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BIO commends USTR for successfully concluding US-Korea free trade agreement
17-Apr-2007 BIO
BIO congratulates US Chief Agricultural Negotiator Richard Crowder and his staff for negotiating a separate understanding on several agricultural biotechnology issues. The FTA will go a long way in providing additional market access opportunities in Korea for US biotechnology companies.
Tata forays into strategic sectors of Southeast Asia
15-Apr-2007 IPCS
China is making deep inroads in the region because of its trade initiatives, but Indian companies would be calling the shots in future, and the Asia-Pacific region might become a market for them.
Italy to tap Korean food markets
12-Apr-2007 Seoul Times
The recent free trade agreement between Korea and the US could help uncork one of the hottest markets in an expanding Asian frontier: quality foodstuffs and wine.
Sunkist Growers pleased with success of US-Korea FTA negotiations
10-Apr-2007 FreshPlaza
Sunkist has long urged the United States government to undertake an FTA with Korea to reduce its tariffs on US citrus. Mike Wootton, Sunkist senior vice president of corporate relations, was in Seoul, in constant consultations with US negotiators, during the final two-week session as citrus issues were tabled.
Private sector fully supports signing of Japan-Thailand FTA
30-Mar-2007
The Joint Private-Sector Committee has supported the government’s decision to sign the Japan and Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), saying Thailand would lose a market share in Japan if the signing was cancelled or postponed.
Chevron threat to reject Korean trade deal
28-Mar-2007 MSNBC
US companies, led by Chevron, are threatening to withdraw support for a trade deal with South Korea, because they claim it leaves that country free to expropriate foreign assets and arbitrarily restrict the flow of capital.
Uruguay interested in free trade agreement with Chile
24-Mar-2007 MercoPress
Although Uruguay and Chile belong to Mercosur and have a wide ranging agreement dating back to 1996, Uruguay’s goal is to reach “a free trade agreement similar to that with Mexico”.
US auto industry, agriculture lobby face off over Korea FTA
20-Mar-2007 The Hill
More than a dozen farm groups are lobbying the US administration in Korea this week to ensure it only concludes a deal that significantly increases US agriculture exports. But agriculture’s interests are somewhat complicated by those of the auto industry, which has warned it could oppose the deal unless it ensures that US exports to Korea will increase. Still, some sources say that support from agriculture could trump opposition from the auto industry if a deal is reached.
Too big a price to pay for an FTA
1-Mar-2007 New Straits Times
Letter from the Malaysian Organisation of Pharmaceutical Industries contesting the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce’s claim that that the country’s generic medicine manufacturers will do better if the Malaysia-US free trade agreement is signed.
UNICE strategy on an EU approach to free trade agreements
27-Feb-2007 Business Europe
Past EU bilateral and regional agreements have been strongly influenced by political concerns. The new generation of FTAs must be based on economic criteria: where the EU’s current and future markets lie.
Beware the northeastern free trade dream called Atlantica
26-Feb-2007 NUPGE
The Prince Edward Island Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) is joining other Atlantic public sector unions in sounding the warning about Atlantica, a free trade scheme proposed for Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
US Alliance a distinct liability for Australia
26-Feb-2007 Online Opinion
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade report estimated that the benefits to Australia from the US FTA would be $ 9.9 billion over 20 years. That would amount to a mere $26.05 per person per year. Common sense suggests that it would be ridiculous to bargain away Australia’s sovereignty for such a “benefit”.
US not ready for Japan free trade talks: USTR
22-Feb-2007 Washington Post
A top US trade official on Thursday quashed business community hopes for the United States to begin talks on a free trade agreement with Japan after it finishes negotiations on a proposed pact with South Korea.
Japan’s business lobby calls for freer trade with Asia
21-Feb-2007 IndustryWeek
"The first necessary step for Japan is to seal free trade deals with Asian countries as soon as possible", Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and Canon Inc, said.
Cheney urges firms to lobby free trade
15-Feb-2007 The Guardian
Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday urged the nation’s manufacturers to lobby Congress in what he said would be a difficult battle to extend President Bush’s special trade authority.
Manufacturers leery of US-Korea trade deal
14-Feb-2007 US News & World Report
The push for a US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, already under fire in South Korea, is being viewed skeptically by US manufacturers, especially carmakers, according to industry and congressional officials.
Business begins push for fast track trade bill
12-Feb-2007 ABC News
US business groups began a campaign on Monday to persuade a skeptical Democratic-led Congress to approve at least a short-term extension of White House trade promotion authority to finish world trade talks.
Business leaders warn of battle over free-trade pacts
9-Feb-2007 Miami Herald
Business groups prepare to fight for US approval of free-trade agreements with the Americas
Corporate boss leads charge for free trade
1-Feb-2007 The Australian
Fujio Mitarai, the Nippon Keidanren chairman who leads a powerful business mission to Australia at the weekend, belongs to the Japanese establishment’s inner elite. His position is often described as "prime minister of business".
Industry body calls for Indo-US free trade pact
25-Jan-2007 Rediff
The South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry has emphasised the need for a dialogue between the US and India for drafting a free trade agreement to further boost trade between the two countries.