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Food crisis: The fight for corn
29-Oct-2012 CIP Americas Program
In an era of food crisis, the fight for corn has intensified, and the importance of this grain—a staple in the Mexican diet and a large part of the world—has been revealed to the fullest extent.
Venezuela joins Mercosur: A new strategic alliance
29-Oct-2012 CIP Americas Program
Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur has had interpretations centered on the economic and commercial aspects, but the most important it is a geopolitical and geoenergy matter.
Deepening the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade Partnership
29-Oct-2012 Be Your Own Leader
Overshadowed by the upcoming American election are reports that the U.S. and EU are working towards launching official negotiations on a deal that would further deepen their transatlantic trade partnership.
India, Canada to discuss FTA in PMs’ meet this week
28-Oct-2012 PTI
In a bid to boost trade and investments, India and Canada will be reviewing the progress of ongoing negotiations for the proposed free trade pact during the week-long visit of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper starting November 4.
Get ready for US-Europe free trade
26-Oct-2012 IBD
Europe’s Parliament has moved to revitalize the continent’s weak economy by clearing the way for a free-trade agreement with the US. A baby step, yes, but if it succeeds, it’ll be the mother of all trade pacts.
European investors cool toward China
26-Oct-2012 China Daily
The EU expects more investment from China to help it combat its debt crisis, but there is not yet a good mechanism to regulate that investment.
Panama president cancels Colon land sale after clashes
24-Oct-2012 BBC
Panama’s President Ricardo Martinelli says he will scrap plans to sell off state-owned land in the duty-free zone of Colon after violent protests - one week before the US-Panama FTA comes into effect.
Residents in Panama protest privatization of canal zone as US trade deal nears
24-Oct-2012 FSRN
next week, a trade deal with Panama will go into effect. Anti-corruption advocates have criticized Panama for providing tax havens for wealthy corporations and its policies have drawn protest from within the country. This week, residents of Colon are under a curfew after protesters hit the streets in response to the government’s plan to privatize land.
South American Silver notifies Bolivia of investment dispute
24-Oct-2012 Mining Weekly
TSX-listed South American Silver (SAS) on Tuesday said it had notified the Plurinational State of Bolivia of an investment dispute between the company and Bolivia, after the company’s subsidiaries had lost its mineral tenements.
Govt depts unwilling to sign BIT
24-Oct-2012 The Nation
Despite US desires to sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Pakistan without any delay, various government institutions still seem not on the same page making it a serious headache for the ruling PPP to get it through at the earliest.
Free trade with the US but not at any price, say MEPs
24-Oct-2012 European Parliament
MEPs called for talks on a possible trade deal with the US to start early next year, in a resolution adopted on Tuesday. They point to the huge potential for growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic but caution that the EU’s interests must be protected, especially in the farm sector.
Panama protests against free-trade zone land sales
23-Oct-2012 RT
Police in the sea-port of Colon have fired tear-gas and rubber bullets to disperse angry protesters. A total of 50 were arrested during the clashes, a continuation of public outcry against the governments decision to sell land in the free-trade zone.
African countries plan single trading bloc
23-Oct-2012 Daily News
The President of the African Organization for Standardization maintains that SADC, ECOWAS and EAC will continue to exist alongside the new African Free Trade Area.
EU refuses French bid to monitor Korea car imports
23-Oct-2012 Reuters
The European Commission has turned down France’s request that imports of cars from South Korea be subject to checks, which could have led to duties being reimposed despite a free-trade deal struck last year.
US-Panama Free Trade Agreement enters into force Oct. 31
23-Oct-2012 Agri-Pulse
United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk announced today the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement will enter into force on October 31, 2012.
Robust growth keeps PH on track to AEC 2015
23-Oct-2012 Rappler
In an interview with Rappler before the October 23 forum on ASEAN 2015, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Dr. Lim Hong Hin said the Philippines’ progress in meeting the agreements under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has been significant.
Egypt & Malaysia to start FTA talks
23-Oct-2012 North Africa Post
Egypt and Malaysia look forward to setting up a free trade zone to boost the weak trade exchanges between the countries having great economic potentials and huge consumer markets.
Libre-échange Canada-UE: les négociations pourraient être prolongées d’une année
23-Oct-2012 La Presse Canadienne
L’ambassadeur de l’Union européenne au Canada a indiqué lundi que bien que les négociations en vue de conclure un accord de libre-échange entre les deux régions soient entrées dans leur phase finale, les problèmes les plus épineux n’ont toujours pas été résolus.
Minister targeting top Swiss banks’ ’new business units’
23-Oct-2012 Tribune 242
Bahamas’ Minister of Financial Services is this week aiming to encourage three of the largest Swiss private banks to domicile “new business units” in the Bahamas, under the auspices of a new deal under the EU EPA.
Treaty tolls death knell for Mexican countryside
23-Oct-2012 IPS
The Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations, which Mexico is to join in December, are threatening to eliminate the last defences of the country’s agricultural sector.