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EPAs bound to stir unhealthy competition
3-Dec-2010
Kenya Human Rights Commission has called on the government to discontinue Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) negotiations with the European Union arguing that if signed would deepen dependency on Europe.
Explaining away broken FTA promises
3-Dec-2010
It happened right after the signing of the Uruguay Round Agricultural Agreement on Dec. 15, 1993. At the time, opposition parties and farmers’ groups raised strenuous objections to the outcome of the negotiations. They asked the government if it was possible to enter new negotiations and revise the plan for market opening. They were asking for a bit more time for Korean farmers to prepare. The response from government officials was adamant: “Not a single dot or line can be revised.”
NZ: Protests planned for Monday against so-called “free trade” agreement
3-Dec-2010 Scoop
Global Peace and Justice Auckland is coordinating protest action in Auckland next week against negotiations for a proposed TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement).
TPP: Open Letter to the Prime Ministers of Australia and NZ
3-Dec-2010 Scoop
"The TPPA proposal is being sold as a new agreement for the 21st century. In fact, the US is effectively setting the terms for negotiations, based on a standard template that replicates the US North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model."
FTA talks with U.S. extended, with focus on auto imports
3-Dec-2010
Korea and the United States have extended their talks on a pending free trade deal by at least one more day in a last-minute effort to reach an agreement.
NGOs submit memo to govt, call for halt to FTAs
3-Dec-2010 Third World Network
A group of NGOs representing the Anti-FTA Coalition gathered on Thursday, 3 Dec 2010 at the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry to hand over a memorandum addressed to the Minister to register their concerns over Malaysia’s plan to enter into negotiations with the EU (bilateral) as well as the US (via the Trans-Pacific Partnership) which will take place next week in Belgium and New Zealand, respectively.
Economic liberalisation and gender dynamics in traditional small-scale fisheries: Reflections on the proposed EU-India free trade agreement
3-Dec-2010 Focus/ICR
This new report from Focus on the Global South in collaboration with Intercultural Resources explores the dynamics within traditional small scale fisheries in the context of the controversial negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India.
NFU puts trade, supply management on agenda
3-Dec-2010
Terry Boehm is having a busy week. The president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) just returned on Tuesday from a trip overseas, landing at the forefront of the NFU’s 41st annual convention, which starts today in Saskatoon. About 250 people from across the country are expected to attend the yearly event, which covers a range of issues from free trade to green initiatives.
Trade ministers urged to deny corporations ability to sue provincial, territorial governments
3-Dec-2010
With the upcoming meeting of the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) ministers in Saskatoon on December 3, a wide cross-section of Canadian civil society groups are urging governments to deny corporations the right to sue the provinces and territories under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) as requested by a coalition of business groups this week.
Iran, Indonesia hold first Preferential Trade Agreement negotiation
3-Dec-2010
The First meeting of the Trade Negotiation Committee between Iran and Indonesia was held in Medan, the capital of the North Sumatra Province of Indonesia.
Matrade plans 113 trade promotion activities in 2011
2-Dec-2010
Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) has lined up 113 trade promotion activities under its 2011 Work Programme to further expand exports.
Jordanian-Canadian FTA in final stages of approval - envoy
2-Dec-2010
The implementing legislation for the Jordanian-Canadian Free Trade Agreement (FTA) - and the side agreements on environment and labour - is currently in the final stages of approval in the Canadian parliament, according to Canada’s ambassador in Amman.
Wikileaks shows Obama, Lee in same boat for FTA, G20
2-Dec-2010 Korea Times
Leaked diplomatic cables on WikiLeaks showed that the governments of South Korean and the United States have been working in tandem to push ahead the free trade agreement despite opposition from US business circles.
Regional free trade talks ’set for 2012’
2-Dec-2010 China Daily
Free trade agreement (FTA) talks among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea could start in 2012 as the countries try to reduce reliance on the United States and the European Union, Yi Xiaozhun, vice-minister of commerce, told China Daily.
Political deal in Paraguay to vote for Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur
1-Dec-2010
Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur as full member seems closer as the Paraguayan Senate readies to consider the issue following on political agreements worked out by President Fernando Lugo.
Parliament: FTA favours India
1-Dec-2010
The balance of trade between Sri Lanka and India continues to be highly in favour of that country since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the two nations, Sri Lanka’s Parliament was told today.
European firms keen to invest in Indonesia
1-Dec-2010 Jakarta Post
Pascal Kerneis of Businesseurope says European companies can still invest in Indonesia even without an EU FTA, but warned that Jakarta should not limit foreign ownership to ensure that foreign investors could fully control their investment.
East Africa says EU trade deal talks still on
1-Dec-2010 Reuters
Trade ministers from the East African Community (EAC) economic bloc plan to continue trade talks with the European Union despite missing a November deadline, a top Kenyan official said on Tuesday.
FTA talks with EU to kick off next week
1-Dec-2010 Business Times
The Malaysia-EU free trade agreement talks, which will kick off in Brussels next week, will include non-trade issues like the environment and sustainable development.
EU has a hidden agenda in EPA, says expert
30-Nov-2010
The European Union (EU) has a hidden agenda in its trade negotiations with East African Community (EAC), which is not open to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), say policy expert.