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Fears world’s biggest trade deal could spark conflicts, hurt farmers
An Asia-Pacific trade deal backed by China could hurt small scale farmers, cause more land conflicts, and leave workers in poorer nations without protection as they struggle to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, human rights groups said on Friday.
RCEP will impact the future of developing countries
In a webinar held on 10th November, economic experts, business owners, civil society organisations and parliamentarians expressed their concerns about RCEP, a mega free trade agreement which is likely to be signed on November 15, 2020.
Women’s movement across Asia and the Pacific demand #NoRCEP
As the 10 ASEAN countries and their 5 trading partners get ready to sign the anti-people trade deal, the countries must conduct social and human rights impact analysis on RCEP before signing or ratifying it.
It’s not just chlorinated chickens: there’s still nothing appetising about a UK-US trade deal
How America’s low-welfare standards could wreck the UK’s farming and food industry.
Canada’s Justin Trudeau says trade deal with UK may not be done
Canadian PM suggests London lacks ‘bandwidth’ to get agreement finalised by end of year.
Pakistan engaged in talks to settle Reko Diq dispute: official
Pakistan is actively engaged in negotiations with parties involved in a dispute over the $5.97 billion award against the country in the Reko Diq litigation.
Vattenfall wins case against German nuclear phaseout
A lawsuit by Vattenfall is also still pending before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), concerning several billion euros for the permanent closure of Krümmel and Brunsbüttel.
Greenpeace Africa petitions CS on plastic deal in Kenya–US trade talks
The Kenyan Trade Cabinet received a 20,000–strong petition calling on her to take a strong stand against any influence by the American Chemistry Council, which Greenpeace said is keen to secure market for the US plastic industry.
Nigeria ratifies membership of AfCFTA
The Nigerian government ratified the country’s membership of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
New UK-Japan trade agreement could be disaster for data protection
One prominent digital-privacy group is warning that a new trade deal between the United Kingdom and Japan could result in an “existential threat” to British data privacy.
EPA: Cameroon set on suspending tariff dismantling till the end of 2020 despite the EU’s protests
Despite the European Union’s (EU) protests, Cameroon will maintain the suspension of tariff dismantling planned by the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that binds it to EU countries.
A toxic UK-US deal is just as likely under President Biden
It’s down to the public to make sure big business doesn’t get its way – we can’t rely on Boris Johnson or Biden to stop it
Labour unions in Asia Pacific condemn RCEP deal
Labour unions in Asia Pacific condemn this outcome and will continue working with our affiliates and allies to intervene in the enactment, ratification and implementation process of RCEP.
RCEP nations to sign Asian trade megadeal Sunday, with clause for India
Ministers from 15 countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreed Wednesday to sign the long-awaited trade deal at a summit Sunday, leaving the door open for reluctant India to return later.
China and 14 other nations ready to sign RCEP, world’s largest trade deal, before change of leadership in US
China is expected to sign a mega regional trade deal with 14 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region this weekend, wrapping up a major agreement before the next United States administration comes into office.
Japan to keep tariffs on sensitive farm product imports in RCEP deal
Japan will exempt its key farm products including rice and wheat from being subject to tariff cuts or elimination in a mega regional trade deal between Asia-Pacific countries including China, a draft of the agreement showed Tuesday.
Brexit: UK stokes tensions with EU and US in doubling down on contentious bill
The British government has vowed to reinstate parts of its Internal Market Bill, despite heavy defeats in the House of Lords, which would jeopardise trade deals with the EU and the US.
Jane Kelsey: Let’s not play Lazarus to toxic TPPA trade deal
We are living in a very different world from the era that gave us the TPPA, which was turbulent enough. We have new realities, new priorities, and new challenges.
Indonesia pursues trade deals with African, Latin American, Middle Eastern countries
The Indonesian government is pursuing a series of trade deals with non-traditional partners in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East in an effort to navigate international trade during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Open letter regarding the economic impacts of the EU-Mercosur agreement
We, the undersigning economists, consider it important to inform the public that the economic models used to calculate those ostensible gains are inadequate for assessing the social and environmental impacts of this agreement.