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bilateralism & multilateralism

New World Bank study on regional and bilateral trade agreements
18-Nov-2004 WB
This report addresses two questions: What are the characteristics of agreements that strongly promote-or hinder-development for member countries? Does the proliferation of agreements pose risks to the multilateral trading system, and how can those risks be managed?
Andean nations clash with US on patenting life forms
17-Nov-2004 IPS
Access to genetic resources in South America’s Andean region, which holds a quarter of the planet’s biodiversity, is a point of discord in the free trade agreement that the United States has been negotiating with Colombia, Ecuador and Peru since May.
Lockwood Smith: Second-term Bush presidency good for world trade
13-Nov-2004 New Zealand Herald
While terrorism and security are, for good reason, high in people’s minds right now, global trade developments are critically important for New Zealand over the next two to three years.
ABAC: Assessment of the Proposal for an FTAAP
12-Nov-2004 ABAC
An Issues Paper for the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
More trade caution seen with Kerry, more deals under Bush
2-Nov-2004 Stuff
An election win for Senator John Kerry could make the United States tougher and more cautious on trade, while a victory for President George W Bush would keep the country on the path to more deals, experts say.
Bush won’t dissolve sugar jobs
2-Nov-2004 GFH
Handled with care. That is the best way to describe how the Bush administration has dealt with sugar in America’s international trade agreements.
Philippines: No systematic framework for FTA negotiations yet
28-Oct-2004 ABS-CBN
The Philippines has yet to adopt a systematic framework that would govern its negotiations for bilateral free-trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries, according to two economic analysts.
ICC urges Thailand to go multilateral route
15-Oct-2004 The Nation
The international business community has called on Thailand to abandon its plans for bilateral deals and adopt instead the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) agenda of multilateral cooperation.
US-SACU trade deal: what’s in it for us?
7-Oct-2004 AllAfrica.com
In bilateral talks characterised by unequal power relations, the rich will force their will on the poor and the "development" element of trade deals will be diluted to the point of being meaningless. This is especially so when dealing with a country like the US that believes more trade, on its own, equals more development.
Bilateral trade talks falter after enthusiastic starts
6-Oct-2004
Bangladesh is yet to make any clear headway in its bilateral talks in free trade agreements with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as trade and investment framework agreement with the United States.
Watch out beyond the WTO: The EU’s aggressive multi-level trade agenda
5-Oct-2004 WEED
Is it really just the US which pushes its economic interests in fora outside the WTO? No! The European Commission as the power centre of EU trade policy is pursuing its own neo-liberal liberalisation and deregulation scheme multilaterally within the WTO and at the same time in regional and bilateral processes!
Bilateral & regional negotiations on agriculture: competitive liberalization or protectionist confusion?
4-Oct-2004 FQAEA
Synoptic review of what is happening with US trade talks on agriculture, outside the WTO
BGD: Decide fast about free trade deals
4-Oct-2004 Daily Star
A consultative committee on free trade has suggested the government to make urgent political decision regarding its position on bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
Two-way deals fill free trade gap
3-Oct-2004 IHT
It may seem as though a deal is a deal, but experts in the field differ on the relative merits of bilateral and regional agreements, with each having its friends and foes.
The work of USTR on intellectual property
24-Sep-2004 USTR
In this work, we consult closely with Congress on our priorities and strategies; we use domestic trade law; regional initiatives in Europe, Asia (APEC), Latin America (FTAA) and Africa; existing institutions, notably the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Global trade: Creating a new mindset with FTAs
20-Sep-2004 STI
Although FTAs have both trade-creating and -diverting effects, overall they serve the objective of multilateral trade liberalisation.
Fashionable trade agreements all the rage in Asia
13-Sep-2004
From Tokyo to Mumbai, FTAs - free-trade agreements - seem to be every Asian politician’s favorite new phrase these days.
’Singapore issues’ part of EU’s trade agenda: Lamy
11-Sep-2004 Jakarta Post
Investment, competition policies, and transparency in government procurement emerged during a recent meeting between trade ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union aimed at seeking ways to boost trade and economic cooperation between the two regions.
The politics of United States free trade agreements
7-Sep-2004
United States (U.S.) is aggressively working to open markets globally, regionally and bilaterally to expand American opportunities and to guard its investments in overseas market. With multilateral negotiations proceeding at a slow pace especially following the collapse of talks in Cancun, U.S. is on a spree signing free trade agreements (FTAs) with the Americas, Asian, African and Middle Eastern nations.
Kerry would shift US trade focus towards WTO
3-Sep-2004 New Zealand Herald
Democrat John Kerry probably would put more time and energy into world trade talks and enforcing existing agreements than pursuing bilateral deals like the Bush administration has, a campaign adviser said.