed with it.
Watchdog demands delay to talks
FTA Watch, a Thai civic group campaigning against free trade pacts, demanded an amendment to article 224 of Thailand’s constitution to clearly state that any bilateral trade deals be subject to parliament’s endorsement without conditions.
Malaysia, US making progress on proposed FTA
Malaysia and the US are making progress on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), US Commerce Department Deputy Secretary David A Sampson said yesterday.
NZ knows place in US trade game
Delegates at the New Zealand-United States Partnership Forum in Washington are realistic about the tangible rewards of three days of meetings. They are few, if any.
Industry minister: Venezuela will never ink FTA with the US
"We will never initial a Free Trade Agreement (with the United States,) as they put men in the background and focus on the North," Venezuelan Light Industries and Commerce minister María Cristina Iglesias said Tuesday.
FTA daggers leave Andeans gasping
Venezuelan Minister for Integration and Foreign Trade Gustavo Márquez said on Monday that the countries which signed Free Trade Agreements with the US are responsible for the failure of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN).
India remove negative list in FTA talks: Asean
India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement talks are in troubled waters with Asean insisting on New Delhi to eliminate its big list of negative items, contrary to the stand taken by the former.
Peru’s Prime Minister says FTA with US fundamental
Peru’s Prime Minister Pedro Paulo Kuczynski said on Tuesday it’s "absolutely necessary" for his country to pass the free trade agreement with the U.S as the deal will allow Peruvian textile and agricultural industries to grow.
Chavez may consider Venezuela’s return to Andean Pact
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he would consider returning to the Andean Community of Nations trade bloc provided Colombia and Peru reconsider their trade agreements with the US.