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Port Hawkesbury Paper deal violates free trade: US congressman
Government funding for the Port Hawkesbury Paper mill in Nova Scotia, Canada, violated free trade laws, a US congressman says.
Joint FTA study with Turkey nears completion
Thailand and Turkey plan to finalise their joint study on a possible free-trade (FTA) agreement by early next year.
Waiting for an FTA
Southern Africa countries’ restrictive trade practices continue to undermine the potential gains of a regional free trade area (FTA).
Thailand: Ministry plans to cut time it takes to complete FTA
The Thai Commerce Ministry aims to speed up the time it takes to complete talks on free-trade agreements from the current average of two years.
Trade: Pakistan, Indonesia PTA comes into effect
Indonesia and Pakistan have agreed to formally activate the Preferential Trade Agreement with effect from September 1 (Sunday), ensuring greater market access to their products.
A struggle for survival in Colombia’s countryside
The source of this uprising lies in policies not up for discussion in the country’s current peace talks: the impact of the US-Colombia FTA – implemented in May 2012 – and policies that have similarly afflicted Colombian campesinos (small-scale farmers).
Nationwide protests rage against Colombia’s economic policies
A strike declared nearly two weeks ago in Colombia by farmers and joined later by truck drivers, health workers, miners and students spread to include protests in the cities before mushrooming into a general strike Thursday, demanding changes in the government’s economic policies.
’970’ asks why Colombia is confiscating farmers’ rice and dumping it in the garbage
In the midst of a nationwide agrarian strike, a documentary about a new law criminalizing farmers for the centuries old practice of saving the best seeds and using them for the next crop is igniting debate about the treatment of the country’s farmers.
Move to ease German, EU doubts over investor risk in SA
SOUTH Africa is scrambling to convince Germany and its other European trade partners that its unilateral scrapping of bilateral investment treaties is not a risk to their investments in South Africa.
Colombia sends military to cities after police fail to maintain protests peaceful
Colombia’s defense minister announced he’ll be sending the military to cities where police failed to maintain the peace at anti-government protests Thursday during which at least a hundred protesters were injured and dozens were arrested.
Violence in Bogota amid farm sector crisis
About 30,000 people marched peacefully in Colombia’s capital Thursday in support of a 10-day protest by small farmers against free trade agreements until pandemonium broke out.
Proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP): In Brief
Report from the US Congressional Research Service on the proposed TTIP between the EU and the US
Japanese farmers’ opposition to TPP waning, Malaysian minister says
Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamad told Kyodo News, "The Japanese shared with us some issues they have in agriculture, but they told me that opposition is slowly dying down. It wasn’t as serious as it was six months ago. In their view, it’s manageable."
China’s investment in Africa increases 20.5 pct annually
China’s direct investment in Africa increased from $1.44 billion to $2.52 billion, with an annual growth of 20.5 percent from 2009 to 2012, says a new white paper from the Chinese government
Colombians continue protesting despite dialogue in Boyaca
Tension in Colombia will increase with another great mobilization scheduled for [today] which is expected to be massive due to the guilds that will join, including the Sudent Wide National Bureau and Workers’ Trade Union of Petroleum Industry (USO).
Colombia farmers’ strikes spread to cities
Nationwide agricultural strikes are continuing in Colombia after more than a week of ongoing roadblocks, marches and clashes with the police.
TPP sides set to keep food safety regimes
The 12 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations are unlikely to ease their individual food safety standards as the subject is not being discussed in the free-trade talks, negotiation sources said Wednesday.
Minimal progress made at 19th round of TPP negotiations
Minimal progress has been achieved on most outstanding areas in the 19th round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations taking place in Brunei since Aug 22.
No deal on Colombia farmers’ strike after night of talks
Representatives of Colombian farmers’ groups and government ministers say they have not yet been able to reach a deal to end a 10-day strike.
First Nations loses bid to block Canada-China FIPA treaty
Canada’s Federal Court has dismissed an application by an aboriginal band in British Columbia to stay the Canada-China investment treaty until First Nations have been consulted.