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Vietnam and FTA negotiations: NGOs urge the EU to carry out a human rights impact assessment
2-May-2013 FIDH
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation, the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR), would like to ask the European Union to conduct an impact assessment that adequately encompasses the human rights situation before continuing the negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement launched in March 2013 with Vietnam.
EUWEP calls for fair trade, not free trade
30-Apr-2013 Farmers Weekly
EU egg producers have lobbied MEPs for fair trade, not free trade, highlighting that the egg industry would be disadvantaged if it isn’t given special protected status in any future trade agreements.
Colombia to resume peace talks with the FARC amidst US and Colombian military "saber-rattling"
30-Apr-2013 Nacla
US support for the peace process would imply important changes in its policy toward the militarization of Colombia, its failed war on drugs, and a revision of its Free Trade Agreements that would allow the small peasants and subsistence economy to survive.
China investment deal raises red flags in Canada
30-Apr-2013 DW
After a vote to block it failed this week, Canada’s controversial investment treaty with China could be ratified any day now. The government says it protects Canadian investments in China. Critics call it a sell-out.
Political corruption and the ’free trade’ racket
30-Apr-2013 Al Jazeera
The US-EU free trade pact and TPP are about securing regulatory gains for major corporate interests, writes Dean Baker.
NZ minister slams TPP exceptions for Japan
26-Apr-2013 Japan Times
“We will not handle these sensitivities in agriculture, autos or whatever, by exclusions from trade liberalization,” NZ trade negotiator Tim Groser told the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.
Thailand not involved in TPP talks
26-Apr-2013 Bangkok Post
A misleading web page promoting the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations indicates that Thailand is participating, when in fact Bangkok is staying away from the TPP at this point.
Five reasons Canada should NOT ratify a Canada-EU free trade agreement
26-Apr-2013 Troy Media
There are many reasons why Prime Minister Stephen Harper should walk away from the CETA negotiations. Most relate to the ways that CETA is not about trade at all but about making dubious policy reforms that constrain our economic, social and environmental policy options in the future.
US could waive duties on imports from Burma
26-Apr-2013 Reuters
The United States is reviewing trade relations with Burma in a move that could end import duties on thousands of goods from the Southeast Asian country
Bangladesh keen to sign a “Free Trade Agreement” with Sri Lanka
26-Apr-2013 News 360
Bangladesh says it is ready to start discussions with Sri Lanka to strike a Free Trade Agreement between the two nations to improve two way trade, announced the Island’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
US trade talks should not cover culture, EU says
26-Apr-2013 Reuters
European Union lawmakers have backed French demands to exempt culture from a proposed free-trade pact between Europe and the United States, keeping Paris on side and raising the chances that the talks can start on time.
Thailand: Four sensitive issues studied ahead of FTA talks with EU
26-Apr-2013 The Nation
The sensitive issues for Thailand are: the impact of the EU’s plan to end Thailand’s eligibility for the Generalised System of Preferences next year; intellectual-property rights; tariff reductions on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes; and dispute-settlement mechanisms between government and private enterprises.
Investors’ IP rights unbound: The danger of investment clauses to access to medicines
25-Apr-2013 Infojustice
Although access to medicines activists have been wise to focus our attention intently on convincing low- and middle-income countries to adopt and use all possible TRIPS-compliant flexibilities and to oppose the TRIPS-plus IP chapters in free trade agreements, we have neglected to interrogate another chapter in free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties that perhaps pose an even greater threat to our collective access to medicines – investment chapters.
Date set for talks on Asia-Pacific free trade zone
25-Apr-2013 DW
China and 15 other Asia-Pacific nations have agreed to launch a first round of talks next month aimed at creating one of the world’s largest trading blocs. China is trying to outpace a similar effort by the US.
Brazil admits postponing free trade with Argentina
25-Apr-2013 Folha de S.Paulo
The Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Commerce, Fernando Pimentel, suggested that Brazil could postpone the date the auto parts and automobile free trade agreement between Brazil and Argentina will become effective - the scheduled date is July.
EU lawmakers support free trade deal with US
25-Apr-2013 AP
European Union lawmakers have voted in favor of starting talks on a wide-ranging free trade agreement with the United States.
New Zealand to ratify free trade agreement with the GCC
25-Apr-2013 Gulf Newws
The New Zealand government is likely to ratify a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states within 12 months, a senior official said.
NZ-China agricultural agreement signed
25-Apr-2013 Sunlive
NZ Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has signed a Strategic Plan on Promoting Agricultural Cooperation between New Zealand and China.
The return of ACTA: US dictating Canada’s intellectual property laws
25-Apr-2013 Be Your Own Leader
Many assumed that ACTA was dead, but it still remains a top priority for the U.S. and they are attempting to revive the discredited agreement by trying to get the six necessary ratifications for it to come into force.
Japan’s rice lobby visits Capitol Hill to fight free trade pact
25-Apr-2013 Washington Post
Rice is a staple food in Japan, but it is also a cultural staple — so much so, say opponents of a 12-nation­ free-trade agreement, that the values learned through rice farming keep the streets of Tokyo safe and the nation stable.