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Operators in financial sector opposes FTA with US
30-May-2005 MCOT
Local operators in the financial sector have voiced opposition to the financial liberalization between the United States and Thailand, saying that they would be put at disadvantage since the US financial services are more advanced than Thailand’s.
Korea-Singapore FTA: Bridge to SE Asian markets, cornerstone for services liberalization
19-May-2005 KoPA
The KSFTA was promoted by Korea under two main strategies. One is to use Singapore as a bridge to gain more market access in Southeast Asia and strive further towards regional integration, and the other is to use external ‘stimulus’ from Singapore to “strengthen competitiveness” (restructuring and liberalization) of the services industry.....
Free trade deal highlights clash over service sector
12-Mar-2005
New Zealand’s free trade agreement with Thailand, which is due to come into effect on July 1, has no commitments to liberalize trade in services. It only requires the parties to begin negotiations within three years.
Recent FTAs of the US as illustrations of their new strategy for the audiovisual sector
9-Feb-2005 Media Trade Monitor
US trade strategy is shifting: USTR may be willing to make concessions to countries that want to require local content or ownership in ’traditional’ AV sector, ie film and radio; however, no such requirements will be allowed in the category of ’electronic commmerce.’ This is because USTR (and MPAA) expect all cultural content (films, television, music) to be transmitted digitally in the near future.
US-Middle East Free Trade Coalition congratulates Moroccan Parliament
26-Jan-2005 National Foreign Trade Council
As an important lynchpin between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, access to the Moroccan market is essential for the U.S. banking, insurance and telecommunications industries.
Divide and conquer: The FTAA, US trade strategy and public services in the Americas
20-Jan-2005 PSI
Documents the progress of “competitive liberalization,” a strategy advanced by the United States Trade Representative to establish a network of bilateral international trade agreements as steps toward the multilateral GATS agreement.
INDIA LOOK AHEAD: Have a free trade agreement in services
5-Nov-2004
A better way for India might be to pursue an FTA on services with a developed country.
Central America is Not for Sale
5-Nov-2004
A call for organizational sign-ons from the Central America is Not For Sale Coalition
South Korea: Indefinite general strike planned
25-Oct-2004 GLW
Korean trade union and social organisations have worked together in recent months to stop the Japan-Korea FTA, arguing that it will result in the abolition of more regulations protecting workers rights, and more privatisation of public services. They also say the average citizens’ access to medical treatment and drugs will also be undermined by the FTA’s excuse to “protect” intellectual property rights.
Kuwait, Singapore agree FTA to include 4 main areas
8-Oct-2004 CNA
Kuwait and Singapore have agreed that the free trade agreement between them will include four main areas of trade in goods, trade in services, investment and government procurement.
EU-Mercosur: EU presents completed offer to Mercosur
2-Oct-2004 EU DG Trade
In the on-going negotiations for an EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, the EU has today sent Mercosur a completed offer.
USCSI: Statement on the US draft model Bilateral Investment Treaty
16-Sep-2004
In the course of consultations with services industries on the Model BIT, a number of serious concerns have been raised. These relate to (1) the prospective nature of the Model BIT; (2) the breadth of the BIT’s prudential carve-out; (3) the limitations on recourse to investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms in certain cases; and, (4) the dispute settlement process itself.
Australian Bilateral Agreements and Higher Education
16-Sep-2004 NTEU
Australia is a party to a number of bilateral agreements with developing countries in the East Asian-South Pacific region. The agreements fall into two categories: comprehensive bilateral free trade agreements (BFTAs) and bilateral investment agreements (BIAs). Both types of agreements have implications for higher education, though only BFATs expressly deal with education services.
India, US discuss FTA on services
15-Sep-2004
The United States today said it discussed with the Indian authorities the issue of forging a bilateral Free Trade Agreement on services but felt that more study was needed to be done before any commitment was made.
USCSI: US-Australia FTA to Open New Opportunities for US Service Sector
14-Sep-2004 US Coalition of Service Industries
The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) today announced its strong support for the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), noting that the agreement will open up new opportunities for US suppliers in a host of service industries.
US Coalition of Service Industries Welcomes US-Bahrain FTA
14-Sep-2004
The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) today welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Regionalism and the multilateral trade system
20-Apr-2004
Regional trade agreements (RTAs) are an integral part of international trade, accounting for almost half of world trade and expected to grow further in the next few years. These agreements operate alongside global multilateral agreements under the World Trade Organization (WTO), and have both positive and negative effects.
EU-Mexico Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement (2000)
20-Mar-2004