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Globalization and democracy: Some basics
27-May-2007 countercurrents
With “free trade” agreements, giant transnationals are elevated above the sovereign powers of nation states, with all statutes and regulations that restrict private capital in any way made unlawful.
The politics of Asia’s big deals
26-May-2007 Newsweek
The US-South Korea free trade agreement comes at precisely the moment when America’s military presence on the Korean Peninsula is rapidly diminishing, anti-US nationalism in South Korea is growing and China is playing an ever more important leadership role in the region. "This FTA is about countering China," says Yang Sung Chul, a former US ambassador to South Korea, now professor at Korea University in Seoul. "It’s much more significant in strategic than economic terms."
NAFTA: Kicked up a notch
26-May-2007 Spero News
The expansion of NAFTA into the Security and Prosperity Partnership reveals the road ahead for other nations entering into free trade agreements. It is not a road most nations — or the US public — would take if they knew where it led.
Japan hopes EPA to be signed soon
26-May-2007 ANTARA
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a meeting with visiting Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Tokyo on Friday expressed hope that the two contries could sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as soon as possible.
Japan revs up its Indochina diplomacy
26-May-2007 Asia Times
Amid intensifying rivalry between Tokyo and Beijing over influence in Asia, Japan is revving up its drive to strengthen relations with countries in Indochina, an economically backward but geopolitically important part of the region. The target countries are Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which are collectively referred to as the "CLV" countries.
Asian FTAs provide few benefits
26-May-2007 Bangkok Post
While most Asian countries are negotiating free trade agreements, very few of those deals have resulted in any real benefits, a World Bank study shows.
Peru expected to pass U.S. free-trade pact
26-May-2007 Miami Herald
Peruvian political leaders expect the country’s Congress to ratify protections for workers and the environment demanded by Democrats in Washington as part of a revised Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the United States.
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.
Colombia says will work with US Democrats on deal
26-May-2007 Reuters
Colombia accepts proposed U.S. changes to a free trade agreement and is ready to take additional steps to address concerns of Democrats in Congress, the country’s vice president said on Thursday.
The Korea-US FTA and fragile economic sovereignty
26-May-2007 Hankyoreh
The actual document that is slated to be ratified as the free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States has been made public. As expected, there were quite a few sections the public never knew about that would be disadvantageous for Korea.
US trade committees give mixed reviews to proposed Korea-US FTA
26-May-2007 Yonhap
American advisory committees gave divided and mixed evaluations of a proposed South Korea-US free trade agreement, the opinions sometimes differing even within an industry.
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.
US-S Korea FTA means $10 more per pig
26-May-2007 Western Farmer-Stockman
The White House has made details of the US-South Korea Free Trade Agreement available to the public, and according to the National Pork Producers Council, US pork producers have a lot to be happy about: an additional $10 per pig as a result.
S Korea, US publicize full text of FTA, reignite controversy
26-May-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States on Friday released the full text of their free trade agreement, a disclosure that reignited controversy here as critics say the accord will only benefit American companies, while destroying the lives of Korean farmers and other workers.
APHC appeals to EU to cancel free trade agreement with India
26-May-2007 Pak Tribune
All Parties Hurriyat Conference senior leader and Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement Zaffar Akabar Bhat on Thursday appealed the European Union to cancel the FTA with India due to its poor human rights record across the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir where, from the last 18 years Indian soldiers are not only killing the innocent people but also disappearing the youth and dumping them in fake encounters aimed at converting the majority of Muslim population into minority .
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.
US-Korea FTA (2007)
25-May-2007 USTR
Arroyo: Stalled Doha talks drive East Asia integration
25-May-2007 PDI
The stalled Doha round of talks of the World Trade Organization is what is driving the process of integration in East Asia, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday.
Japan infiltrates the Middle East
24-May-2007 FPIF
Japan is the preferred US candidate among Asian powers to penetrate an increasingly eastward leaning Middle East. In providing advanced technology and investments that the region desperately needs, Japan has an advantage over India and China in this new rivalry for Middle East influence.
Side deal on toxic wastes won’t wash, says lawyer
24-May-2007 Asian Journal
A proposed side agreement to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at ensuring that no toxic wastes will be exported to the Philippines will not not solve the deeper, more substantive problems of the JPEPA.