bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

Rethink new trade pact with Europe, MPs urge
9-Jul-2013 The Nation
Members of the National Assembly last week opposed a push to have Kenya sign a trade treaty with Europe until outstanding issues had been resolved.
India becomes part of regional trading bloc despite Chinese opposition
8-Jul-2013 Times of India
India overcame resistance from China to become a part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, an Asean + 6 grouping which is set to emerge as one of the most significant free trading blocs in the world, government sources confirmed.
Restrictive rules tilt trade agreements against India
8-Jul-2013 Financial Express
India’s bilateral trade pacts including the relatively recent ones with Asean, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea have arguably gone more to the partner’s advantage if one takes into account the widening trade deficit or increased imports
After long buildup, US-EU free trade talks finally begin
8-Jul-2013 Reuters
The United States and the European Union, after nearly two years of preparation, start talks on Monday aimed at securing a free-trade agreement to squeeze new economic growth out of the world’s largest trade and investment relationship.
Chinese, Swiss ink free trade agreement
8-Jul-2013 AFP
China and Switzerland on Saturday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) — Beijing’s first in continental Europe — in a deal that comes against a backdrop of trade tensions between the Asian giant and the European Union (EU).
EU wants US beef ban lifted under TTIP
6-Jul-2013 Global Meat News
European Union representatives travelling to Washington DC next week for the first round of negotiations with the US to forge a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership want early progress on the Americans lifting the current ban on European beef, an EU source close to the negotiations said.
Another non-report on human rights and free trade with Colombia
5-Jul-2013 Ottawa Citizen
On June 14th, the Canadian government quietly tabled its second report on the human rights impacts of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The report avoids any examination of the impact of Canadian investment — including oil, gas and mining – in Colombia.
Large protest rallies held in Busan over Korean FTA talks with China
5-Jul-2013 Busan Haps
There was a lot of tension in connection with the Korea-China FTA negotiations being held for three days in Busan this week. Rallies of opposition groups including farmers coincided with a visit from the Chinese trade delegation.
S. Korean farmers hold massive rally against FTA with China
5-Jul-2013 Yonhap
Thousands of South Korean farmers and fishermen rallied Tuesday to oppose a potential free trade deal with China as the two countries kicked off a new round of negotiations to tear down trade barriers between two of Asia’s biggest economies.
Korea: Farmers seek edge to prosper from China FTA
5-Jul-2013 Korea Herald
With Korean and Chinese policymakers due to wrap up the sixth round of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the two countries in Busan on Thursday, thousands of agriculture workers from across the country have been marching through the city in protest.
Regional trade agreement more lopsided against Pacific
4-Jul-2013 Scoop
In the middle of July, Pacific Island Trade Ministers will meet in Samoa with their Australian and New Zealand counterparts to discuss whether or not to expand the negotiations of PACER-Plus to include services and investment, reports the Pacific Network on Globalisation.
TDM call for papers: "Reform of investor-state dispute settlement: In search of a roadmap"
4-Jul-2013 TDM
Transnational Dispute Management are pleased to announce a forthcoming special issue: "Reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement: In Search of A Roadmap."
Will European requirements for labeling GMO foods survive new trade negotiations?
4-Jul-2013 Huffington Post
Will US trade negotiators seek the elimination of GMO restrictions in Europe through the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership?
EU envoy prods Canada to finalize free trade deal
4-Jul-2013 Canadian Press
European access for Canadian beef still a sticking point
Fading trade timelines
4-Jul-2013 Business Standard
The timelines for a possible India-Europe bilateral trade and investment agreement are getting tight with both sides supposedly failing to close the deal on some critical issues.
Freeing trade between South Africa and Nigeria
4-Jul-2013 IPS
If a Free Trade Area were negotiated between Africa’s two largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria, it would have a powerful effect across the sub-continent. However, there are concerns that such an FTA would give one-sided benefits to the South Africans.
Next round of EU-Malaysia FTA talks to resume in Q4, says envoy
4-Jul-2013 Bernama
The next round of negotiations on the EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement is expected to resume in the fourth quarter, says Ambassador & Head of Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, Luc Vandebon.
US pork industry counting on bilateral FTAs
4-Jul-2013 Whotv.com
The US pork industry has been restricted from exporting pork to the EU, the seocnd largest consumer group after China, through various tariff and non-tariff trade barriers that it wants to see eliminated
Trade secrets – Draft EU documents reveal trade agenda with US
3-Jul-2013 IATP
The only way civil society groups find out about trade negotiations are through one-way conversations or leaked negotiating documents. One such text came our way over the weekend, a set of position papers summarizing some of the EU’s initial goals on regulatory harmonization, writes IATP.
EU-US FTA (TTIP) - EU initial position papers (June 2013)
3-Jul-2013 IATP
Initial position papers from the Commission dated 20 June 2013 and leaked by IATP