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Court: free trade draft stays under wraps
3-Feb-2007 Hankyoreh
A South Korean court ruled that the government is not required to disclose a current draft of the proposed South Korea-US free trade agreement.
US eyes closer trade, investment ties with Vietnam
3-Feb-2007 Thanh Nien News
The US hopes to open negotiations with Vietnam on a Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), an important step towards establishing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam, a USTR official said Friday.
Japan-Thailand FTA (JTEPA): draft chapter on intellectual property
3-Feb-2007
Uruguay signs a TIFA with the US: Will this mean an unraveling of Mercosur?
2-Feb-2007 COHA
On January 25, Uruguay signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States that could ultimately dismantle Mercosur and isolate Uruguay in the southern cone.
Malaysia threatens to halt FTA talks with US after call to scrap Iran deal: report
2-Feb-2007 IHT
Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz told Washington to stay out of Malaysia’s affairs and warned the government will not bow to any threats, the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia reported. "I am ready to advise the government to cancel the FTA discussions immediately," she was quoted as saying.
US-Uruguay TIFA (2007)
2-Feb-2007 US Embassy in Montevideo
Time to get serious about Israel
1-Feb-2007 The Guardian
The UK House of Commons international development committee is calling on the Labour government to press for sanctions against Israel over its treatment of the Palestinian people. As a first step in putting pressure on the Israeli government to end this oppression, the UK should now urge its fellow members in the EU to consider suspending the EU-Israel association agreement, the cross-party committee says.
Corporate boss leads charge for free trade
1-Feb-2007 The Australian
Fujio Mitarai, the Nippon Keidanren chairman who leads a powerful business mission to Australia at the weekend, belongs to the Japanese establishment’s inner elite. His position is often described as "prime minister of business".
US asked to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia over Iran deal
1-Feb-2007 Channel News Asia
A key US lawmaker on Wednesday called on the administration of President George W Bush to suspend free trade talks with Malaysia in protest over its mega energy deal with Iran.
EU to spend 200 million Euros in Pakistan’s northern areas
1-Feb-2007 playfuls.com
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited EU headquarters for talks on future relations and brought up Pakistan’s desire to forge a free trade agreement with the 27-nation bloc, along the lines of deals being proposed for India, South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Japan resurfaces global IPR enforcement framework; EU refers to FTAs
1-Feb-2007 IP Watch
The EU is planning a more detailed intellectual property chapter in its FTAs. In form, not in content, it would be closer to the “US-type” with “detailed things” listed.
Canada to discuss free trade with Peru
1-Feb-2007 Embassy
Peru and Canada could start discussions for a bilateral free trade agreement as early as February, according to Peruvian Agriculture Minister Juan Jose Salazar.
Campaigners call for caution, transparency in free trade deal with Japan
1-Feb-2007 MCOT
Critics of the proposed Japan Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement have warned the Thai government not to rush the draft free trade agreement through the National Legislative Assembly.
S Korea mulls free trade deal with Gulf states
31-Jan-2007 Times of Oman
South Korea is actively considering forging a free trade agreement with six Gulf nations, its top economic official said Wednesday.
US asks Bangladesh to resume TIFA negotiations
31-Jan-2007 AHN
The United States has asked Bangladesh to re-examine the possibility of restarting negotiations on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries.
Why Koreans have a beef with free trade
31-Jan-2007 Asia Times
Half the South Korean population is against the FTA, especially workers and farmers who have seen trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement lead to job flight, decaying communities, and increased social polarization. But what really unites Koreans against the FTA is the undemocratic nature of the negotiation process and the threat to South Korea’s national sovereignty.
Malaysian, US unions oppose trade deal
30-Jan-2007 AP
Labor unions in Malaysia and the United States said Monday they opposed a free trade agreement between their two countries unless it incorporated mechanism to protect labor and social rights.
Chavez, Morales, Correa bypass US in deals with Iran, China
30-Jan-2007 Bloomberg
Presidents including Ecuador’s Rafael Correa, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales are bypassing the US in reaching trade accords and strengthening diplomatic and commercial ties with nations that compete with, or are hostile toward, US interests.
Hurdles galore on road to FTA with Asean
30-Jan-2007 Economic Times
While the government’s decision to reduce import duty on palm oil could be interpreted as India’s signal to the Asean about its seriousness to sign the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in July, several issues need to be settled before the deal is through.
US interest: Indonesia
30-Jan-2007 Oxford Business Group
Indonesia and the US are exploring the possibility of entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).