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How German opposition could sink a major Canadian trade pact
After many delays, the CETA text could be finalized by negotiators within weeks. But in Europe, a messy fight over its ratification is just beginning, reports Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative’s trade policy analyst Scott Sinclair.
US says ’science’ should settle trans-Atlantic food trade rules
When US farm lobbyists push for "sound science" as the basis for food supply trade rules, what they mean by this term is that they want Europe to eliminate all restrictions on imports of food from the US, and to adopt a US-style food supply regulatory regime, stripped of the precautionary principle.
Vietnam hopes to sign free trade agreement with Eurasian Economic Union by yearend
Vietnam hopes to sign a agreement on free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) by the end of this year, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Fam Suan Shon told ITAR-TASS on Thursday.
Wikileaks releases secret Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) - Financial Services Annex
Today, WikiLeaks released the secret draft text for the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Financial Services Annex, which covers 50 countries and 68.2%1 of world trade in services.
The European Commission must not trade off our crown jewels when negotiating the EU-US trade and investment deal
SOLIDAR, the Social Platform, EPSU and EPHA are jointly calling on the European Commission to explicitly exclude public services, including social and health services, from the ongoing TTIP negotiations.
TPP talks quietly enter the final stages
Secrecy has been the general rule for negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but information is gradually coming out as the talks approach the homestretch, reports Yoshizaki Tatsuhiko from Japan.
Colombia Congress rejects free trade deal with South Korea
Colombia’s Congress on Tuesday voted against a signed free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea following disappointing results of a similar deal with the United States.
India, Russia to set up study group to push FTA
India and Russia have agreed to set up a joint study group to look at the feasibility of a free trade agreement between India, the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
EU to delay signing Thai cooperation pact after coup: draft
The EU will not sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, precursor to an FTA, with Thailand until a democratically elected government is back in place, according to a text seen by Reuters.
French concerns over geographical indications will hamper TTIP talks
Wine is a casus belli for the French government, who may block transatlantic negotiations if geographical indications are not protected. EurActiv France reports.
TTIP: Labour will not back EU-US trade deal without NHS safeguards
The UK’s shadow trade and investment minister Ian Murray has said that Labour will withdraw its support for the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) if safeguards are not inserted to protect public services including the NHS from US investors.
Bill C-18 – CETA combination would entrench corporate control of food system, says NFU
Under CETA, Canada has agreed to empower the courts to apply provisional and precautionary measures that include seizure of assets, destruction of equipment, and freezing of bank accounts against someone suspected of intellectual property rights infringement — that is, before any trial takes place. Plant Breeders’ Rights, which would be bolstered through Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act, are included among the intellectual property rights covered by these measures.
MoEF officials give nod to carbon-trading deal with Japan without political clearance
Indian Ministry of Environment officials have agreed in-principle to a bilateral carbon-trading climate change deal with Japan without a formal approval from the political leadership, putting the BJP government in a corner ahead of PM Modi’s trip to the country.
Canada-Honduras trade agreement adopted by senate, awaits royal assent
It’s a repeat of the polarizing 2010 Canada-Colombia trade deal debate. Supporters find it obvious that expected increases in bilateral trade and investment can only improve lives in Honduras while opponents see a validation of the violent and undemocratic governance that’s prevailed in the country since a 2009 coup removed Manuel Zelaya.
UK: TTIP day of action call out
Join the day of action throughout the UK on 12 July #NoTTIP
No to ISDS!
Web tool to participate — until 6 July 2014 — in the EU consultation on investor-state dispute in TTIP and say NO to ISDS!
EU deal on edge
An economic partnership agreement with the EU will expire in two weeks, but the Fiji Sugar Corporation says there are other, almost equally lucrative markets to sell to.
Russia, Ukraine and EU agree to joint talks on Kiev’s planned trade deal
Russia, Ukraine and the European Union have agreed to hold high level talks on Kiev’s expected signing of an EU free trade agreement after Moscow warned last week it would retaliate with measures to protect its economy.
What you should know about the unusual Jpepa
Although both governments said at its signing that the agreement would be positive for both Japan and the Philippines in terms of trade and investment, the pact is actually lopsided in favor of the more powerful Japanese economic interests.
Canada wants quick decisions on CEPA, BITs
Canada hopes the Narendra Modi government will take decisions on two vital agreements the Manmohan Singh government could not. The first, a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, or CEPA and the second on Bilateral Investment treaties, or BITs.