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EU angers Government
7-Oct-2011 The Namibian
The Namibian government is furious after a hush-hush decision by the European Union (EU) to close its duty- and quota-free markets to Namibian beef, fish and grapes by 2014 unless the country signs a controversial trade pact.
Caricom advised to end economic partnership with Europe
7-Oct-2011 Antigua Observer
Caricom leaders have failed, as a group, to press European countries for reparations for the slave trade, social commentator Dr Radcliffe Robbins said yesterday. As a result, he recommends that member states abandon the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in 2008 with Europe.
Canada travellers to face US surcharge from US-Colombia trade pact
5-Oct-2011 WSJ
"Assuming this free-trade agreement gets passed, this will increase imports from Colombia to the United States ... and Canada will pay for the cost of Colombian goods shipped to the US," said Birgit Matthiesen, a US-based adviser for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, a Canadian business lobby.
Karel De Gucht: The state of play of the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations – transcript
5-Oct-2011 Eurasia Review
"I know that Business Europe and CNI are strong supporters of the trade agreement and believe it will create thousands of jobs. But we are at a delicate stage of negotiations – with some voices critical of the competition it might bring."
EU farm losses from trade deal with Mercosur ‘would range 1 to 3 billion Euros’
4-Oct-2011 MercoPress
European Union farmers could suffer losses ranking from one to three billion Euros if a trade agreement is finally agreed with Mercosur according to a European Commission evaluation paper on the impact.
As bilateral trade deals proceed, WIPO hears warnings, calls for change
4-Oct-2011 IP Watch
On 1 October, eight governments – Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States – signed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), negotiated entirely behind closed doors with almost no known input from the public or elected officials.
Trade pacts set for heated fight
4-Oct-2011 WSJ
The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, opposes all three agreements and will hold a Capitol Hill demonstration Tuesday to protest them. But the short timeline mapped out for passage gives opponents little time to block the deals.
Cabinet approves GCC-EFTA trade pact
4-Oct-2011 Saudi Gazette
The Council of Ministers Monday approved the Free Trade Agreement between GCC member states and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed in Hamar in Norway on June 26, 2009.
Swiss seek fresh impetus from India trade talks
4-Oct-2011 swissinfo.ch
Switzerland is seeking to improve access to the Indian market for its chemical and pharmaceutical products, machines and watches and to extend patent protection to prevent Indian producers of cheap generic drugs benefiting from clinical tests developed by other companies
Race to the bottom: Maquiladoras, free trade, can of worms
4-Oct-2011 COHA
Obama does not mention that FTAs traditionally have prompted US companies to transfer their manufacturing processes to countries with lower wages, rather than noticeably creating jobs in this country, writes COHA
CWA: Colombia free trade agreement is a flawed plan, will not improve workers’ lives in Colombia
4-Oct-2011 CWA Union
Communications Workers of America calls on Congress to reject the US-Colombia FTA
Retailers to hold nationwide rally against FTA
4-Oct-2011 Korea Herald
The Korea Federation of Retail Organizations plans to hold a nationwide rally at the end of this month to call for protection measures related to the free trade pacts with the European Union and the United States.
Korea-US FTA to cause large reduction of farm production
4-Oct-2011 Yonhap
The implementation of the signed free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States will likely cause billions of dollars in damages to South Korea’s farming industry, a government report showed Tuesday.
Obama sends Korea, Colombia, Panama Trade pacts to Congress, ending wait
4-Oct-2011 Bloomberg
President Barack Obama sent Congress legislation for free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, ending a wait for business supporters that spanned more than four years and two presidencies.
Sri Lanka to further delay trade agreement with India
4-Oct-2011 Xinhua
Sri Lanka is expected to delay the decision to sign a comprehensive trade agreement with India that would encourage bilateral trade, a top government official said on Tuesday.
Workers’ rights a part of trade deals
3-Oct-2011 Politico
The Republicans’ refusal to reference the Colombian Action Plan Related to Labor Rights in the US-Colombia free trade agreement’s implementing bill — and the Obama administration’s acquiescence to that refusal — is a fundamental flaw that is becoming increasingly apparent, writes US Representative Sander Levin
"Trade deals hurt the middle class"
3-Oct-2011 Politico
"We strongly oppose the proposed trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. They will not help put Americans back to work, only further hasten the decline of our middle class," declares Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO
Study: Colombia anti-union violence undeterred
3-Oct-2011 AP
A new study challenges claims from the administration of President Barack Obama that Colombia is making important strides in bringing to justice killers of labor activists and so deserves U.S. congressional approval of a long-stalled free trade pact.
M’sia looks to sign FTA with European Free Trade Association
3-Oct-2011 The Star
The Government is doing feasibility studies to see whether it could embark on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) by mid next year, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
Philippines: EU remains interested in FTA
3-Oct-2011 Manila Bulletin
The European Union continues to seek a free trade agreement with the Philippines as it is seen to be the key in increasing foreign investments into the Philippines, including the green and renewable energy sector.