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Islamabad may stay out of South Asian Free Trade Area treaty
Pakistan is likely to stay away from the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) to avoid its political fallout on the country’s principled stand on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Colombia says NO to US free trade
The Colombian government declared Friday, based on a Cundinamarca Administration Court decision, it will not sign the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
South Asia: Burying quarrels for regional free trade
Will the seven countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) be able to sink some of their deep differences over political issues to enhance trade relations?
Panama, US FTA talks postponed
The ninth round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks between Panamanian government officials and the US wound up without a final accord, amid domestic pressures forcing to act cautiously.
Thai side floundering in FTA talks
More than anything, this week’s trade talks and the howls of opposition they’ve provoked have spotlighted the starkly different approaches taken by Thai and US negotiators.
Oman: Signing of free-trade accord with US on Thursday
A free-trade agreement between the Sultanate and the United States will be signed next Thursday, said Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan, commerce and industry minister, yesterday.
Wake-up alarm over FTA delays
The sticking point for the US-Bahrain FTA to come into effect is intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation, which must be passed by Bahrain’s Parliament first
Thai FTA in trouble: US could abandon talks after six rounds
The United States could abandon free trade talks with Thailand unless Bangkok agrees to redouble efforts to reach an agreement in the next few months, a US trade negotiator Barbara Weisel said. In a telephone call with US reporters, Weisel said it was uncertain the two sides would have another round.
FTA Watch: Movement ‘is gaining strength’
The fiery protest that disrupted free-trade talks between Thailand and the United States in Chiang Mai last week was just the first victory for a movement that is gaining strength, says a key organiser of FTA Watch.
US expects smooth talk with Malaysia on future FTA
Malaysia and United States will start preliminary discussions on free trade area (FTA) agreement in Kuala Lumpur next week with US chief negotiator expressing confident it will take place in smooth and protest-free environment.
China, Mali sign economic cooperation agreement
China will take further steps to encourage investments in Mali, while Mali will strive to increase the direct export of cotton and other products to China.
Thailand and US equally tough on insurance talks in FTA
Talks to open up market access for the insurance sector within the framework of the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement ended here today with the only agreement - that each side would scrutinise the other’s list of demand for further consultations.
Tough going on services, agriculture in Thai-US free talks
Thai and United States negotiators have failed to make any headway towards a pact on liberalising trade in services under the broader Thai-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, according to Thai industry observers.
Overdrive: FTA debacle reveals PM’s declining fortunes
Like the stalled privatisation of Egat Plc, the Thai-US Free-Trade Agreement talks look like dead meat. It all boils down to the waning credibility of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
FTA finance talks with US: BOT baulks at three-year time frame
After the sixth round of free-trade negotiations with the United States drew to a close yesterday, the Bank of Thailand said that Bangkok would continue to push for a gradual opening of its financial sector rather than within three years as the US has proposed.
Too early to tell on FTAs
Waiting, waiting. It will take time to realise the benefits of our free trade deals with Thailand and the US.
Panama anti-FTA front broadens
Panama’s government, ignoring the country’s heated atmosphere, strives Friday to show the validity of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US while a common front snubbing the eventual pact grows.
FTA talks may not finish on time: US chief rep
The head of the US trade negotiating team yesterday expressed concern that Bangkok and Washington may not be able to wrap up free-trade agreement discussions by the agreed deadline. Speaking after concluding the sixth round of Thai-US FTA negotiations, Barbara Weisel, assistant US Trade Representative, said: “There’s some serious concern whether we can do that [finish the talks by May].”
Sondhi alleges Thaksin signs FTA with Australia, China to benefit his IP Star
Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of the Manger Group, alleged that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra signed free trade agreement contracts with Australia and China with ulterior motive to benefit telecom businesses of his family.