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A roundup of free trade deals the UK signed in 2023
22-Dec-2023 City A.M.
While work is still underway on securing deals with the USA and India, among others, in 2023, the Australia and New Zealand deals took effect, the UK signed up to the CPTPP agreement.
Britain and Switzerland agree wide-ranging financial services trade deal
22-Dec-2023 Reuters
Britain and Switzerland signed a wide-ranging financial services deal granting reciprocal market access for their banks, insurers, asset managers and stock exchanges to boost trade and cut compliance costs.
Madrid’s new stance on Western Sahara boosts trade between Morocco and Spain
21-Dec-2023 Atalayar
Trade relations between Morocco and Spain are at an all-time high. Since the government of Pedro Sánchez changed the traditional Spanish position on the Sahara issue, recognising the Moroccan autonomy plan.
Ugandan delegation meet US gov’t officials over AGOA trade termination
21-Dec-2023 Capital FM
Odrek Rwabwogo, Chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) and Rwabwogo has urged the US government not use disproportionate force against Uganda whose values and relationship have stayed firm on multiple fronts over the years.
Biden administration to remove four African nations from AGOA
21-Dec-2023 BNN
In a significant policy shift, the Biden administration has announced the removal of Niger, Gabon, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) effective January 2024.
Ethiopia to commence AfCFTA trial implementation soon
21-Dec-2023 Ena
Ethiopia will begin the trial implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement soon, according to Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.
Canada pension fund Caisse, Mexico pause arbitration to seek energy resolution
21-Dec-2023 Reuters
Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and the Mexican economy ministry have temporarily suspended an international arbitration procedure to try to reach an agreement.
Pakistan wins legal battle against Tuwairqi Steel at international court
20-Dec-2023 The Express Tribune
Pakistan has emerged triumphant in the arbitration initiated by Tuwairqi Steel against the federation at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.
CPTPP set to discuss Taiwan membership late next year
20-Dec-2023 Taiwan News
Taiwan is reminded membership process for UK lasted 2 years. Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) might not be possible until after the third quarter of 2024.
Indonesia, Japan to implement amended economic partnership agreement
19-Dec-2023 Vietnam+
In recent years, Indonesia has sought several changes to the IJEPA, aiming to facilitate the access of its processed seafood, including canned tuna, to the Japanese market.
Joe Biden signals he has no interest in signing US-UK trade agreement
19-Dec-2023 The Guardian
Ministers have given up on signing a trade agreement with the US before the next election, after the Biden administration signalled it had no interest in agreeing one.
India UK wrap up 13th round of FTA talks
19-Dec-2023 Financial Express
India and UK have wrapped up the 13th round of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement and the next round will be held in January.
Logjam in negotiations between India and EFTA on free trade deal
19-Dec-2023 Hindustan Times
Switzerland has expressed concerns in the latest negotiations on provisions related to mobility of Indian professionals and intellectual property rights. The four members of EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – have pushed for finalisation of the proposed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) so that it can be signed before India begins the process for conducting a general election in 2024
AGOA – time to lock in a long-term renewal for the benefit of Africa and the US
19-Dec-2023 Tralac Newsletter
Since May 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has provided duty-free access for a broad range of products from eligible African countries to markets in the United States (US). Since the current arrangement expires in September 2025, we take this opportunity to provide an update on AGOA.
Indonesia optimistic IEAEU-FTA negotiations can be completed in 2024
19-Dec-2023 Antara News
Indonesia is optimistic that negotiations of the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (IEAEU-FTA) can be completed in 2024 following the agreement on the Intellectual Property (IP) chapter.
China, Honduras make further progress on bilateral FTA negotiations
19-Dec-2023 Global Times
China and Honduras held the third round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday and Tuesday in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, completing negotiations for an early harvest arrangement.
Daya Laxmi: “Free Trade Agreements affect and victimize peasant groups”
19-Dec-2023 Capire
Women from all around the world organize the struggle against capitalism and neoliberalism. In the South Asia region, these forces—in the form of free trade agreements (FTA)—play a huge role in the impoverishment of peasants and women in rural and urban areas.
EU and Kenya sign ’historic’ partnership to boost investment, trade
19-Dec-2023 France 24
Kenya and the European Union on Monday signed a long-negotiated trade agreement to increase the flow of goods between the two markets, as Brussels pursues stronger economic ties with Africa.
Algeria joins Guided Trade Initiative to boost pan-Africa trade
19-Dec-2023 Xinhua
Algeria’s Minister of Trade and Export Promotion Tayeb Zitouni declared on Saturday his country’s accession to the guided trade initiative as part of its effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Overview of the implications for developing countries/LDCs of the JSI E-commerce text (Revision 5)
18-Dec-2023
Developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) face growing pressure to participate in and adopt the outcomes of plurilateral negotiations on electronic commerce.