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The free trade vision and its fallacies: the case of the African Continental Free Trade Area
23-Jun-2021 Modern Diplomacy
Some economists suggest that the liberalization of trade will result in an unequal distribution of losses and profit gains while economically dislocating a large number of workers in import-competing sectors.
Kenya’s President arrives in Brussels for trade talks
23-Jun-2021 CGTN Africa
President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Monday afternoon received by King Philippe at the Royal Palace in Brussels at the start of his two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union.
Nigerian govt asked not to ascent to Energy Charter Treaty
23-Jun-2021 Leadership
Nigerian labour unions and civil society organizations have urged the government not to assent to the ECT, explaining that the Treaty contains provisions for an Investor-State Dispute System (ISDS), which accords investors obscene privileges.
Govt has taken steps to amend regulations to comply with RCEP – Hasnol
22-Jun-2021 The Malaysian Reserve
The Malaysia government has taken steps to amend relevant laws and regulations to comply with the obligations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
Vietnam, Singapore to work towards bilateral agreement on digital economy
22-Jun-2021 Saigon Giai Phong Online
Vietnam and Singapore have agreed to promote the early establishment of a joint technical working group on a digital partnership, towards a bilateral agreement on digital economy.
Public hearings to be held over Asean-Canada FTA
22-Jun-2021 Bangkok Post
Thailand and Asean counterparts are set to rev up discussions with Canada to establish a scope of negotiations for an Asean-Canada free trade agreement (FTA), with the aim to kick off negotiations later this year
Assembly approves RCEP trade agreement
22-Jun-2021 Khmer Times
The National Assembly yesterday approved the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), prepping the stage for the agreement to come into effect by early next year.
Trade talks good news for Taiwan
21-Jun-2021 Taipei Times
The administration of US President Joe Biden has continued its ongoing efforts to increase bilateral ties with Taiwan with the announcement about the return of US-Taiwan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks.
MEPs push Brussels to follow Biden on Taiwan trade
21-Jun-2021 Politico
EU lawmakers are fed up with the European Commission’s reluctance to start an investment deal with Taiwan, while U.S. President Joe Biden has his sights set on trade talks with Taipei.
Canada to begin negotiations with Indonesia on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
21-Jun-2021 Mirage News
Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, and Muhammad Lutfi, Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, announced that Canada and Indonesia will begin negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
World Bank Group steps up support to deepen regional integration in Africa
20-Jun-2021 The World Bank
The World Bank’s updated strategy for Africa will aim to promote trade and market integration through trade facilitation in regional economic corridors, technical assistance for roll out of the AfCFTA, support to regional value chains and integration of financial markets.
AfCFTA to inspire rebound: Govt
20-Jun-2021 Zimbabwe Independent
Zimbabwean private sector has concerns that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would knock them out of business as high quality, competitively-priced products flood the domestic space.
India-African continental free trade area launched on the India-Africa trade Council Platform
18-Jun-2021 Devdiscourse
The AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) was launched in New Delhi at the Ghana Embassy with a lot of active commitment from Indian companies to enter Africa and take advantage of the AfCFTA.
Queries raised over FTA plan
18-Jun-2021 Bangkok Post
A planned bilateral free trade deal between Thailand and Hong Kong may hit a snag as people have suggested Thailand make the best use of Hong Kong as a gateway for trade with China and promote bilateral economic partnerships both for the public and private sectors of the two parties.
Industry alarmed at details of Australia/UK trade deal
17-Jun-2021 County Times
The farming industry has raised serious concerns over a new trade deal between the UK and Australia, fearing it could harm British farmers’ livelihoods.
India-European Union FTA: Talks to restart soon on realistic note
17-Jun-2021 Financial Express
Experts, too, suggest that both the sides need to work on less controversial issues first; the more difficult ones can be taken up later, as any deal there will take time to materialise.
The Tokyo -Taipei calculus: will Taiwan soon join the CPTPP?
16-Jun-2021 The National Interest
Taiwan’s CPTPP entry would not be a minor development that Tokyo can skate past China. Beijing has actively worked to ensure that Taiwan remains outside regional and global multilateral setups and agreements.
Australia and UK finalise free trade deal
16-Jun-2021 Canberra Times
Australia Prime Minister has hailed a free trade deal with the United Kingdom as the most comprehensive and ambitious in Australia’s history announced the deal on Tuesday after sealing an in-principle agreement over dinner overnight.
Thailand to resume FTA talks with EU
16-Jun-2021 Vietnam Plus
Thailand has set a target of achieve a joint understanding document that paves the way to begin talks for the long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) this year.
Taiwan, US trade officials set to meet in ‘coming weeks’
14-Jun-2021 The Diplomat
Taiwan and the United States are set to convene a meeting of their Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council in the “coming weeks,” Trade talks might be back on the agenda, picking up the momentum from a flurry of late action by the Trump administration.