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Japan approves FTA talks with Australia
5-Dec-2006 The Age
Cabinet ministers for international trade matters have approved a joint report submitted by Japanese and Australian experts recommending initiating talks on a bilateral free trade agreement, government officials said.
S. Korean police ban anti-FTA protests
5-Dec-2006 Yonhap
South Korean police said no anti-FTA protests will be permitted on Wednesday and warned the nation’s civic groups to obey the law.
Key US senator hoists beef to top of FTA agenda
5-Dec-2006 Chosun Ilbo
The influential US senator Max Baucus, nicknamed “Mr. Beef”, on Sunday said Korea should completely lift its ban on US beef imports if it wants a free trade agreement with the US.
Joint study for enhancing economic relations between Japan and Australia, including the feasibility or pros and cons of a free trade agreement
5-Dec-2006
The study group concluded that a comprehensive and WTO-consistent EPA/FTA would bring about considerable benefits to both countries.
The new ’Global Europe’ strategy of the EU: Serving corporations worldwide and at home
3-Dec-2006
Alert to European civil society groups, trade unions and social movements from the Seattle to Brussels Network
Bangladesh to gain little from FTA with India: WB report
3-Dec-2006 Bangladesh Web
A "captive protected" market to Indian suppliers, trade losses for Bangladesh and the issue of farm subsidies cosseted to Indian rice, wheat and sugar producers are among the potential risks.
“Davao pesticide poisoning to expand and increase with JPEPA!”-KMP and APC
3-Dec-2006
The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and the Asian Peasant Coalition lambasted the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. for causing the pesticide poisoning of at least 79 people in Davao del Norte, Philippines, stressing that "such poisonings would increase and expand when the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is ratified.”
ECOWAS seeks extension of agreement with EU
3-Dec-2006 This Day
The regional ministerial committee monitoring the negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa and the European Union has requested a three year extension of the 2007 deadline for the conclusion of the negotiations for a free trade area of the two economic blocs.
Thai-Japan free trade pact allows toxic dumping, Greenpeace warns
2-Dec-2006 Antara
Environmental protection group Greenpeace on Friday warned Thailand that its pending free trade agreement with Japan could pave the way for the dumping of toxic waste and hazardous chemical into the kingdom.
Malaysia, Australia set no date for delayed FTA deal
2-Dec-2006 AFP
The leaders of Malaysia and Australia declined to set a date for the completion of a free-trade deal due to have been agreed by mid-2006, saying the negotiations should not be hurried.
Some dangers and prospects of the regional and international situations
2-Dec-2006 Political Affairs Magazine
In the economic field, imperialism’s consternation with the slow pace of forging multilateral North-South agreements under the Doha round of meetings of the World Trade Organization have led to the more energetic push for bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
Japan urges Indonesia to guarantee supply of liquefied gas under EPA
2-Dec-2006 Tempo
The Japanese government urged that guarantee for supplying Indonesia’s liquefied natural gas to Japan be attached to the economic partnership agreement (EPA) between both countries. However, the Indonesian government has not complied with this request.
Asean doubles its negative list for FTA with India
2-Dec-2006 Financial Express
Asean has given a jolt to India by deciding to almost double its negative list for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India.
India, EFTA move towards trade and investment agreement
1-Dec-2006 New Kerala
India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on Friday set up a Joint Study Group (JSG) to explore the possibility of entering into a broad-based trade and investment agreement.
Slowing the free-trade bulldozer
1-Dec-2006 TomPaine
Long a bipartisan crusade in Washington, “free trade” is now set to face some overdue opposition. And there’s no better time to start the rumble than in the lame duck session of Congress.
US, Lebanon ink framework deal to foster bilateral trade
1-Dec-2006 Daily Star
Shaun Donnelly, assistant US trade representative for Europe and the Middle East, and Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade Sami Haddad signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on Wednesday to provide a forum for expanding and strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries.
S. Korean artists oppose talks with US for free trade deal
1-Dec-2006 Yonhap
Dozens of South Korean artists took to the streets Friday to oppose a free trade deal with the United States, adding their voice to protests just days before the trade talks were to resume.
Israel mulls FTA with India
1-Dec-2006 Business Standard
Israel is considering a free trade agreement (FTA) with India to reach a bilateral trade target of $5 billion, deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Eliyahu Yishai has said.
Japanese farmers oppose FTA with Australia
1-Dec-2006 ABC
Australia’s proposed Free Trade Agreement with Japan is facing stiff opposition from Japanese farmers. The deal, if finalised, would be Australia’s largest bilateral trade agreement, and could open the traditionally closed Japanese market to Australian agricultural products. But Japanese farmers say the deal puts their futures at risk.
Cindy Sheehan & Medea Benjamin leading delegation to South Korea
1-Dec-2006
American peace activists Cindy Sheehan and Medea Benjamin are leading a delegation of U.S. peace and social justice activists to South Korea to oppose the expansion of Camp Humphrey, the US military base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea and to protest the proposed Korea-US Free Trade Agreement.