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Japan, Indonesia set to launch free-trade talks; Japan, Malaysia to hold next round
Japan and Indonesia are expected to agree to formally open free trade talks during an upcoming visit to Tokyo by the Indonesian president, a Japanese official said Thursday.
Argentina to seek annulment of ICSID ruling in favour of CMS Energy
The Argentine government said it will try to annul a ruling by the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in favour of US company CMS Energy Corp.
Experts question whether Arabs, S. Americans can deliver alternative to US domination
South American and Arab leaders showed the US this week that they can be a force to be reckoned with - at least when it comes to talking tough. But whether they will be able to fulfill their pledges hinges on their ability to look beyond domestic agendas and resist American efforts to lure them away with lucrative bilateral trade deals.
Removing IPR - too much at stake for Thailand
The recently concluded round of US-Thai FTA negotiations brought little contentment for the Thais, especially those with direct interests in maintaining the existing degree of intellectual property right (IPR) protection already in place.
FTA preferable to common market, minister insists
The government will negotiate with Beijing to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) under the auspices of the WTO, rather than creating a cross-strait "common market," Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh said yesterday.
Singapore and Pakistan to start FTA talks next month
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that Singapore and Pakistan will begin negotiations next month on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
Feeding on fears
We need to guard against attempts by vested interests to discourage South-South trade and to divide the economic unity of South Asia.
Land of the rising FTA
With negotiations of an ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA and a China-Australia FTA already under way, building an FTA relationship with Australia is essential if Japan is to maintain its role as a leader in developing an FTA structure in the Asia-Pacific region.
New US trade czar faces tests at home and abroad
US Trade Representative Rob Portman, now in his second week on the job, faces numerous challenges as he seeks to build support at home and abroad for an ambitious US trade agenda, observers say.
Korea, US to discuss FTA in Cheju meeting
South Korea will discuss the possibility of a free trade pact with the United States at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers’ meeting.
Senate panel urges labour unions to fight trade pact
Thailand’s Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday urged labour unions across the country to take a stand against the Thai-Japanese free trade area (FTA) ahead of a new round of talks in July.
Mercosur, GCC sign free trade zone frame agreement
The signing of the agreement is regarded as the first concrete fruit of the South American-Arab summit taking place in Brasilia this week.
High price to host, protect APEC ’07
Hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in 2007 will cost Australia $216.3 million.
’High time we signed RTAs’
Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath has said that India is specifically looking at regional trading agreements (RTA) to boost its trade. "Without such agreements India faces the risk of being isolated globally. India must engage in trade on a regional basis", he said.
Brazil’s Lula, aiming to boost trade with Arabs, hosts summit
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opens an Arab-Latin American summit today aimed at increasing commerce between the two regions as he seeks to reduce developing nations’ dependence on the U.S. and European Union.
NGO coalition bucks free trade talks with Japan
A coalition of non-government organizations is opposing the free trade talks under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) saying the Philippines would wind up as the losing party if the deal pushes through.
New trade pact won’t replace Comesa
The proposed East and South Africa economic block will not replace the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
Thailand supports Pakistan’s ASEAN bid
Thailand on Monday became the first non-Muslim country to support Pakistan’s bid to become a full dialogue partner of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and agreed to start talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the South Asian country.
Jordan seeks to sign free trade agreement with Iraq - Smadi
Jordan is keen to sign a free trade agreement with Baghdad and has already presented Iraq with the necessary draft.
Koizumi, Susilo to sign investment deal in Tokyo
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is scheduled to sign an investment agreement with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the latter’s visit to Japan later this month.