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Derivatives dispute harming EU-US free-trade talks
29-Oct-2013 Reuters
Ambitious plans for an EU-US free-trade agreement may be put in jeopardy by Washington’s failure to finalise a deal coordinating rules in the $630 trillion derivatives market, the EU’s financial markets chief has warned.
South Korea warms to idea of joining TPP trade group
28-Oct-2013 FT
“Basically, our thinking is that we need to take part in the TPP, but we have to consider very seriously when is the right time,” Cho Won-dong, the chief economic adviser to the president, told the Financial Times, stressing that no final decision had been taken.
West African bloc approves single customs regime from 2015
28-Oct-2013 Reuters
Leaders of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed on Friday to implement a single customs tariff regime from 2015 in an effort to accelerate economic integration and kick-start stalled negotiations with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
SA annuls bilateral investment treaty with Germany
28-Oct-2013 BD
South Africa last week cancelled its bilateral investment treaty with Germany, one of its most important trading partners, amid protests by German businesses.
China to negotiate upgraded FTA with ASEAN
28-Oct-2013 Xinhua
China is ready to start talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over an upgrade of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) at an early date, said Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang here on Friday.
Japan, Colombia kick off 3rd round of FTA talks
28-Oct-2013 Kyodo
The two countries agreed to launch FTA talks in September 2012 and held their first round of negotiations in Tokyo last December and the second session in Colombia’s Cali in May.
Taiwan’s services agreement with China triggers concerns
28-Oct-2013 BBC News
In recent weeks, opposition against the agreement has been getting stronger and louder in Taiwan.
TPP trade pact risks degenerating into bilateral deals, ADB says
25-Oct-2013 Bloomberg
The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact risks collapsing and producing a series of bilateral deals if the 12 nations involved cannot reach agreement on concessions sought by some, the Asian Development Bank said in a report.
China and Europe make up after averting trade war
25-Oct-2013 Reuters
A successful EU-China investment agreement could pave the way for a wider free-trade accord in the future. But for now, there is friction, according to Reuters.
Huawei a key to Chinese trade talks
24-Oct-2013 Sydney Morning Herald
Chinese telecoms company Huawei is set to become a pawn in the controversial free trade agreement (FTA) review between China and Australia.
Indonesia to prioritize palm oil in talks with EU
23-Oct-2013 Jakarta Globe
The Indonesian government has made it clear that the inclusion of palm-oil products is at the top of its priorities in the talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the European Union, suggesting that a deal may not be possible without some compromise.
Ecuador for alternatives to bilateral investment treaties
23-Oct-2013 Prensa Latina
Foreign minister Ricardo Patiño announced today that Ecuador looks for alternatives to the Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) -TIB in Spanish- signed with other countries and considered dangerous to national sovereignty.
Entrepreneurs, former officials call for resuming China-US investment treaty talks
23-Oct-2013 Xinhua
Chinese and American business leaders and former officials on Tuesday called for the China-US talks on signing a bilateral trade and investment treaty to be resumed.
Canadian takeovers made easier with Europe trade accord
23-Oct-2013 Bloomberg
Under the EU-Canada FTA, Canada will raise the threshold for reviewing foreign investment from EU countries to C$1.5 billion ($1.5 billion) and also raise the threshold for all countries it has free trade agreements with, including the US.
Call to end the WTO and stop the new wave of Free Trade Agreements
23-Oct-2013
More than 90 organizations and social movements are part of the Call to End the WTO and Stop the new wave of Free Trade Agreements. Join us in the EndWTO Bali Week of Action! Sign the call and register.
American agriculture, GMOs and Europe
22-Oct-2013 The Hill
European law firm advises on how US companies should lobby the EU to get doors opened to GMOs
Nigeria moves to resist, as EU tries to impose EPA
22-Oct-2013 This Day
The Nigerian government and other stakeholders of the economy are preparing a stiff resistance against the European Union’s renewed plan to foist a questionable Economic Partnership Agreement on Nigeria, THISDAY has learnt.
Japan, EU begin 3rd round of free trade talks
21-Oct-2013 Kyodo
Japan and the European Union began their third round of free trade negotiations in Brussels on Monday, aiming to engage in full-fledged discussions on tariffs and other trade barriers.
Mitsubishi boss keen to seal free-trade deal
21-Oct-2013 The Australian
The chairman of Mitsubishi — a huge investor in Australia’s resource industry — has urged Japan and Australia not to miss the current "window of opportunity" and clinch the long-awaited free-trade agreement.
EU trade ministers back wider ASEAN mandate
21-Oct-2013 Tax News
The European Commission is to launch negotiations on investment protection with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as part of ongoing free trade talks.