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Too early to tell on FTAs
Waiting, waiting. It will take time to realise the benefits of our free trade deals with Thailand and the US.
Panama anti-FTA front broadens
Panama’s government, ignoring the country’s heated atmosphere, strives Friday to show the validity of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US while a common front snubbing the eventual pact grows.
FTA talks may not finish on time: US chief rep
The head of the US trade negotiating team yesterday expressed concern that Bangkok and Washington may not be able to wrap up free-trade agreement discussions by the agreed deadline. Speaking after concluding the sixth round of Thai-US FTA negotiations, Barbara Weisel, assistant US Trade Representative, said: “There’s some serious concern whether we can do that [finish the talks by May].”
US worried about slow FTA talks
A senior US trade official on Friday expressed concern about the slow progress being made in negotiations to establish a free trade agreement (FTA) with Thailand, where more than 10,000 demonstrators gathered this week to protest the pact.
Civil society network resumes opposition to Thai-US FTA pact
The network of 11 civil society organisations which showed its opposition to the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations earlier this week in Chiang Mai Friday reaffirmed its intention to continue protesting the talks.
US eyes more FTAs
Australian wheat exports could face further challenge with the Bush administration eyeing possible free trade deals with Egypt, South Korea and Malaysia, and working on one with Thailand.
US official: free trade is big boost for DR
United States Under-Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Patrick Duddy affirmed last night while visiting the Congress that the Free Trade Agreement will be greatly beneficial to the Dominican Republic and other co-signing countries.
US Senator: US-Uruguay free trade deal virtually sewn up
Visiting US Sen. Melquiades "Mel" Martinez, R-Fla., said during an Argentine radio interview Thursday that a free trade agreement between the US and Argentine neighbor Uruguay is virtually sewn up.
Thailand, US argue copyright
Intellectual property rights protection became the latest stumbling block in the current round of negotiations for a Thai-US Free Trade Agreement today, with Thailand complaining publicly about the Americans’ stand.
Minister: FTA a long way off
A cabinet minister said today that an actual free-trade agreement with the United States is still al long way off, and talks have not so far yielded any definite agreement. Tariff cut plans are still subject to further consultation.
The man’s now asking for the impossible
If a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States is so great for us consumers, why is the telecom industry, which is controlled by our premier’s family, excluded from the deal? If Thailand had to join hands with other developing countries to fight for our people’s access to affordable life-saving medicines until the World Trade Organisation finally allowed it under the Doha Declaration, why is it that Mr Thaksin is so eager to ink a trade deal with the US that would tie our hands from doing so?
US FTA gets a new champion: Senator John McCain
Returning through Christchurch as part of a Congressional delegation visiting American operations in Antarctica, US Senator John McCain, a Republican representing Arizona and a leading conservative centrist, had positive things to say about the possibility of a free trade agreement between the US and New Zealand.
Pledge given on free trade
A group of United States senators has vowed to fight for a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand after a high-level meeting in Christchurch.
Bush signs Bahrain trade pact, a first for Gulf
President George W. Bush on Wednesday signed a bill enacting a free-trade agreement with Bahrain, the first such pact with a Gulf country and only the third with an Arab state.
US says no quick free trade deal with Sri Lanka
The United States warned Sri lanka against banking on a quick free trade deal to fix its economic woes and urged the island to restore peace and open its markets.
Thai-US FTA talks: Stumbling block
The Thai-US free-trade talks hit a snag yesterday after the head Thai negotiator for intellectual-property rights declared demands by the US for Thailand to tighten up drug patenting as “unacceptable”.
FTA to diversify Morocco’s foreign partnerships and markets
"The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States opens the Moroccan economy towards a new world. It is an opportunity for us to diversify our partnerships, our markets and strengthen our means of competition in an increasingly global economy," said Mohamed Benayad, secretary general of the National Council for Foreign Trade (CNCE).
Panama heats up over FTA
The resignation Wednesday of a key minister at Panama-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks added more fuel to the national atmosphere, which looks like it’s heading for a revival of the union movement.
Senator McCain backs US-NZ free trade deal
A senior United States Senator, John McCain says New Zealand’s nuclear free policy should not affect the country’s chances of securing a free trade deal with the US.
Urgent call to amend FTA
THE Bracks Government yesterday called on the Federal Government to negotiate "urgent amendments" to the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, claiming Victorian manufacturers had become victims of artificial trade barriers.