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PBI-Switzerland notes referendum on free trade deal with Indonesia as Canada launches consultation on similar agreement
27-Jan-2021 PBI Canada
Human rights defenders on the ground have been drawing attention for many years to the negative consequences of palm oil cultivation for small farmers, indigenous people and the environment.
Alternative trade for the planet
18-Jan-2021 Trade Justice Movement
Tackling the climate and environmental crises is more urgent than ever and global momentum to do so is building rapidly. Yet international trade law lags behind and threatens to choke off serious action.
Mining operations – Submission of request for international arbitration to Chinese government
18-Jan-2021 AsiaPhos
AsiaPhos has been in discussion with the Chinese Government (since November 2017) for a settlement in relation to the cessation of the mining activities because of the Panda Park.
Dispute over palm oil: Agreement with Indonesia breaks new ground
15-Jan-2021 Info Sperber
Only implementation can show what the palm oil agreement with Indonesia is worth, says trade expert Elisabeth Bürgi Bonanomi.
EU-China comprehensive agreement on investment: A scoping study
16-Dec-2020 Heinrich Böll Foundation
Given China’s unique position, the study concludes that the EU must ensure that particularly strong protections for EU regulatory policy space are included in any future investment deal.
EU will be asked to ratify Mercosur deal in New Year
16-Dec-2020 Irish Examiner
At least nine EU countries want the trade deal with South America.
Argentina: Mercosur will address EU environment concerns
15-Dec-2020 AP
South America’s Mercosur countries will address environmental concerns raised by the European Union that have stalled ratification of a free trade deal between the two trade blocs, Argentina’s foreign minister said.
Deal with climate change, not climate deniers: How the EU-Mercosur trade deal threatens the environment and human rights
14-Dec-2020 Friends of the Earth Europe
This trade agreement aims to boost an export-oriented agricultural model that harms small-scale farmers, indigenous peoples, traditional and rural communities, in Mercosur and EU countries.
The EU-Mercosur agreement: increasing pesticide use and GMOs, and undermining healthy food production and standards
8-Dec-2020 IATP
The EU-Mercosur agreement is inconsistent with the EU’s recently announced Farm-to-Fork Strategy, which aims to dramatically reduce pesticide use and completely ban any residue on food of pesticides not registered for use in the EU.
Brazil pledge on Amazon needed to save EU-Mercosur trade deal -EU diplomat
8-Dec-2020 Reuters
Until Brazil makes a political commitment to curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, the trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur will not advance toward ratification in Europe, the EU’s envoy in Brasilia said.
EU-New Zealand chart course toward green trade deals
23-Nov-2020 Politico
Talks with New Zealand look likely to set a template for a new way of doing business.
As the Amazon faces its greatest threat yet, Canada can reject free trade deal with Brazil
20-Nov-2020 The Hill Times
This is about survival: scientists warn that the Amazon is approaching a tipping point beyond, which the rainforest cannot sustain itself. If that happens, there would be a massive die-off of plant and animal species.
Central Asian NGOs raise concerns about BRI projects
19-Nov-2020 The Third Pole
Experts are calling on their governments to strengthen oversight of Belt and Road Initiative projects as anger rises over their environmental and social impacts.
Greenpeace Africa petitions CS on plastic deal in Kenya–US trade talks
12-Nov-2020 The Star
The Kenyan Trade Cabinet received a 20,000–strong petition calling on her to take a strong stand against any influence by the American Chemistry Council, which Greenpeace said is keen to secure market for the US plastic industry.
Amazon deforestation and EU-Mercosur deal
30-Oct-2020 European Parliament Think Tank
A study of the trade pillar’s provisions concludes that, taking the risk of deforestation into account, the deal’s environmental costs are likely to exceed its economic gains.
How the Amazon rainforest at risk because of an EU trade deal – Dr Richard Dixon
20-Oct-2020 The Scotsman
Trade deals with the EU are very topical just now but it is not a possible Brexit trade deal but a deal between the EU and four South American countries which concerns our international colleagues most.
EU seeks Amazon protections pledge from Bolsonaro in push to ratify trade deal
20-Oct-2020 The Guardian
Brazilian president’s stance on deforestation remains stumbling block for South America agreement
US chemical industry overreaches by invoking USMCA
19-Oct-2020 The Hill
The plastics industry is using the promise of its future voluntary cooperation to postpone or bar more effective regulatory measures - relying on language in the USMCA to make its case.
The secret tribunal
19-Oct-2020 Drilled
Expert Marcos Orellana walks us through the shadowy arbitration system, the Chevron case in particular, and what it all means for global climate action.
Environmental impacts of free trade deal with Brazil ignored by review, advocates say
19-Oct-2020 National Observer
A federal environmental assessment of a proposed trade deal between Canada and the Mercosur countries ignores major environmental and human rights violations in Brazil, environmental advocates say.