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US free-trade deal on shaky ground
19-Jan-2006 swissinfo
The prospect of a Swiss-US free-trade accord is in doubt, mainly due to differences over agriculture, according to Swiss Economics Minister Joseph Deiss.
Egypt-US free trade deal at risk: US official
19-Jan-2006 AFP
Egypt risks missing its chance to clinch a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States if talks do not kick off in the coming weeks, an official with the US Congress said.
S. Korea seeks FTA with US
19-Jan-2006 UPI
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Wednesday he would push for a free-trade agreement with the United States as early as possible.
Nitya to stay on for ’sake of the nation’
19-Jan-2006 Bangkok Post
The head of the Thai team negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, Nitya Pibulsonggram, has been persuaded to remain in the ’’thankless job’’, sources said yesterday.
Thailand: Top FTA official throws in the towel
18-Jan-2006 Bangkok Post
Nit Pibulsongkram is to resign as head of the Thai team negotiating a free-trade agreement with the United States because of the tremendous political pressure weighing on him, according to a source at Government House.
Colombia, Ecuador to set common position in FTA talks
17-Jan-2006 Dow Jones
Colombia and Ecuador will set a common position in negotiations with the US on a free trade agreement, the presidents of both countries said Monday in a press conference.
US-Thai FTA: Shin Corp deal could affect FTA talks
17-Jan-2006
The Shinawatra family’s reported plan to sell off its stake in Shin Corp Plc to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings might complicate the Thai-US free trade talks and stall negotiations.
Cabinet gives nod for Malaysia-US FTA discussions, says Rafidah
17-Jan-2006
The Cabinet has agreed in principle for Malaysia and the US to begin discussions towards forging a free trade agreement (FTA) as and when both sides are ready.
Central bank chief wants FTA openness
17-Jan-2006
Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula said he felt the mounting opposition to a free trade area (FTA) was due to the lack of an explanation to the public in a concrete manner.
Sacrificing lives for patents under FTA
17-Jan-2006 Bangkok Post
On the last day of the sixth round of Thai-US Free Trade Area talks, several academics and non-governmental bodies were invited to discuss their concerns with US negotiators on aspects of intellectual property rights, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical and life form patents. For a number of reasons, only one academic showed up.
US trade meeting planned
16-Jan-2006
Business leaders have been invited to a top-level meeting which could help push New Zealand’s case for a free trade deal with the United States.
Colombia says NO to US free trade
16-Jan-2006
The Colombian government declared Friday, based on a Cundinamarca Administration Court decision, it will not sign the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
Panama, US FTA talks postponed
16-Jan-2006 Prensa Latina
The ninth round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks between Panamanian government officials and the US wound up without a final accord, amid domestic pressures forcing to act cautiously.
Thai side floundering in FTA talks
16-Jan-2006 IHT ThaiDay
More than anything, this week’s trade talks and the howls of opposition they’ve provoked have spotlighted the starkly different approaches taken by Thai and US negotiators.
Oman: Signing of free-trade accord with US on Thursday
16-Jan-2006 Times of Oman
A free-trade agreement between the Sultanate and the United States will be signed next Thursday, said Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan, commerce and industry minister, yesterday.
Wake-up alarm over FTA delays
16-Jan-2006 Gulf Daily News
The sticking point for the US-Bahrain FTA to come into effect is intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation, which must be passed by Bahrain’s Parliament first
Thai FTA in trouble: US could abandon talks after six rounds
15-Jan-2006 Bahrain Tribune
The United States could abandon free trade talks with Thailand unless Bangkok agrees to redouble efforts to reach an agreement in the next few months, a US trade negotiator Barbara Weisel said. In a telephone call with US reporters, Weisel said it was uncertain the two sides would have another round.
FTA Watch: Movement ‘is gaining strength’
15-Jan-2006 The Nation
The fiery protest that disrupted free-trade talks between Thailand and the United States in Chiang Mai last week was just the first victory for a movement that is gaining strength, says a key organiser of FTA Watch.
US expects smooth talk with Malaysia on future FTA
15-Jan-2006 Bernama
Malaysia and United States will start preliminary discussions on free trade area (FTA) agreement in Kuala Lumpur next week with US chief negotiator expressing confident it will take place in smooth and protest-free environment.
Thailand and US equally tough on insurance talks in FTA
13-Jan-2006
Talks to open up market access for the insurance sector within the framework of the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement ended here today with the only agreement - that each side would scrutinise the other’s list of demand for further consultations.