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Obama’s Africa trip bolsters US interests
3-Jul-2013 Al Jazeera
One major US-Africa issue was unresolved as Air Force One left Tanzania’s tarmac: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a tariff-free trade deal that was devised during Clinton’s administration and expires in 2015, writes James Reinl for Al Jazeera.
Philip Morris International welcomes decision by World Bank tribunal to hear treaty challenge to Uruguay’s excessive tobacco measures
3-Jul-2013 National Post
Philip Morris International (PMI) welcomed the decision by a World Bank arbitration tribunal to hear a claim that Uruguay violated multiple provisions of its Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Switzerland.
Japan Tobacco said it sued Thailand over health warnings
3-Jul-2013 Bloomberg
Japan Tobacco Inc., Asia’s biggest listed cigarette maker, sued the government of Thailand over a plan to increase the size of health warnings on cigarette packages, claiming the move is unconstitutional.
Trans-Pacific trade deal threatens access to affordable medicines
3-Jul-2013 MSF
As host to both the AIDS conference and TPP trade talks this month, Malaysia reportedly vows to reject a TPP trade agreement that harms access to medicines; other countries should follow suit, and Malaysia should be held to its pledge
Regional free trade agreement with Mexico enters into force
2-Jul-2013 Tico Times
A free trade agreement between Central America and Mexico entered into force this week, the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX) reported on Monday.
What are BITs, FTAs and the TPPA?
2-Jul-2013 Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia should learn from Peru’s experience and be most cautious about signing any BITs or FTAs that a company like Lynas may later use against Malaysia.
Complex trade pacts promote land grabs
2-Jul-2013 The Guardian
Multiplicity of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) leave room for some investors to take advantage of African resources, it has been asserted at a CUTS meeting in Geneva last week
US-EU FTA: the food safety boomerang
1-Jul-2013 JDLE
As the EU has just approved the use of lactic acid to decontaminate beef, it will not be able to oppose the entry of US beef produced this way under the EU-US FTA
ACP states dismayed at EU decision to cut sugar quotas in 2017
1-Jul-2013 ACP Secretariat
ACP sugar supplying states are appalled by the decision reached by the EU institutions on Wednesday to abolish EU beet and isoglucose sugar quotas in 2017. Once again, the concerns and expectations of the ACP have not been taken into account in spite of their numerous submissions over the past years.
Turkey aims to complete talks for FTA with Ukraine
1-Jul-2013 World Bulletin
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey aims to complete the talks for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Ukraine as of 2015.
Premier promotes creation of FTA with EU
1-Jul-2013 China Daily
China would "welcome" the creation of a free trade agreement with the European Union, its largest trading partner, but it could "take time" to be established, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday.
Gulf states take harder line with EU over free-trade agreement
1-Jul-2013 The National
The GCC will not sign a new joint cooperation programme with the EU that involves sharing information on topics ranging from finance to climate change until both sides resolve differences over a trade agreement, the Kuwait News Agency quoted Ghanim Al Buainain, Bahrain’s minister of state for foreign affairs, as saying.
European Union says US spying claims could affect free trade
1-Jul-2013 Raw Story
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding on Sunday warned that landmark negotiations with the United States to create a vast free trade zone could be affected if media reports that Washington had bugged EU premises proved true.
GCC-EU free trade agreement soon
1-Jul-2013 TradeArabia
"Almost 99 per cent of the items have being agreed and only one issue related to export duties is currently being reviewed before any decision is reached,” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said.
Will Asia’s largest FTA make a difference?
1-Jul-2013 Jakarta Post
Unless there is enough political will to close potential loopholes disguised as “flexibility” and pursue reforms deeper than those ever before attempted, RCEP may be seen as serving the geopolitical interests of a few players, to little economic effect.