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Mauritius in talks for economic pact
With the recent signing of the India-Singapore comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) which threatens to reduce the importance of Mauritius as the investment gateway to India, Port Louis has began talks with New Delhi on a similar deal.
WB study on FTA with India
India is keen on signing an FTA with Bangladesh as early as possible but Bangladesh has been rather sceptical about the outcome of such a deal because of the former’s alleged protectionist attitude. The findings of a World Bank (WB) study that were made available a couple of days back in Dhaka have, actually, confirmed Bangladesh’s worries.
Saudi, Kuwait want India to give ’S’pore treatment’
India’s decision to grant tax sops to Singapore-based FIIs under the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) has prompted oil-rich Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to pitch for similar concessions in the double taxation avoidance treaties that are being negotiated with Indian tax authorities.
East Asian Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA): The road to better quality life?
Countries in East Asia that are parties to, or in the process of negotiating, one or more free trade arrangements not only with countries within the region but outside the region as well, are looming to take the “hub and spoke” characteristic — for example, ASEAN-China (2010), ASEAN-Japan (2012), and ASEAN-Korea, and Japan-Singapore (2002) and Japan-Philippines. Whether ASEAN would be the hub or spoke remains to be seen.
China-ASEAN FTA: trade in goods (2004)
China-ASEAN FTA: framework agreement (2002)
One for Indo-Pak peace road: Free trade zone
In a comprehensive approach to Indo-Pak engagement in Jammu and Kashmir, Former Pak Finance Minister Burki is calling for a sub-regional trade arrangement under the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Ford warns gov’t on JPEPA signing
Ford Motor Group in the Philippines has put up a strong pressure on the government against signing a free trade pact with Japan that will put its assembly and exports program in the country at a disadvantage over Japanese assemblers.
The Thai-US FTA and its impacts on Thai Jasmine rice and biological resources
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) has expressed its concern over ongoing negotiations on the Thai-US Free Trade Agreement, particularly on the issues of intellectual property rights.
A toxic trade-off
Pressing for passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement at a White House news conference in May, President Bush made the case that a vote for CAFTA was a vote for democracy: "By transforming our hemisphere into a powerful free trade area, we will promote democratic governance, human rights and economic liberty for everyone," he said.
FTA won’t be enough to narrow trade gap with India, say experts
A group of international experts said Saturday at a workshop that mere increase in volume of trade under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would not be enough to reduce the huge trade imbalance between Bangladesh and India.
Indonesia, India to boost economic relationship
Indonesia and India have agreed to set up a joint study group to boost the bilateral economic relationship which remained far from its huge potential, Indonesian Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu has said.
First round of trade talks with China from Aug 15
The first round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and China is scheduled to be held on August 15 and 16 at Urumqi, China.
FTA with India won’t benefit Bangladesh
Non-tariff barrier is a major impediment to cut the trade deficit with India, economists and academics observed yesterday at a workshop.
United States tears up free-trade rule book
The United States, such a paragon and champion of free trade when it comes to exporting its own products and services, evidently considers itself free unilaterally to ignore the rules when the umpire comes down against it.
Palestinian, Jordanian officials initial Free Trade Agreement
Palestinian officials said on Thursday that they seek to partly replace Israeli goods with made-in-Jordan products after a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two Arab sides goes into effect.
Big Pharma’s free ride
Pharmaceutical companies are using free-trade deals like CAFTA to eliminate global competition — and deny poor patients access to cheaper generic drugs.
ASEAN and China on track to sign free-trade deal by 2013
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday said a free trade agreement with China will be signed by 2013, and that Malaysia’s exports to China surged 25 percent to a record high last year.
FTA to strengthen M’sia-China trade
Malaysia’s ties with the economic powerhouse of China are set to strengthen further with the implementation of the Asean-China Free Trade Area (FTA), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday.
Deadlock on FTA with Thailand
The high-level negotiating team from Thailand that visited New Delhi recently was unable to break the impasse on the India-Thailand free trade agreement.