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Commitee opposes approval of KORUS FTA
18-Dec-2008 KBS
The Korean National Assembly’s agricultural and fisheries committee said Wednesday that the parliament should not ratify a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States at this juncture.
EU won’t renew special tariff rate for RP canned tuna
17-Dec-2008 GMA News
The European Union (EU) will not renew a special tariff scheme for canned tuna from the Philippines and two other Southeast Asian countries, offering, instead, increased market access for the product in its 27 member-countries via a free trade agreement, the top EU representative in the Philippines said in a news conference here Wednesday.
FTAs badly failing Australia
17-Dec-2008 Rethinking globalisation
The Australian Parliamentary Library has released a background note analysing Australia’s bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) which shows how clearly destructive they have been (although the analysis is only from an economic perspective).
ASEAN tightens up to ride China’s rise
17-Dec-2008 Asia Times
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched a new joint charter on Monday that establishes mutual rules and commitments, moving the 41-year-old grouping one step closer to becoming a unified economic bloc.
FTA benefits food, telco export
17-Dec-2008 Straits Times
Singapore-based exporters of food and telecommunications equipment look set to be among the major beneficiaries of the new free trade agreement signed with six Gulf states on Monday.
US cuts Bolivian duty free export law
16-Dec-2008 Prensa Latina
The US officially shut out Bolivia from the benefits of the Law of Andean Trade Preference and Drug Enforcement Act (ATPDEA).
Qatar warns Gulf may suspend talks on EU trade pact
16-Dec-2008 AFP
Qatar warned on Monday that the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council would suspend talks on a free trade deal with the European Union if an impasse in the 20-year-old negotiations continues.
Dominican Republic no longer interested in joining CARICOM
16-Dec-2008 Fresh Plaza
The country has no faith in CARICOM’s ability to either address pending agreements or to be the implementing authority for the CARIFORUM/EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
US keen to conclude FTA with Malaysia
16-Dec-2008 Bernama
The United States says it is keen to conclude the Malaysia-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as early as possible under Barrack Obama’s new administration
Aust to sign Asean FTA
16-Dec-2008 Nation
Australia will today sign a free-trade agreement with Asean to stimulate trade, services and investment growth.
Bulgaria and Macedonia sign economic co-operation agreement
16-Dec-2008 Sofia Echo
Bulgaria and Macedonia signed an economic cooperation agreement on December 15 2008, Bulgarian news agency Focus said.
Syria, EU initial cooperation agreement
16-Dec-2008 AFP
Syria and the European Union on Sunday initialled a cooperation agreement in Damascus, four years after completion of a deal which EU member states failed to sign for political reasons.
Indonesia says New Zealand trade deal request intolerable, ‘peanuts’
16-Dec-2008 Jakarta Post
Indonesia has accused New Zealand of giving “too few” while requesting “too many” special facilities that may harm certain Indonesian industries and cause massive job losses, during an ongoing free trade negotiation that could end in a deadlock.
First GCC trade accord signed with Singapore
15-Dec-2008 Gulf News
The six Gulf oil producers on Monday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore, the first-ever FTA for the GCC
People’s Statement on the Global Crisis
15-Dec-2008
People’s Statement on the Global Crisis initiated by RESIST! and the Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), for endorsement
S. Korea, EU to Hold Free Trade Talks in Vienna
14-Dec-2008
South Korea and the European Union will hold a meeting in Vienna this week to resolve contentious issues such as auto trade and rules of origin in their free trade negotiations, Yonhap News reported Sunday quoting officials.
El Salvador warned of CAFTA-DR lawsuit by mining company
13-Dec-2008
A Canadian mining company and its American subsidiary have threatened the government of El Salvador with a lawsuit after it failed to receive regulatory approval to begin digging for gold and silver in an area some 65 km from San Salvador. The proposed mine has drawn intense opposition from civil society and church-based groups, although the mining company maintains that it enjoys broad public support in El Salvador.
Indo-SAARC Trade: An Ocean Of Opportunities
13-Dec-2008
With the major economic superpowers like USA, UK and Japan facing recession and collapse of major iconic banks, the world is now unanimous in its view that India, China and Brazil can no longer be ignored. Indo-SAARC trade relations now have a greater role to play especially in terms of the opportunities it provides to Indian SME’s (Small medium enterprises).
China Calls for Immediate Free Trade Talks with S. Korea
13-Dec-2008
China Saturday called for an immediate opening of free trade talks with South Korea.
ALBA-Petrocaribe Summit Postponed
13-Dec-2008
The Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) and Petrocaribe, originally scheduled for the coming weekend in Caracas, has been postponed, sources from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced.