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Mitsubishi eyes Asia for expansion
Japan’s Mitsubishi Motor has set its sights on Thailand and other Asian nations for future expansion, the president of the automaker said on Tuesday. "With FTAs (free trade agreements) envisioned with Asian countries, such as ASEAN and India, we should reap benefits of such initiatives," Masuko said.
Japanese investment in Indonesia to double
The Indonesian government expects Japan’s investment and the value of export by Japanese companies in Indonesia to double in the coming five years, as the first-round negotiation between the Indonesian and Japanese governments on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has run smoothly.
Filipino solons to probe 35 unratified bilateral agreements
Philippine House Committees on globalization and trade will study 35 bilateral agreements the Philippines forged over the past decades with some countries.
Top US executives set for FTA tour of Central America
Taking advantage of a newly approved free trade agreement, the US begins a commercial offensive in Central America this coming week, prompting concerns that local economies weakened by recent floods could represent easy targets for US corporations.
Bush notifies Congress of intent to sign FTA with Oman
"Entering into an FTA with Oman will build on the FTAs that we already have with Israel, Jordan, and Morocco, as well as the FTA that we have concluded with Bahrain, and will be an important step on the path to fulfilling my vision of developing economic growth and democracy in the Middle East and creating a US Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013."
BOK head calls for FTAs in N-E Asia
The nation’s top central banker Monday stressed the need for speeding up the formation of free trade agreements (FTAs) among Korea, China and Japan, to boost regional cooperation and mutual investment.
An eye for an eye? Disregarding fairness, disconnecting from the FTAA
Latin American countries have rightly learned to be apprehensive over the domination of the United States, and it is this reluctance that is behind their slowdown over the FTAA.
Dangerous liaison
Under the guise of freeing trade, bilateral trade agreements (BTAs) are being used as a tool to further an absolute top-down Northern agenda, at the victimization of the poor and marginalized groups and communities of the South.
Developed world undermining WTO spirit through FTAs
FTAs are being designed by the developed countries to get more than what the WTO and TRIPS could give at this stage.
Finance liberalisation: Cabinet baulks on alien law changes
Thai Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said yesterday that proposed amendments to the Alien Business Act would not be presented to the Cabinet today, apparently because of growing public resentment about further opening up the country to foreign investors.
Trade accord with US
Security has been so dominant in the past in Seoul’s relations with Washington, its sole military ally, that other crucial agenda items have often failed to draw adequate attention from top South Korean policymakers.
RP, Korea finalizing free trade agreement
The Philippines and South Korea are drafting a framework of agreement for the proposed free trade area in time for the visit of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to the Philippines in December this year.
First round of AGCC free-trade talks with India, Pakistan to begin by mid-November
The first round of free trade negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and India and Pakistan will commence by the middle of November 2005.
BIMSTEC to set up body for FTA enforcement
The ongoing eighth meeting of BIMSTEC trade-negotiation committee (TNC) has decided to set up a separate body to oversee the enforcement of free trade accord among the seven member states once it is finalized.
Japan, China, S. Korea aim to conclude investment talks in Nov.
Japan, China and South Korea agreed Friday they will aim to conclude in late November talks to explore a trilateral legal framework for investment, as they failed to do so during the latest meeting in Tokyo, Japanese officials said.
ASEAN-EU FTA: Study due out next April
Policymakers from Asean and the European Union are expected to receive a feasibility study on the free-trade agreement between the two blocs in April, according to an EU trade official.
Colombian communities in uproar over FTA
Thousands of Colombians go on a national community protest against the US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and possible reelection of President Alvaro Uribe.
Fiji: 1st Pacific island nation ready to implement FTA
Fiji has announced it is ready to implement a regional free trade agreement, the Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), as soon as practicable.
’Negative list’ approach seen for US talks
Thai negotiators could ultimately be forced to accept a "negative list" approach in negotiating the Thailand-US free trade area agreement, according to Pongpanu Svetarunvra, deputy director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office. Under a negative list approach, all sectors and services will be liberalised except for those explicitly stated in the agreement.
Andean trade pact: anything but popular
Tens of thousands are in the streets of the main cities of Colombia today protesting a proposed free trade pact with the United States and accusing President Alvaro Uribe of selling out the country.