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US-ROK pact may prompt govt to rethink FTA stance
4-Apr-2007 Yomiuri Shimbun
The Japanese government is likely to reconsider its stance on free trade agreements in light of a pact concluded Monday between South Korea and the United States
Nigeria: Between trade agreements and poverty impact
4-Apr-2007 AllAfrica.com
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson admitted that if the EPA negotiation does not finish this year, there are options available which he termed as expensive and not so good.
FTA Watch and allies reject JTEPA
3-Apr-2007 FTA Watch
Today is a day of the deepest shame for Thailand and the Tai people. The coup-installed government of Gen Surayuth Chulanon has decided to sign a free trade agreement with Japan. This is in spite of the nation-wide impact that this agreement will have on the environment, biological resources, farmers, patients, small businesses and the majority consumers of health services. We insist that JTEPA as signed by the government today is null and void. We reject it and refute any obligations it places on the Thai people.
Japan-Thailand FTA (JTEPA, 2007)
3-Apr-2007 MOFA
Thai, Japanese leaders ink free trade pact
3-Apr-2007 MCOT
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Tuesday signed a landmark free trade accord which proponents in Thailand hope will boost bilateral trade, but which has drawn protests from non-governmental organisations and environmental activists.
SK-US FTA, as it stands, should not be accepted
3-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
Little was gained for Korea in the negotiations and the final draft reflects mostly an acceptance of American demands, writes The Hankyoreh.
Japan mulls FTA study with US, ready to resume talks with S. Korea
3-Apr-2007 Kyodo
Japan will study the pros and cons of a free trade agreement with the United States and is ready to restart FTA talks with South Korea, Cabinet ministers said Tuesday following a deal Washington and Seoul struck Monday.
SK reportedly agrees to nix testing US genetically modified crops
3-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korea has reportedly exempted US foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from safety tests in the Korea-US free trade agreement struck on April 2, a move that Korean environmentalists criticised as the government "selling off" the health of the nation.
FTA protestor who immolated himself in serious condition
3-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
Heo Se-ok, who set himself on fire on April 1 in protest of the Korean government’s moves to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, still remains in serious condition with burns over 63 percent of body, hospital officials said. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement holding the government responsible for Heo’s taking of extreme measures to protest the situation.
Trade pact risks environment, public health
3-Apr-2007 Korea Times
For the past few years, the backers and denouncers of a free trade accord between Korea and the United States have feuded like the Montagues and Capulets. Not surprisingly, the two camps are still polarized on whether the trade pact bringing together the world’s largest and 10th largest economies is destined to be a happy marriage or Shakespearean tragedy.
US-Korea trade deal disappoints labor, rights activists
3-Apr-2007 One World
Trade unionists on both sides of the Pacific expressed disappointment Monday after the United States and South Korea agreed the biggest US trade pact in 15 years with only minutes to go before a deadline.
US 2007 National Trade Estimate report on foreign trade barriers
3-Apr-2007 USTR
The 2007 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the twenty-first in an annual series that surveys significant foreign barriers to US exports.
Self burning against Kor-US FTA
3-Apr-2007 Voiceofpeople
A taxi driver Heo Seuk, 54 years old man, burnned himself and left his last speech, "Give up the KorUS FTA". He was in the fire for 2 minutes and the ambulance arrived 5 minutes later. Fortunately he is alive now. But his doctor Lee Jeongsub explained that the probability that he would survive is 20 30 percent.
Korea-US FTA faces tough scrutiny, debate in US by industries, Congress
2-Apr-2007
New political and economic opportunities opened for South Korea and the United States with the free trade agreement (FTA) announced Monday, but the way ahead for the deal in Washington still has uncertainties, and even risks.
FTA with Japan ’could hurt education sector’
2-Apr-2007
The Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) could put Thailand at a disadvantage if it focuses more on competition than on co-operation in educational services, participants at a brainstorming session claimed yesterday.
US-Korea FTA (2007): Korean summary of agreement
2-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
The following is a summary of the free trade agreement (FTA) reached between South Korea and the United States Monday.
Labor groups boycott S Korea-US FTA deal
2-Apr-2007 Yonhap
Korean labor groups voiced their strong opposition to the just-reached deal between South Korea and the United States to effectively dismantle their tariff barriers. The groups vowed to launch a campaign to nullify the free trade agreement deal (FTA) and even threatened to attempt to oust President Roh Moo-hyun.
KCTU union member attempting self-immolation as an act of resistance KORUS FTA!
2-Apr-2007 KCTU
Around 3:55 pm, April 1st 2007, Bro. Heo Se-Wook (54), a union member of KCTU, was attempting to suicide by self-immolation as an act of resistance against the Korea-US FTA negotiation. His health condition is very serious and receiving an emergency medical treatment at the Hangang Scared Heart Hospital. We need your solidarity and support.
S Korea, US reach free trade agreement
2-Apr-2007 Yonhap
Ending nearly 10 months of tough negotiations, South Korea and the United States reached a free trade agreement Monday, officials from both sides said.
Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods - A spearheading new initiative
2-Apr-2007 MMN
Members of J-BIG have joined the wider campaign for abolishing the special trade and economic benefits granted to Israel as part of its trade agreement with the European Union. Indeed a significant number of British MPs appear to support this campaign.