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Commission in court over privileged access for business in EU-India free trade talks
11-Dec-2012 CEO
The EU’s General Court has announced a date for the hearing for Corporate Europe Observatory’s legal action, suing the EU Commission for withholding information related to the EU’s free trade talks with India. The Commission is accused of discriminating in favour of corporate lobby groups and of violating the EU’s transparency rules.
Beyond NAFTA: Shaping the Future of North American Integration
11-Dec-2012 Be Your Own Leader
As the incremental path towards a North American Union continues, citizens from the U.S., Canada and Mexico are not being consulted, much less being given a choice in the matter even though the plan threatens the future sovereignty of each country.
US trade deal could be a lot for Europe to swallow
11-Dec-2012 Reuters
Can Europeans, who have balked for years at many U.S. food imports, accept a free trade agreement with the United States that opens the door for imports of genetically modified crops and chickens cleaned with chlorine?
European Parliament approves Colombia trade pact
11-Dec-2012 Colombia Reports
The European Parliament on Tuesday ratified a free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru despite human and labor rights concerns.
Critics warn of EU free trade deal with Peru and Colombia
10-Dec-2012 Deutsche Welle
The EU is set to liberalize trade with Colombia and Peru. Human rights organisations fear that Latin American farmers will suffer.
NZ’s embarrassing TPP overtures to the US
10-Dec-2012 Scoop
Among the analysts and lobbyists floating around the Sky City Convention centre and adjacent Sky Grand hotel foyer, there has been general agreement that no marked progress has been made in Auckland on the core issues in contention – and as a consequence, the TPP can will be kicked down the road again to the next meeting in March 2013.
Policing of TPP protest was provocative and plain stupid
10-Dec-2012 Tangatawhenua.com
With tensions running high after the refusal of TPP organisers to accept the 750,000 international petition against the negotiations the police action added insult to injury.
The emerging crisis of investment treaties
10-Dec-2012 South Centre
This issue of South Bulletin focuses on the emerging crisis of investment treaties. An epidemic of international legal suits taken by companies against governments for billions of dollars is causing public concern and leading to reviews of international investment treaties.
Bilateral investment: A drag on the developing world
10-Dec-2012 Rediff
The ongoing dispute between the GMR group and the Maldives government over the investment for an airport in Male brings focus on a recent discussion at the World Trade Organisation public forum, and which was followed by an article by Martin Khor, executive director of Geneva-based South Centre.
‘Its high time to agree on BIT’
10-Dec-2012 APP
The United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, has called for early conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
Protests turn violent at trade talks in New Zealand
10-Dec-2012 AFP
A protest aimed at disrupting Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks in New Zealand turned violent as demonstrators attacked security forces, police said.
New free trade agreements threaten financial reforms
10-Dec-2012 SOMO
While financial reforms are ongoing in the EU and many other countries, little attention is paid to free trade agreements that continue to liberalise financial services as well as restrict regulatory freedom (‘policy space’) and controls on capital movements.
Will the Pacific trade deal protect workers?
8-Dec-2012 AJE
Al Jazeera ask if the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations have rendered democratic decision-making irrelevant.
S. Korea to prioritize FTA with China
7-Dec-2012 Yonhap
South Korea will prioritize the conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) with China over a possible trilateral free trade deal that further encompasses Japan, Seoul’s top envoy to Beijing has said.
Hazards in Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs): Investors’ rights v. public health
6-Dec-2012 South Centre
Developing countries that have signed BITs should start a process of review and eventual renegotiation or denunciation, writes Carlos Correa
A free-trade agreement with Europe?
6-Dec-2012 Washington Post
Clinton is said to envision an “economic NATO” — a comprehensive agreement between the US and the EU covering trade in goods, services, investment and agriculture.
The evils of bilateral investment treaties – Analysis
6-Dec-2012 IDN
While multinational corporations such as Philip Morris dispose of the financial means to pay for elite law advice, developing countries don’t.
Canada-China investment treaty should be delayed – Suzuki
6-Dec-2012 Beacon News
Should the government of Canada sign agreements if they subject our workers to unfair competition from lower-paid employees from investor nations, hinder our ability to protect the environment or give foreign companies and governments excessive control over local policies and valuable resources?, asks David Suzuki
TPP vs. RCEP: A new Washington-Beijing tug-of-war?
6-Dec-2012 The Nation
How the Thai government navigates the contest between the United States and China in the economic sphere will be a litmus test of Thailand’s diplomatic and political skills.
The public must be heard on free trade proposals
6-Dec-2012 The Nation
With Thailand set to join numerous trading blocs, it is essential that the govt opens a public discussion, as this issue will affect everyone