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Educators in the EU and Japan demand education be left out of trade agreement
19-Jul-2018 Education International
The agreement poses direct threats to the provision of high-quality public services, such as education, in particular through restricting governments’ capacity to regulate in the public interest, encouraging further liberalisation of services and expanding the rights of multinational corporations.
Turkish government taken to international tribunal
12-Jul-2018 The Guardian
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime accused of illegally seizing company assets and breaching investment treaties involving Britain and other EU states.
EU Parliament questions US compliance with data privacy shield, calls for suspension
12-Jul-2018 ICTSD
The European Parliament adopted a resolution to suspend the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement, saying the US’ compliance efforts to date “fail to provide enough data protection for EU citizens.”
India, Singapore conclude second review of trade pact
29-Jun-2018 LiveMint
While the first review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between India and Singapore was concluded in 2007, the second review was launched in 2010.
India to focus on services trade at RCEP ministers meet in Tokyo
27-Jun-2018 Business Standard
Nations have increasingly got entrenched in their positions over reduction in tariffs and opening of market access.
Sri Lanka–Singapore FTA: An agreement between a giant and a child
14-Jun-2018 Daily Mirror
The trade deal between Singapore and Sri Lanka is not seen that of ’equals’ to create economic relations. The difference is not pertaining to their respective economic powers but their legal and regulatory frameworks.
Position paper on the trade agreement between the EU and Japan
7-Jun-2018 Bdew
The free trade agreement between Japan and the EU pushes for more liberalisation - including for the water industry.
AöW-Position on the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Japan
7-Jun-2018 AöW
AöW highlights the concerns of public water management in Germany.
How global trade deals could impact universities
7-Jun-2018 Times Higher Education
Unions and universities worry that agreements could leave them vulnerable to for-profit competition and entrench privatisation.
Veolia loses ISDS case against Egypt – after six years and millions in costs
4-Jun-2018 AFTINET
Veolia has finally lost its claim against Egypt over a waste management contract dispute in which they claimed compensation for an increase in the minimum wage under a new labour law.
Sri Lanka FTAs: stupidity or treachery?
16-May-2018
The President of Sri Lanka expressed that his government will safeguard the local industrialists. In several occasions, he has mentioned that the government does not want to go for trade agreements that are deleterious to the country’s economy. However, in January this year, the president was seated in the high chair clapping when the bilateral trade agreement with Singapore is signed, which liberalized the country’s service sector effectively for the first time.
Govt. responds to Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA detractors
14-May-2018 Daily Mirror
In response to concerns raised by some professional associations last week concerning the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA), the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry in a detailed response said the movement of natural persons from Singapore has not been opened except for intra-corporate transferees in senior management and business visitors linked to investments.
Korea, China to expand FTA to service and investment
20-Mar-2018 The Korea Times
With Korea and China set to start negotiations to expand the scope of their bilateral trade agreement to services and investment this week, experts say it could be a meaningful opening of the door to China’s $1 trillion services market.
Slovakia payment to Dutch company overturned
7-Mar-2018 The Slovak Spectator
Slovakia will no longer have to compensate Achmea B.V., the shareholder of Union ZP health insurer, for €22 million in damage.
Study “ASSESS TiSA”
27-Feb-2018 AK Europa
The study clearly shows that the official impact assessments of the European Commission are fundamentally based on a biased understanding of regulation.
The battle over TiSA: when everything is a service, a Trade in Services Agreement affects everyone
26-Feb-2018 IUF
A new report reveals the scope of the corporate power grab through a close examination of TiSA’s potential impact on workers across the IUF sectors and TiSA’s broader implications for the labour movement, society and democratic governance.
EU moves to remove barriers to data flows in trade deals
13-Feb-2018 Reuters
The European Union will seek to break down barriers to the flow of data between businesses in future trade deals, as it tries to promote a more digital economy while also protecting privacy.
Second round of Korea- US FTA talks
7-Feb-2018 KBS World Radio
After the grueling negotiations, South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said that the two sides engaged in intense discussions and there is still a long way to go. Here is Professor Chung In-gyo from the International Trade Department at Inha University to examine the latest FTA talks between South Korea and the US.
RCEP talks: India ‘unhappy’ with revised service offers, too
6-Feb-2018 The Hindu BusinessLine
India will register its unhappiness with the “inadequate’’ fresh offers in services made by partner countries negotiating the mega regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP) as members converge in Indonesia this week for a crucial round of talks.
RCEP talks in Indonesia focus on concessions, crafting of sensitive list
5-Feb-2018 Business Mirror
As the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) made significant headway in January, negotiating countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are pressured to conclude the trade deal, and they try to make progress in the ongoing talks in Indonesia.