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Canada eyes India for investment in trillion-dollar infrastructure plan
India is on Canada’s radar screen as it wishes to be a part of a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan to consolidate trade and investment ties with Asia’s third-largest economy, Canadian international trade minister Ed Fast said on Friday.
Pig farmers say imports cause bankruptcies, violate trade pact
Pig farmers denounced that thus far this year the Agriculture Ministry has approved the import of nearly 6,000 tons of pork meat beyond the amount approved for the entire 2011, violating the Free Trade Agreement’s (DR-CAFTA) tariff quota.
KORUS FTA battle approaches railroad or referendum
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) ratcheted up the pressure on the opposition Friday, hinting at the possibility that it will exercise authority to raise the ratification motion for the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
Pakistan exploring PTA prospects to boost garment exports
Eyeing to boost its garment and other textile items exports, the Government of Pakistan is exploring the prospects of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with various countries.
Free-trade deals lack foreign safeguards
One purpose for the federal government’s pursuit of free trade deals with other nations is to protect Canadian investors from mistreatment in foreign countries.
Pakistan’s last-minute retraction irks India
India is particularly displeased with Pakistan, after an early end to a party it was enjoying over Islamabad’s proposed grant of a ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) status in bilateral trade. All eyes are now focused on Pakistan commerce secretary Zafar Mahmood’s upcoming India visit. This is likely to be followed by a sideline meeting between the prime ministers of the neighbouring countries.
Brussels Halts Free Trade Agreement with Macedonia
Brussels has refused to renew the duty-free agreement with Macedonia. The free export resolution expired in December last year and documents for its renewal have not been prepared yet.
Tough talk over industrialisation expected for FTA - Davies
As South Africa moves to bolster industrialisation efforts within its own borders, the planned roll out of a giant free trade area across Africa may hit a snag when it comes to negotiating about trade in manufactured goods between member countries, the Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said yesterday.
Africa’s Free Trade Zone: A Pie in the Sky?
African heads of state have ambitious plans to create a free trade zone, encompassing 26 countries and more than 600 million people on the continent. But economic experts warn the project is a bold step that comes with a plethora of legal, administrative and political hurdles. Others suggest the plan might be a pie in the sky.
US courts Australia in Pacific free trade push
The US has spoken out about its desire to unite with Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and other nations in a powerful trans-Pacific free trade bloc.
Free trade pacts bad for business: Colombian milk association
Colombia’s dairy sector needs government assistance to be able to compete with European farmers, said the president of the national milk producers’ association Friday.
Taiwan urged to sign FTAs with more countries
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Taipei (JCCI) urged Taiwan Friday to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) with more countries to enhance its investment competitiveness. "Taiwan tends to highly rely on China," Kyota Kishimoto, JCCI’s chairman, told reporters after a press conference to present an annual position paper to the Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD).
New Zealand trades away our sovereignty in secret negotiations
At the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Hawaii on November 12 & 13, Bill English will signal the Government’s readiness to trade away yet more of this country’s powers of self-government, the New Zealand Is Not For Sale Campaign warned today.
S Koreans protest against trade deal with US
South Korean authorities have detained at least 15 people after police clashed with protesters demonstrating against the country’s free-trade agreement with the US.
Taiwan firms urged to pull weight in US-South Korea FTA fight
Taiwan’s private sector needs to pull its weight if government policies aimed at offsetting the impact of the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement are to succeed, Economic Affairs Minister Shih Yen-shiang said.
Safta ’sensitive list’: 20 percent reduction approved
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a 20 percent reduction (233 tariff lines) in sensitive list for South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) which, according to the Commerce Ministry, will earn goodwill for the country.
Ibsa partners boost trade, gird themselves for global crisis
South Africa is achieving significant success in trade with its Ibsa part- ner countries, India and Brazil, President Jacob Zuma highlighted at a press conference in Pretoria last week. (South Africa hosted the fifth Ibsa Dialogue Forum summit on October 17 and 18.)
Sacu-Mercosur Pta Gets Cautionary Thumbs-Up
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Tjekero Tweya, tabled a motion in Parliament on Thursday for the ratification of a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and South America’s trade bloc, called the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).
Timing may be everything in TPP
As emerging Asian economies facilitate growth in the region and increasingly stand out as important players in global trade, the United States appears intent on getting its own share of the pie in the form of taking a leadership role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade framework.
Ruling party rules out using speaker’s authority for FTA vote
The floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) Wednesday opposed using the Assembly speaker’s authority to pass the long-pending free trade deal with the United States on the floor, saying a unilateral passage would cause distrust in party politics.