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Murtha sees security threat in trade deal
21-Feb-2007 The Hill
US Rep John Murtha (D-Pa.), a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is calling elements of a Peru free-trade agreement (FTA) signed by the Bush administration a threat to national security.
Govt orders more FTA talks
21-Feb-2007 Bangkok Post
The Thai cabinet yesterday instructed officials negotiating the Thai-Japanese Free Trade Agreement not to sign any deal without further talks with Tokyo to clear the air on issues like toxic waste imports and the patenting of micro-organisms.
Toxic backlash to Thai-Japan FTA
21-Feb-2007 Asia Times
A highly anticipated Thailand-Japan free-trade agreement (FTA) has hit an unexpected environmental snag, as Thai activists protest a provision in the draft agreement that would allow Japan to export to and dump in Thailand unlimited amounts of the hazardous and toxic waste it generates.
ALBA seen as a historical milestone in Caribbean-Latin America relations
21-Feb-2007 Radio Jamaica
Antiguan Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, along with the Prime Ministers of Dominica and St. Vincent, on the weekend signed onto the Alba, a new free trade agreement from Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
Japan’s business lobby calls for freer trade with Asia
21-Feb-2007 IndustryWeek
"The first necessary step for Japan is to seal free trade deals with Asian countries as soon as possible", Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and Canon Inc, said.
Uganda: Now EU courts country to sign EPAs
21-Feb-2007 AllAfrica.com
As debate on the contentious Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) rages on, the European Union now wants Uganda to sign the trade pact and continue to negotiate for tariff waivers while on board, according to EU trade experts.
An open letter to US Congress from the Colombian Oil Workers Union regarding the FTA
20-Feb-2007 Mingas
Our organization, the Colombian Oil Workers Union (USO), knows of your interest regarding the Colombian government’s record on human, labor and union rights within the framework of current discussions about a Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the United States. We wish to inform you that our Colombian Oil Workers Union (USO), an affiliate of our national labor federation CUT, has been the constant target of government attacks which we summarize below.
Manila-Tokyo deal: A toxic nightmare
20-Feb-2007 Manila Standard Today
I first thought that my Japanese clients were trying to patronize me (and us Filipinos) when they said that Japan did us an injustice in the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.
Grassroots organizing, regional trade agreements and food sovereignty in Africa
19-Feb-2007 Grassroots Journal
Grassroots movements have made great strides towards putting the power of the food system in citizens’ hands, but ongoing bi-lateral and regional trade negotiations threaten to curtail these advances.
July deadline for Carib/Europe economic negotiations
19-Feb-2007 Jamaica Gleaner
All unresolved aspects of the EU-Caribbean EPA negotiations have to be completed at least in outline by the end of July 2007
Pak-Malaysia free trade talks hit snags
19-Feb-2007 The News
The ongoing dialogue between Pakistan and Malaysia on a free trade agreement (FTA) has hit snags as the main stakeholders in the country strongly oppose the proposed 20 per cent cut in tariff on the import of palm oil as demanded by Malaysia.
US/Colombia free trade agreement seems ever more distant
19-Feb-2007 MercoPress
The free trade agreement which the George Bush administration signed with Colombia is stalled in the US Congress and could face further delays because of the alleged links of the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe administration with para military forces.
Talks propose to expand India FTA
19-Feb-2007 Bangkok Post
Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has opened talks with India to add 7,000 new products to their free trade agreement.
US-UAE FTA on ice
19-Feb-2007 AME Info
Talks between the US and the UAE over a free trade agreement have been suspended after both parties failed to agree on how the Gulf state would open up its markets to US investors and banks. The FTA will now miss the March 31 deadline.
Japan, ASEAN to miss end-March target for free trade deal
19-Feb-2007 Kyodo
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will not be able to wrap up their negotiations for an economic partnership agreement by the end of next month and now hope to strike a deal by June or July.
United States and Liberia sign Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
18-Feb-2007 USTR
US Trade Representative Susan C Schwab and the Liberian Minister of Commerce, Industry, & Trade Olubanke King-Akerele signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) yesterday that will provide a forum to address trade issues and will help build trade and investment relations between the United States and Liberia.
Colombian "para-political" scandal may hurt trade
17-Feb-2007 Reuters
A scandal over suspected Colombian government links to illegal right-wing militias could hamper President Alvaro Uribe’s bid to clinch a free-trade deal with the United States.
Top EU official pushes trade, investment pact with India
17-Feb-2007 India PRwire
India and the European Union must push for a strong bilateral trade and investment pact even as they continue to play a crucial role to conclude the current round of global trade talks, a top EU official said Friday.
US-Korea trade negotiations get nowhere
17-Feb-2007 OneWorld
"A majority of people are opposed to this," Hyun Lee of the group Korean Americans Against War and Neoliberalism told OneWorld. "None of the benefits of these trade agreements go to ordinary people and ordinary workers. They only go to fatten the pockets of transnational corporations."
NGOs fear there’s a hidden agenda in Japan FTA
17-Feb-2007 The Nation
Khao-Kwan Foundation chairman Day-cha Siripatra said the country would lose several hundred billion baht a year if the government allowed Japan to patent micro-organisms.