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Canada-EU trade deal’s July 1 target threatened by new cheese dispute
Europeans upset at how Canada will allocate import quota for new EU products.
EU will resume FTA talks with Malaysia this year
The stalled Malaysia-European Union (EU) Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) talks will be resumed sooner, said EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Malaysia.
Japan weighs low-tariff import quota for European butter in EPA talks
Japan is considering proposing a low-tariff import quota for European butter and powdered skim milk to strike an economic partnership agreement for free trade with the European Union.
Canada stands to win big from a TPP without the U.S.: report
Canada actually would see greater economic gains from a Trans-Pacific Partnership that excludes the United States — the so-called TPP11 — according to a new report released by the Canada West Foundation.
PACER-Plus trade deal signed in Tonga
A region-wide free trade agreement has been signed in Tonga, with some notable absences.
CETA could cause $1.5 billion in losses for Quebec cheesemakers, UPA says
Quebec cheesemakers face $1.5 billion in losses due to new tariff rules that accompany a trade agreement between Canada and Europe, according to the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA).
EU, Japan launch big push to seal trade deal by July
Diplomats say the priority is to convene a leaders’ summit before the G20 in Hamburg on July 7.
U.S. dairy lobby submits its demands for NAFTA
The dairy lobby’s 15-page letter had two main requests regarding Canada: a reversal of new rules on ultrafiltered milk products and increased access to the Canadian market that exceeds the 3.25 per cent offered in the early version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Belarus first time may face an ICSID claim
Taking into account the past Belarus practice of investor – state dispute settlement, the parties are more likely to settle Manolium Processing claim as a part of the pre-arbitration negotiations than by ICSID arbitration.
China, Singapore seek to expedite RCEP trade talks
China and Singapore will do their best to expedite talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Japan weighs lower tariff on EU pork for trade deal
Move would cut levy to same level agreed on in TPP.
EFF to USTR: IP doesn’t belong in NAFTA. For the rest, talk to us.
The United States Trade Representative has opened a window for the TPP’s proponents to try to use NAFTA to establish at least some of the dangerous TPP’s so-called intellectual property (IP) rules.
European free trade deal talks paused over Trudeau’s insistence on investor-state provision
The Norwegian government has put a pause on ’free trade’ talks given the Trudeau government’s demand for an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision in the Canada-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement.
Brazilian meat industry corruption raises Mercosur concerns
A two-year investigation found evidence some meat-processing plants in Brazil had been selling rotten beef and poultry on to the export market by bribing health inspectors and politicians to get the necessary paperwork.
Joey Tau: Can the MSG bloc walk out on the PACER-Plus trade deal?
PACER-Plus will have a serious impact on the ability for Solomon Islanders to determine for themselves their own development future.
Tonga’s PSA keen to delay signing Pacer Plus deal
The Tonga Public Service Association has called for a delay in the signing of the PACER Plus trade and development deal until the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ summit in September.
Foreign control and ICSID jurisdiction on Energy Charter Treaty claims of local companies: The Eskosol case
The ICSID tribunal in Eskosol in liquidazione v. Italy rejected Italy’s Rule 41.5 application to have the claim thrown out for being “manifestly without legal merit.” I offer a summary and some reflections on two interesting aspects on the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
PACER-Plus: Disappointment and lost opportunity
The PACER-Plus model of development is based on an increasingly questionable form of economics which naively imagines that national economies will adapt automatically to enhanced price signals from liberalised international markets from which ’distortions’ are removed.
Ten principles for trade
The current global trade and investment regime imposes high social and environmental costs on people and planet.
Swiss envoy urges PH to ratify free trade deal with EFTA
Swiss Ambassador Andrea Reichlin has urged the Philippines to ratify the free trade agreement (FTA) with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in order for the deal to become enforceable.