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China plans mega transport network to boost trade, economic growth
26-Feb-2021 Global Times
China’s plan to build a global rapid logistics circle for goods by 2035, which will likely boost China’s trade with major economies in the EU and Asia.
Take action to end the climate-killing Energy Charter Treaty
23-Feb-2021 CEO
Sign the petition to pull out of the Energy Charter Treaty and stop its expansion to other countries!
How Energy Treaty ’shadow’ courts prolong EU’s fossil age
23-Feb-2021 EU Observer
The treaty enables companies to claim billions in compensation from states in front of international arbitration tribunals, if they feel unfairly treated by the states’ energy or climate policies.
Are the sustainability criteria in the Swiss trade deal with Indonesia toothless?
23-Feb-2021 Swiss Info
A free trade agreement with Indonesia has sparked backlash and Switzerland’s first national referendum on palm oil imports. On the eve of the vote to take place March 7, SWI swissinfo.ch fact checks claims on sustainability.
Two steps forward, one step back for Vietnam’s labor rights
22-Feb-2021 DW
Several EU statements still refer to EVFTA as helping to create "trade unions" in Vietnam, but WROs are different in many ways. They are only allowed to collectively bargain and organize strikes at the individual enterprise level, meaning they are restricted to individual companies.
EU farmers call for coherence amid Mercosur deal and climate action
22-Feb-2021 AgriLand
An EU-Mercosur deal would be potentially detrimental to European farmers’ stability, EU farm organisation CEJA has warned.
Commission wants to ‘explore options’ for India trade, investment
19-Feb-2021 Euractiv
The European Commission said that it wants to “explore options” for expanding the EU’s trade and investment with India.
EU to be tougher in trade talks, include climate change goals in deals
18-Feb-2021 Yahoo
The European Union will become more assertive in trade talks and push for its international partners to include combating climate change in future deals, its trade commissioner said.
Join the movement and sign the petition to #EndFossilProtection
17-Feb-2021 bilaterals.org
A petition to ensure the Energy Charter Treaty will no longer be used against EU climate and energy policies is now available for supporters on the European Parliament website.
EU readies reforms to energy treaty as climate criticisms mount
16-Feb-2021 Reuters
Some governments have said the bloc should consider quitting the agreement because the treaty could threaten climate goals.
China’s labour rights issues a threat to its trade deal with EU
16-Feb-2021 Hindustan Times
In the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment is expected to face intense resistance from some European lawmakers, while international unionists, who say the pact will do nothing to stop human rights abuses or protect labour rights in China, have vowed to ramp up pressure over the deal.
Grassroots campaign launches to stop CETA ratification
12-Feb-2021 Green News
A grassroots group known as “Stop CETA Ireland” has launched a campaign to stop the Irish government from ratifying the controversial Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada.
Front of Brazilian civil society organizations against the Mercosur-EU agreement
12-Feb-2021
The undersigned Brazilian civil society organizations are expressing their opposition to signing the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.
Manila to work with EU on free trade — Duterte
12-Feb-2021 Business World
The Philippines would keep working with the European Union (EU) on issues including free trade and investment, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Wednesday as he got a visit from the bloc’s ambassador-designate.
Ukraine, EU start review of trade provisions of Association Agreement
11-Feb-2021 Unian
The European Commission confirms its readiness to start the review of the trade-related provisions of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.
New Armenia-EU agreement to enter into force on March 1
11-Feb-2021 Panarmenian.Net
The European Union notified Armenia about the completion of the ratification process by the EU and its Member States of the Armenia-European Union Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.
An EU-China deal for a bygone era
11-Feb-2021 Project Syndicate
EU negotiators made some progress in important areas like market access, investment liberalization, and sustainable development. But can an incremental bilateral agreement like the CAI really govern economic relations with today’s China?
An India-EU trade pact may still remain elusive
11-Feb-2021 Hellenic Shipping News
India - EU trade negotiations are likely to run into the same problems as the discussions that began on a comprehensive free trade agreement in 2007 but were aborted due to differences on movement of professionals, labour, human rights and environmental issues and other issues.
Can SA trust the EU’s commitment to fair trade?
10-Feb-2021 Business Day
All too often SA is condemned by the EU, Brazil and others for implementing necessary trade defence measures against unfair competition. But it is interesting to observe how the EU, a culprit of dumping in SA, fights to protect itself against dumping at all costs.
Limits of the EU-China investment agreement
9-Feb-2021 The Business Times
The CAI will be judged a few years from now by its implementation and the concrete steps China takes to fulfill its promises. If European companies do not perceive any improvement, and China makes no progress on labour standards, the CAI might come to be viewed as another empty gesture.