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Major push for grand FTA
12-Sep-2010
The envisaged grand Free Trade Area (FTA), a grouping of COMESA, EAC and SADC will hold a decisive tripartite summit in January 2011 in South Africa as a major push for coalescence amongst the 26 countries gathers traction.
Thai-Lao business blossoms
12-Sep-2010
The value of cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos is forecast to reach 80 billion baht at the end of this year, as the Thai government is pursuing a new strategy to optimise free trade agreements.
ECFA to widen income disparity: forum
12-Sep-2010
Experts at a forum on economics yesterday said the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which came into force yesterday, would exacerbate income disparity and unemployment in Taiwan.
ECFA heralds cross-strait government-to-government links: MAC
12-Sep-2010
Taiwan and China will be able to develop government-to-government links under the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) signed in June, which will help boost mutual understanding and goodwill, a Taiwanese official said in the Belgian capital Friday.
Iran, Armenia to sign FTA
12-Sep-2010
Iran and Armenia will sign a free trade agreement (FTAs) during the Armenian economy minister’s upcoming visit to Tehran.
Japan stance ’unchanged’ on US beef imports for talks, ministry says
12-Sep-2010 Bloomberg
Japan will maintain its stance on restricting some U.S. beef when officials from the two countries hold talks next week, the agriculture ministry said today.
EU-Korea FTA remains stalled
12-Sep-2010 Business Standard
A hoped-for green light from the European Council, which comprises 27 member-states, was not forthcoming on Friday, as EU trade ministers met to try and break the deadlock.
EU approves start of free-trade talks with Malaysia
12-Sep-2010 DPA
European Union trade ministers on Friday approved the launch of free trade negotiations with Malaysia, in a move which officials hope could stimulate billions of dollars of business flows.
EAC, Turkey to Discuss Free Trade Pacts
11-Sep-2010
The East Africa Community and Turkey will discuss trade partnerships when they meet in a business forum between September 28 and 30.
GCC countries postpone customs union move
11-Sep-2010
The Gulf Cooperation Council, a political and economic union involving the six Arab states, has decided to shelve its proposed customs union by at least two years after the modalities for the distribution of revenues and the mechanism of collection were not finalised.
EU-Korea FTA hits final delay
11-Sep-2010
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council yesterday decided to rediscuss the approval of a free trade pact with Korea on Monday, and the 27-member bloc hopes to sign the pact in early October, the minister presiding over the council meeting said.
Japan, India reach basic free trade accord
10-Sep-2010 AFP
Asian economic powers Japan and India broadly agreed Thursday on a free trade deal that aims to reduce most tariffs between the two nations in a decade, Japanese foreign minister Katsuya Okada said.
Chile moves closer to sealing trade agreement with India
10-Sep-2010 Dow Jones Newswires
Chile is a step closer to sealing a free-trade agreement with India, the remaining economic superpower it has yet to sign one with.
11 companies apply to provide cell phone service in Costa Rica
9-Sep-2010
The country’s cell phone market was opened to private competition with the entry into force of the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the US (CAFTA) on Jan.1, 2009.
India, Japan discuss ways to conclude FTA soon
9-Sep-2010
India, Japan on Thursday discussed ways for early conclusion of their proposed bilateral free trade pact to liberalise commerce.
Japan, India meet to lay groundwork for reaching FTA
9-Sep-2010 Kyodo News
Senior government officials from Japan and India held talks Thursday in Tokyo to lay the groundwork for reaching a bilateral free trade agreement that would provide Japanese goods and services greater access to the world’s second-most populous market.
Taiwan, Japan negotiating investment guarantee pact: minister
8-Sep-2010 Focus Taiwan
Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang confirmed Tuesday that Taiwan and Japan have started negotiations on a bilateral investment guarantee agreement to step up economic exchanges between the two countries.
Treaty negotiators turn to “ACTA lite” in hopes of closure
8-Sep-2010 IP Watch
Everyone you ask this week about the Anti-Counterfeiting Agreement (ACTA) tells you that they’re just about to work their way through the new draft version to understand the implications of changes made during the recent negotiation round in Washington, DC. Massive changes to the text have been revealed by yet another leak of the draft treaty text being negotiated by 10 countries and the EU 27 member states.
Italy to veto EU-South Korea free-trade deal: minister
8-Sep-2010 AFP
Italy will veto a free-trade deal between the European Union and South Korea unless changes are made or the implementation of the agreement is pushed back a year, the junior minister for foreign trade warned on Tuesday.
Trade agreement backed by MEPs
8-Sep-2010 BBC
MEPs have broadly welcomed new safeguard measures being brought in as part of a free trade agreement between the EU and South Korea.