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News from the movements

Women’s rights organisations and allies oppose the gender "upskilling initiative" as an IPEF carrot
IT for Change, Public Services International (Asia & Pacific) and Third World Network, with the undersigned women’s rights organisations, labour unions, and allies, oppose the use of Big Tech “upskilling” initiatives for women to encourage countries to sign on to the IPEF.
A mining lawsuit in Guatemala shows how trade courts put big corporations first
Local resisters are calling for a different economic model — one that prioritizes clean water and soil, healthy communities, peace, dignity, and self-determination.
209 Civil Society Organisations say: EU trade deals must not undermine democratic rights
We civil society organizations vehemently oppose the splitting of trade deals, which would circumvent existing concerns about the negative implications of these deals on biodiversity, climate change and human rights issues.
US may face $15 billion penalty for rejection of Keystone XL pipeline
The Keystone XL pipeline sparked a movement of activism to put people and the climate over Big Oil. After more than a decade of relentless protests and legal battles, President Joe Biden halted the dangerous pipeline on his first day in office.
The US-driven Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) for Prosperity: TPPA in drag or a vacuous vanity project?
When the US launches a high level and concerted re-branding exercise, something big is happening. The latest target is the “Asia-Pacific” region, now to be known as the “Indo-Pacific”.
Statement on ISDS and climate
Civil society organisations are calling on governments to remove the threat that ISDS poses to the climate. The following statement outlines our primary concerns and demands. We seek to put pressure on our governments as they meet at COP 27 in November 2022.
What Lula’s victory in Brazil should mean for the EU-Mercosur trade deal
After Bolsonaro, the European Commission, as well as some governments and industries in Europe will see an opportunity to push through the EU-Mercosur trade deal. But the agreement would be the exact opposite of what the Amazon needs.
MSF responds to UK’s disastrous proposal on intellectual property in UK-India Free Trade Agreement
UK IP demands contain provisions that would drastically harm access to affordable, lifesaving generic medicines from India, upon which millions of people around the world rely.
Free trade agreements: Mexico. How to get out of corporate submission?
We have produced a detailed study/story of NAFTA, with its eternal wake of treatises and agreements, its effects, and the tools to analyse and organise resistance against the impacts of FTAs.
A backdoor for fossil fuel protection: How extending ECT coverage to CCUS, hydrogen, and ammonia will lock-in oil & gas
Extending protection under the Energy Charter Treaty to investments in carbon capture, utilization and storage, hydrogen, and ammonia, among other emerging energy technologies and products, could hamper the ability of States to end reliance on fossil fuels.
Asia-Pacific women groups gather in Bangkok and discuss digital trade
Women in the Asia and Pacific discussed FTAs and agricultural digitalisation impacting women.
The false makeup for the TPP-11: the “side letters”
The impacts that TPP-11 will have then must be analyzed in an integral way, not by chapters. For years now, from various academic and social sectors, we have been explaining that agreements such as the TPP-11 are negative in their entirety.
LNP secrecy deal for Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) challenges Labor policy for trade transparency
The US Trade Representative Office has confirmed that it signed secrecy agreements with Australia and 12 other members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in April 2022.
ISDS in Nigeria: Investment regime reforms and the threats of joining the ECT
This report sheds light on Nigeria’s investment protection regime and its consequences for one of Africa’s biggest countries.
CETA: An attack on health, the environment, consumer protection and democracy
The trade agreement disempowers the European Parliament and strengthens the influence of corporations.
Investors v. Climate action
What recent case law and treaty reforms may mean for the future of investment arbitration in the energy sector.
On trade, post-Brexit Britain is less transparent than ever
Australia deal and Energy Charter Treaty show why we must be able to hold government accountable for trade.
Colombian courts must not be undermined by shadowy international tribunals, say campaigners
International organizations appeal to Colombia’s highest court over human rights violations at one of the largest open pit coal mines in the world.
Imposing double standards: Why EFTA should not demand an UPOV clause in FTA with Thailand
As part of free trade negotiations with Thailand, EFTA will most likely demand clauses that oblige the Asian country to introduce strict plant variety protection regulations that are in line with UPOV 91
The not-so-hidden cost to “mega” energy deals : the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in East Africa (in conversation with Olivia Costa and Brenda Akankunda)
The ECT Secretariat, whose survival depends on continuation of the treaty, continues to lobby these countries to take additional steps towards acceding to the Energy Charter Treaty.