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New EU market access offer unacceptable - region’s sugar group
30-May-2007
The Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) is calling for a substantial improvement in the current access of sugar to the European Union (EU) market.
EU trade with Latin America sets new record
30-May-2007 Latin Business Chronicle
European trade with Latin America will grow as a result of growing interest among companies on each side of the Atlantic, as will European investment in the region, which is already growing significantly. And while free trade agreements with Central America and the Andean Community will help boost EU trade with Latin America, the big prize is Mercosur.
EPAs could be signed by December
29-May-2007
Despite the unpreparedness of West African governments to negotiate the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union, there are clear indications that the EPAs will be signed by the December 31, 2007 deadline, Tetteh Hormeku, Head of Programmes at Third World Network, has said.
EU envoy attempts to re-launch trade talks with Mercosur
29-May-2007 MercoPress
A top European Union trade negotiator begins this week an official visit to the four Mercosur country members in an attempt to re-launch the stalled talks with the South American block for an association agreement.
East Africa: EPA controversy continues
28-May-2007 AllAfrica.com
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has warned that COMESA states will lose up to Ksh16.9billion ($241 million) annually if the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union is endorsed. "Is this a second colonization by the EU.....or economic slavery by the so-called developed world?" said Mr. John Ogam, member of the Kisumu KAM executive Committee.
Churches reject Economic Partnership Agreements
28-May-2007
Catholic and other churches in Kenya are opposed to Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated between developing countries and the European Union.
FTA talks with EU to begin soon
28-May-2007
The council of European Union (EU) has given a mandate to European Commission to pursue negotiations to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) with India.
EU and ACP states vow to clinch free trade deals by end-year
26-May-2007 Monsters and critics
The European Union and 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states vowed Friday to clinch free-trade deals by end- 2007, defying critics who say the agreements will not help fight poverty.
Uganda: More time needed for EPA negotiations
26-May-2007 IPS
Uganda has made little progress in its economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union (EU), as government and the private sector say that they need more time before committing to a deal.
EC rules out Pak-EU FTA in near future
25-May-2007 Daily Times
The European Commission on Thursday ruled out the possibility of a Pak-EU FTA in the near future and said that this requires a detailed review and better understanding of the proposal.
Italy supports Pakistan’s case for FTA with EU
23-May-2007 IRNA
Italy has strongly supported Pakistan’s case for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union and given assurance to encourage Italian investment in Pakistan.
Trade: African countries fight EU for survival
23-May-2007 IPS
Anti-poverty campaigners have likened trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and several regions in Africa to a boxing match between a schoolboy novice and a heavyweight champion.
Keidanren chief calls for Japan-EU free trade pact
21-May-2007 Kyodo
The head of Japan’s largest big-business group urged the government Monday to strike a free trade agreement with the European Union to alleviate impediments to two-way trade and ensure a freer flow of invesment funds.
Namibia: ’Half cooked’ opinion piece upsets meat industry
17-May-2007 AllAfrica.com
An opinion piece by Meatco’s market researcher and trade advisor about the on-going Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations between the European Union and SADC had the meat industry crying foul last week and saying such views could throw the industry into jeopardy.
EU-Central America FTA - EC negotiating mandate (draft, 2007)
17-May-2007
EU-CAN FTA - EU negotiating mandate (draft, 2007)
17-May-2007
FDCL alert: European free trade onslaught in Latin America
17-May-2007 FDCL
European Union endorses highly dangerous negotiation mandates for free trade areas with Central America and the Andean Community
EU vows to press ahead with free trade deals with ACP states
16-May-2007 EUX.TV
The European Union on Tuesday vowed to press ahead with efforts to eliminate tariffs and quotas on imports from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, arguing that the deals were needed to open up markets in poor nations. "We must create regional markets, ... poor countries need bigger regional markets," German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek- Zeul said.
Asean, EU may take years to ink FTA
16-May-2007 Financial Express
A deal may come only nearer to 2015, the year Asean is targeting for the creation of a single market for its 10 members, Asean secretary general Ong Keng Yong said.
Letter from Lebanon: Farmers risk losing big
13-May-2007 Scoop
As Lebanon heads down the fast track to trade liberalisation, some commentators are predicting a devastating impact on small-holder farmers. Unable even to sell produce on the Lebanese market let alone for export, farmers are painfully unprepared to compete with subsidised imports. Yet little is being done to fortify the agricultural industry as the fruits of major bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and liberalising reforms loom on the near horizon.