bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles


Peasant organizations worldwide express solidarity with French peasants facing criminalization
On January 14, 2026, 52 farmers from the Confédération Paysanne were detained following a peaceful occupation of the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris.
Commission opens in-depth investigation into arbitration award ordering Bulgaria to pay compensation to ACF
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether an arbitration award, in which Bulgaria is ordered to pay compensation to ACF for changes to a renewable electricity support measure, is in line with EU State aid rules.
Canada’s mining firms are big beneficiaries of the global order its prime minister just criticized
As Mark Carney urges value-based leadership, critics point to trade rules championed by Canada that undermine those ideals.
Coupang’s US investors notify S. Korea of plan to seek international arbitration: ministry
The two investors — Greenoaks and Altimeter — took issue with Seoul’s response to the e-commerce giant’s data breach late last year, claiming that it violated obligations under the Korea-US FTA regarding fair and equitable treatment.
Hungarian farmers join protest against EU-Mercosur trade deal
Farmers representing the Nat’l Agriculture Chamber and professional association Magosz joined a protest against the EU’s free trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Ukraine wins arbitration in Stockholm on "green tariff"
The Arbitration Tribunal in Stockholm rejected the claim of the foreign investor Modus Energy International B.V. regarding changes to the "green tariff".
Gulf investors file $2bn arbitration against Pakistan over K-Electric
The dispute stems from an October 2016 agreement to sell a majority stake in K-Electric to Shanghai Electric Power Company.
Commission signals readiness for provisional Mercosur application
Some EU capitals have urged Brussels to proceed with the trade pact despite the European Parliament’s decision to seek a court ruling.
EU leaders to push for ratification of US trade deal despite anger with Trump
As summit begins in Brussels, governments don’t want week of rancor to obstruct pact coming into effect.
PH-EU trade talks to resume early March
The fifth round of negotiations for the country’s free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union will resume in early March 2026 in Belgium, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro told.
India-EU free trade pact: What’s agreed, what’s at stake after years of talks
India and the European Union are close to concluding a long-sought free trade agreement (FTA), with an announcement expected on Tuesday at the India–EU Summit in New Delhi.
Shell files new arbitration against the Netherlands over Groningen gas field closure
Shell is suing the Netherlands in yet another attempt to evade its responsibility for decades of gas extraction in Groningen.
Mexico, South Korea move closer to bilateral free trade agreement
Mexico and South Korea are advancing talks to finalize a bilateral free trade agreement aimed at lowering tariffs and boosting economic cooperation. The renewed momentum follows a high-level parliamentary exchange, with Mexico pledging to support negotiations and facilitate the process.
EU pulls tariff preferences on 87 pc of Indian exports ahead of FTA
From January 1, 2026, India faces a significant setback in the European Union market as the EU suspends Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) benefits for 87% of its exports. This move means Indian products must now pay full Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs, eliminating the previous 20% average tariff reduction under GSP.
Egypt, South Korea sign joint statement on comprehensive economic partnership agreement
Egypt’s Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib and South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yeo Han-koo signed a joint statement on a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries on Sunday.
ECVC celebrates important victory on EU-Mercosur in the European Parliament
ECVC warmly welcomes today’s vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in which MEPs voted in favour of requesting an opinion from the Court of Justice of the European Union on the compatibility of the proposed EU–Mercosur agreement.
“The scent of fraud”: the door opens for a new corporate assault on Honduras
While the fate of current ISDS claims remains to be seen, similar corporate investments and interests imposed under the narcodictatorship (the period 2009-2022) are sure to proceed with fewer barriers under the 2026-2030 Honduran government.
Global civil society statement on Trump’s trade threats
Trump is using tariffs and trade threats to bully other countries in order to maintain US global power. Even though existing trade rules were shaped by US corporations, recently this hasn’t been enough to guarantee US dominance, so Trump is turning to brute force.
Can "geopolitical" tariffs be dealt with through trade deals?
A big reason for signing a trade agreement is to get certainty on tariff levels, and if the U.S. can raise tariff levels above the bound rate for geopolitical reasons, that certainty is lost to some degree and the trade agreement is much less valuable.
EU sees Mercosur as a source of critical minerals
The European Union recognizes the key role that the free trade agreement with Mercosur, an economic bloc formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, will have for the supply of critical minerals to the European continent.