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Việt Nam, Israel sign free trade agreement
Israel is the first country in West Asia with which Việt Nam has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) and Việt Nam is also the first country in Southeast Asia that Israel has signed an FTA with.
SL – Thailand FTA to be signed next March
Sri Lanka plans to complete free trade talks with Thailand by February and sign an agreement in March, Sri Lanka’s cabinet spokesperson said, as part of an effort to expand trade as it emerges from economic turmoil.
India, UK concludes 11th round of FTA talks; next meeting in coming months
India and the UK have held detailed draft treaty text discussions in nine policy areas in the just concluded eleventh round of Free Trade Agreement talks. The commerce and industry ministry said that technical discussions were held across nine policy areas over 42 separate sessions.
Thailand’s FTA strategy to open up new markets
Thailand has been actively pursuing FTAs with various countries and regions, both bilaterally and multilaterally. As of July 2023, Thailand has signed 13 FTAs with 18 countries or regions, covering about 60% of its total trade value.
Mexico hit by trade arbitration proceedings from Canadian, US firms
Mexico has been hit with three sets of trade arbitration proceedings in the past few days, according to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
What future for seeds under the African Free Trade Area?
The African Union is putting the finishing touches to the draft protocol on intellectual property rights to the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
EU-Kenya deal paints gloomy picture for EAC trade ties
Due to Kenya’s economic partnership agreement with the EU, it will be difficult for Uganda to differentiate similar goods coming from Kenya, from those manufactured in the EU.
Portugal announces withdrawal from Energy Charter Treaty
Portugal’s Environment Minister Duarte Cordeiro annouced that the country has started withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty, in line with a proposal tabled by the European Commission two weeks ago.
Bangladesh, Singapore agree to expedite free trade deal process
The foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Singapore have agreed to accelerate the process of signing a free trade agreement (FTA).
Biden should use the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to free the hemisphere from ISDS
One of the most controversial aspects of the hyperglobalization era, investor-state dispute settlement elevates multinational corporations and foreign investors to equal status with national governments.
EU and Singapore open negotiations on digital trade agreement
The agreement will have legally binding rules and provisions that give certainty to end-to-end trade, facilitate trusted data flows and promote a connected and secure digital environment.
EU-Mercosur trade deal: Clashes over agriculture, sustainability persist
At the margins of the EU-CELAC summit, EU and South American leaders reiterated their ambition to finalise an agreement by the end of 2023, though sustainability and agricultural market access concerns continue to pose challenges.
Honduras threatens ICSID withdrawal over $11 billion ‘neo-colonial’ special economic zone claim
Honduras is threatening to withdraw from the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes over an $11 billion claim by Honduras Prospera, a US company.
Brazil’s Lula to issue counter-proposal on Mercosur trade deal in 2-3 weeks
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva will send the European Union a counter-proposal on the long-delayed trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur in the coming two or three weeks.
EU firms expected to flee Russia after Danone, Carlsberg raid
Russian president Vladimir Putin snatched control of Fortum’s assets. Fortnum will try to recoup its losses via international arbitration.
Australian firm wins $109m compensation against Tanzania
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes has ordered Tanzania to pay more than $109 million to a group of companies fronted by Australian miner Indiana Resources Ltd in compensation for the controversial 2018 expropriation of a nickel mine project in Tanzania.
EU-Morocco fisheries deal stuck pending court decision on self-determination claim
A long-standing multi-million euro fisheries deal between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco expired on Monday (17 July) due to a dispute over its legality and the inclusion of Western Sahara’s representatives in the negotiations, pending a decision from the EU’s highest court.
Katherine Tai to visit Kenya for US – EAC trade talks
The United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, is set to travel to Nairobi from July 17 – 19. She will co-lead a meeting of the U.S. – East African Community (EAC) Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA Council).
Expiration of the EU/Morocco fishing agreement: Brussels and Rabat face legal reality
The EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, illegally extended to occupied Western Sahara, is due to expire on Monday with no negotiations in sight for a possible renewal, pending a final decision by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) at the end of the year.
Morocco-EU fisheries agreement ‘remains in force’, to be deployed to ‘deepen bilateral partnership’ (joint statement)
Morocco and the European Union (EU) have agreed to continue their cooperation as provided for in the Partnership Agreement in the field of sustainable fisheries, which “remains in force”, in order to deepen their bilateral partnership.