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Visa rules for professionals to ease after India-EU FTA
17-Feb-2007 Zee News
Freer movement of Indian professionals in 25 European Union member countries is likely to be a reality in the near future, as this will be a key point of negotiations in the proposed free trade agreement with EU.
KoA No FTA newsletter #3
17-Feb-2007 KoA
For the Korean Alliance Against Korea-U.S. FTA, February and March will become a crucial month for mass mobilization both domestically and internationally.
Policy space for Mexican maize: Protecting agro-biodiversity by promoting rural livelihoods
16-Feb-2007 GDAE
With maize trade scheduled to be fully liberalized under NAFTA in 2008, many farm groups are calling for a renegotiation of the treaty’s agricultural provisions to prevent further damage. This analysis examines the room for alternative policies in Mexico under existing economic and environmental agreements, including NAFTA. It concludes that the Mexican government retains access to many useful policy instruments that could promote rural livelihoods while arresting the losses of important maize diversity. What is lacking is the political will to make use of them.
The EU welcomes South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiation
16-Feb-2007 DG Trade
The EU Council of Ministers has decided to include South Africa in the SADC EPA negotiation.
South Africa: Govt faces first expropriation suit
16-Feb-2007 Mining MX
A foreign mining company is suing the South African government over alleged expropriation of its mineral rights in a move that has huge implications for the country’s new mining dispensation.
Namibia: Beef deadline looms
16-Feb-2007 AllAfrica.com
The deadline is looming for the day when the preferential treatment that Namibia has enjoyed for its beef, lamb and table grape exports to the European Union ends on January 1 2008.
Legislators face tough choice over Thai-Japan FTA
16-Feb-2007 MCOT
Despite the Thai government’s intense effort to press ahead with the draft free trade agreement with Japan, appointed members of the National Legislative Assembly remain divided as to its pros and cons.
Peru, China to view viability of free trade deal
16-Feb-2007 Reuters
Peru and China on Thursday took a first official step toward a free trade agreement that would unite one of giant Latin American metals producer and the world’s most voracious consumer.
US, Emirates seen getting closer to free trade pact
15-Feb-2007 Business Times
Major sticking points still obstruct a deal, including Washington’s insistence on improvement of labourers’ rights and the country’s overall human rights record.
Statement of concern regarding the proposed EU-ASEAN free trade negotiations
15-Feb-2007
Civil society movements and organisations from ASEAN and Europe express strong concerns about the proposed EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) slated to be concluded within the next two years.
SK-US free trade deal may open 10 out of 18 types of rice products
15-Feb-2007 Hankyoreh
Contrary to its long-standing assertion that rice will be excluded from a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, South Korea’s government is reviewing measures to open some less sensitive rice products.
No major breakthrough in US-S Korea free trade talks
15-Feb-2007 Dow Jones News
US-South Korea free trade talks netted some progress this week, but at least one more session will be needed to reach a final deal, the lead US negotiator said.
US envoy says solving farm issues is key to possible FTA with Japan
15-Feb-2007 Kyodo
US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer sounded a positive note Wednesday over a possible free trade agreement between the world’s two major economies and indicated that resolving farm issues would be the key.
KoA No FTA Newsletter #2
15-Feb-2007 KoA
Farmers release animals in protest, 500 attend all-night vigil; KoA protest delegation holds all-night vigil, congressional briefing in DC; Limiting access to healthcare: FTA and pharmaceuticals
India, Japan can rule Asian economy post-CEPA: Envoy
15-Feb-2007 Hindustan Times
Japan is confident that a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement currently being negotiated with India would help the two countries dominate Asia’s economic output in the future.
EU wants India to lower duties through FTA
15-Feb-2007 Times of India
Trade liberalisation for rubber, tea, coffee and edible oil could be minor political concerns in the proposed free trade pact with Asean compared to what the European Union is looking for in its bilateral agreement with India.
Cheney urges firms to lobby free trade
15-Feb-2007 The Guardian
Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday urged the nation’s manufacturers to lobby Congress in what he said would be a difficult battle to extend President Bush’s special trade authority.
APEC moves towards free trade mining
15-Feb-2007 Herald Sun
Asia Pacific mining ministers wound up a talkfest in Perth today vowing to explore a free trade agreement between Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) members that would dwarf all other FTAs.
Questions over FTA with the US
15-Feb-2007 New Straits Times
Will the bilateral free trade agreement between Malaysia and the US be signed?
NLA lobbied hard to back FTA deal with Japan
15-Feb-2007 Bangkok Post
The Thai Foreign Ministry is lobbying hard for the National Legislative Assembly’s support for a free trade area (FTA) agreement with Japan