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geopolitics


Xi Jinping, speaking at APEC, pledges market reforms in bid to join Asia-Pacific trade bloc
President Xi Jinping on Thursday pledged a raft of economic reforms as part of China’s efforts to join a Pacific Rim trade pact abandoned four years ago by the US and warned against efforts to “draw ideological lines” in the Asia-Pacific region.
‘EU agrees on cooperation with Taipei’
European Parliament’s committee President said that he would continue to push for closer ties between the EU and Taiwan, and advocate for a bilateral investment agreement.
The Asia-Pacific’s free trade disagreements
It’s not just the different agreements, per se – the distinctly different models of FTAs are complicating trade regimes in the region.
SADC countries unhappy with major new framework for relations with the EU
Southern African countries have rattled the European Union by indicating they might reopen negotiations on a major new, long-range framework for relations between Europe and developing countries that has already been accepted by all sides.
Australia says EU has postponed free trade talks for second time
The European Union has postponed the next round of free trade talks with Australia for a second time, the Australian trade minister said, amid simmering anger over Canberra’s decision to cancel a $40 billion contract with France.
Geopolitics behind NZ-UK free trade deal
For now, New Zealand’s free trade deal with the UK might be about building back butter - but it could end up being more about Beijing.
CPTPP members must be wary of China’s attempt to join trade pact
Until Beijing demonstrates a credible commitment to abiding by the rules and ceases to use its economic might as a tool of coercion against other states, allowing it to join the CPTPP would be a serious mistake.
Making sense of Sudan’s move against Petronas
Sudan’s government confiscated Petronas’s assets on the grounds that they were acquired "through illegal means" during Omar al-Bashir’s regime. Some argue that Sudan is turning on its allies "under the pretext of fighting corruption".
Taiwan questions China’s suitability for Pacific trade pact, fears ’obstruction’
China’s restrictive practices present fundamental problems for its application to join a major pan-Pacific free trade pact, and if it joins before Taiwan there is a risk it could block their application.
China wants to join the trade pact once designed to counter it
CPTPP members will have a robust discussion on China’s application. It’s hard to argue that Beijing’s trade regime will be in line anytime soon with CPTPP disciplines on state-owned enterprises, labor, digital trade, and intellectual property protection, among other concerns.
European lawmakers seek to upgrade ties with Taiwan
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a report that urged the EU to begin work on a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan.
Australia and India: A time to refocus on trade talks
In a drastically changed geopolitical scenario, developments in the Indo-Pacific, have brought Australia and India closer together as Comprehensive Strategic Partners.
Vietnam to gain as EU-China investment pact stalls
European investors are likely to look beyond China following the suspension of an investment agreement. Strong diplomatic relations and trade ties with Vietnam mean that the Southeast Asian country is tipped to profit.
America now has a ’One China, One Taiwan’ policy: TIFA and TIPA will strengthen it
The Biden administration continues to build on the Trump team’s unprecedented efforts to deepen US relations with Taiwan.
RCEP Asia trade pact draws US allies toward China – analysis
US trade experts are watching warily as the world’s biggest free trade pact advances slowly toward ratification and brings some of America’s closest Asian allies into an economic bloc that includes China but leaves the United States on the sidelines.
Concerns over RCEP
The ongoing US-China tensions can be a potential wildcard to the mass ratification and adoption of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by its country member signatories.
Trade agreement with United States to be effective tool of geoeconomics – Petrashko
The conclusion of a bilateral preferential trade agreement between Ukraine and the United States can become an effective tool of geoeconomics, providing increased global competition in trade.
Japan approves world’s biggest free-trade deal after China’s call to boost Asian economy
Japan’s parliament approved joining the RCEP to aim for it to come into effect from the start of next year. The approval by Japan’s upper house comes after China called for the deal to be ratified to shore up the economy in the Asia-Pacific.
Northern gatemen and geopolitics of AfCFTA
AfCFTA has materialized at a time when globalization is being used to hide all sorts of ambitions including the second empire and colonialism. AfCFTA is not just about the economy and markets, it is also a political setup from the African Union and African Development Bank.
“Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” Agreement and the future of Sino-Iranian relations
As a result, although Sino-Iranian relations have developed over the past 10 years in terms of economic, energy, and security relations, and the two countries have similar views on the international system, the security interests of the two countries, especially China, outweigh its economic interests with Iran.