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EPA with Europe in doubt
6-Jan-2007 Islands Business
Intransigence of positions and unfolding of more "red lines" by bureaucrats at the European Commission (EC) could jeopardise the region’s hopes of securing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, outgoing chief negotiator of the Pacific, Kaliopate Tavola has warned.
India keen on economic partnership pact with Japan: PM
6-Jan-2007 India PRwire
Ahead of his visit to Tokyo next week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed the hope that India and Japan will launch negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement soon.
Arab Gulf delegation to visit Brazil to ink agreement with Mercosur
6-Jan-2007 ANBA
The basic texts for the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to Brazilian diplomats, are going to be ratified during the summit of the South American bloc, to take place on January 18th and 19th in Rio de Janeiro.
Labor rights not optional
6-Jan-2007 TomPaine.com
Some 230 years ago, King George III taught the American colonists an important lesson: Because taxation without representation is tyranny, the public must have a voice in the making of trade policy. The new Congress should keep that lesson in mind as it attempts to devise trade strategies to promote labor rights (and other human rights) overseas.
FTA consensus unlikely during Asean summit
6-Jan-2007 Business Standard
The proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Asean countries is unlikely to materialise during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Philippines for the Asean summit beginning January 10.
CRS Report for Congress: The US-Panama free trade agreement
5-Jan-2007
For the United States, Panama has long held a strategic military and commercial importance, even as a small trading partner, and an FTA with Panama fits with broader US trade policy.
EPA road-show rolls on
4-Jan-2007 AllAfrica.com
Negotiations between African countries and the European Union aimed at finalizing free trade deals known as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are continuing apace. As part of the process that will finalise EPA deals sometime in 2007, Eastern and Southern Africa countries have just submitted a draft EPA document to the EU. But, in this article, Richard Kamidza documents the astonishing lack of consultation in the negotiating process, claiming that in some cases even cabinet ministers don’t know the details.
Parliament demands gov’t suspend subsidy to civic groups opposing FTA with US
4-Jan-2007 Yonhap
The South Korean parliament has requested the government suspend state subsidies to civic organizations involved in illegal rallies ahead of a new round of free trade talks with the United States this month.
MIER: US adopts pragmatic approach in FTA talks with M’sia
4-Jan-2007 BERNAMA
The United States is adopting a pragmatic approach in its free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Malaysia, according to a think thank.
India, China to discuss FTA again
3-Jan-2007 Times of India
India and China are going to give a fresh try to a bilateral trade agreement later this week, with officials from the two sides meeting in New Delhi, armed with a second opinion.
S Korea, India to push for trade pact
3-Jan-2007 Times of India
Officials from the two sides are expected to exchange the first set of lists this week giving out the sectors which would not be opened up and those where zero-duty imports would be allowed and visas and investment would be allowed without restrictions.
$1 million needed to offset FTA damages: ministry
2-Jan-2007 Hankyoreh
Korea’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy requested a budget of 1 billion won (US$1 million) to the National Assembly on January 1, saying that it needed extra funds to offset the harsher effects of FTAs, estimating 13,000 firms and 100,000 workers would be affected.
Panama: US business supports FTA
2-Jan-2007 Latin Business Chronicle
The US-Panama free trade agreement, signed just before Christmas, is set to be debated by U.S. lawmakers before July. But US business organizations widely support the agreement.
FTA with Gulf States promises substantial benefits
2-Jan-2007 Harold Doan
After the suspension of FTA negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2006, the Australian Government commissioned a study by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade into the merits and feasibility of an FTA with the GCC. Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, said the study found that an FTA would maximise Australia’s long-term commercial interest in the GCC.
Free trade deals to put 100,000 South Koreans out of work: survey
2-Jan-2007 AFP
Free trade agreements with the United States, Japan, China and Southeast Asia would put more than 100,000 South Koreans out of work over the next 10 years, according to a government estimate.
Barbed border wire to get red trade carpet
2-Jan-2007 Indian Express
The way India has traditionally managed its border areas - security being the prime concern - will undergo a radical change this year with the Cabinet Committee on Security clearing a revamp of the infrastructure at major land borders to facilitate trade and commerce.
Free trade: Losing the right to grow food
2-Jan-2007 Foodnews
This second of two installments on Korea focuses on the perceived impact to Korea’s agricultural sector posed by a looming free trade agreement with the United States. Mark Winne explores food sovereignty and the culture of food in Korea and the priveleged role that rice has in the society. Should cost and price be the sole determinants of trade policy or should other variables such as the culture of food be considered in trade policy formulation?
Israel, Jordan upgraded QIZ trade pact
2-Jan-2007 Port2Port
The newly signed agreement intends to improve supervision on compliance with rules of origin under the qualified industrial zones (QIZ) treaty.
India turns to FTA to realise dream of being a small-car hub
1-Jan-2007 Times of India
India seems close to crossing another milestone on its journey towards becoming the world’s small car manufacturing hub. Made-in-India small cars in this case, to be defined as powered by a heart smaller than 1300cc is soon expected to get an easier passage into Sri Lanka, under an expanded free trade agreement (FTA).
Palm oil boil may delay FTA with Asean
29-Dec-2006 Economic Times
Asean’s primary interest lies in palm oil where it has demanded that duties should be pruned to 30-40% within five years of the implementation of the agreement instead of 50% within 10-12 years period as suggested by India. At present, palm oil attracts a duty of 75%.