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Import duty cuts on budget agenda
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to announce a slew of import duty cuts in Union Budget 2011-12 to fulfil the commitments in India’s free-trade agreements (FTAs).
EU mulls individual FTAs for ASEAN
Despite ASEAN emerging as a fast-growing market of 591 million people, one major trading partner — the European Union (EU) — still won’t ink a free trade agreement with the bloc, preferring to strike individual deals.
India, EU kick off fresh talks on free trade agreement
John Clancy, spokesperson for the European Commission’s trade directorate, told Business Standard this week’s talks would focus on “tariffs and services”.
Military coups are good for Canadian business: The Canada-Honduras free trade agreement
Last week Canadian negotiators met with their Honduran counterparts in Tegucigalpa to discuss a free trade agreement (FTA).
China’s official proposes immediate start of E Asia FTA talks
East Asia should wait no more for the opening of dialogues over the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) that will help facilitate the global economic recovery, a Chinese commerce official said in Anhui on Tuesday.
Perimeter security and the future of North American integration
While the NAFTA framework remains intact, a recent announcement by Canada and the US to work towards a trade and security perimeter agreement without Mexico, has some questioning the future of the whole trilateral process.
Gov’t gets mixed responses on Pacific FTA in 1st public dialogue
The Japanese government began a series of debates to win public backing for its policy of pursuing freer trade, at a time when concerns are growing that Japan’s possible participation in a Pacific free trade pact may negatively affect the farm sector and other aspects of everyday life. "By joining the TPP, I am afraid that our culture, and even history, may be affected," said one participant.
Southern Africa: A region of winners and losers, not partners
Critics want southern Africa to look at Latin America’s Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) as an approach to achieving regional economic integration based on fulfilling basic human needs and the services that are required to meet them instead of trade liberalisation with the EU, within the BRICSA group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and now South Africa) or within the region itself.
‘FTA with EU will kill HIV patients’
Ghana’s chicken farmers ended up with a mere 11% domestic market share as opposed to the previous 95% market share when country’s chicken tariffs were cut and was flooded with subsidised EU chicken — and the same could happen to Malaysia.
RI not to rush to sign FTA with EU
Indonesia will not rush to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union just because others have done it, said Deputy Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar
The bubble bursts for Ukraine’s ’Champagne’
Ukrainian winemakers will be forced to stop labelling their sparkling white wines as "Champagne" as part of a free trade agreement with the European Union due to be signed later this year.
Malaysians protest EU free trade agreements
Hundreds of people protested outside the venue where the second round of free trade negotiations between Malaysia and the European Union were taking place.
Advisory: Massive rally on EU-India FTA in Delhi, 2 March
People living with HIV from across Asia who depend on affordable generic AIDS medicines to stay alive will urge the Indian government to stand strong against European Union demands on the sensitive intellectual property chapter in ongoing free trade agreement negotiations.
Canada-EU trade deal will hurt climate policy regardless of EU decision on tar sands
The Harper government is using the Canada-European Union trade talks to lobby the EU on its climate policy, according to recently released briefing notes.
COMESA FTA deal in final stages
As the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) continue to integrate their economies, countries are now subscribing to the block’s trading area in order to attract investment.
Translation errors in KOREU FTA’s 23 versions prompt outcry for correction
The Lee Myung-bak administration announced plans Friday to submit a new S Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement ratification motion to the National Assembly correcting a translation error present in the text submitted in October 2010. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not independently verify translations in the languages of 21 other EU nations.
Mingas statement on Korea FTA
The US-Korea FTA must be opposed not only because of its own terrible effects on US and Korean workers, peoples and communities, but also because it would open the door to similar disastrous agreements with Panama and Colombia.
EU’s pharma trade hoax
The EU’s proposed trade agreement is riddled with intellectual property provisions that would harm India’s 2005 Patent Act and block public-interest rulings such as the Aluvia decision.
Vietnam wants to speed up co-operation with EFTA
Vietnam National Assembly will accelerate the negotiation process to facilitate the signature of a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association ahead of schedule.
Thailand to push for FTA with Bimstec members by July
Thailand today said it will push for the conclusion of a free trade agreement with India and other members of Bimstec by July, enabling tariff reduction next year.