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EPA deadline a moving target - It’s October 31 or nothing, says EU
29-Aug-2008 Jamaica Gleaner
A senior European Union diplomat in Kingston warned Wednesday that Caribbean countries that fail to sign a trade pact the region negotiated with EU by the October 31 deadline will lose preferential access for their product into the European market.
Free trade including Myanmar dictatorship is a slow motion disaster for workers and democracy in both nations
29-Aug-2008 Scoop
The Alliance Party says the news that New Zealand has negotiated a free trade deal with ASEAN nations that include the fascist dictatorship of Myanmar is a disgrace of historical proportions and is a slow motion disaster for workers in New Zealand and in Myanmar.
Maritime Union criticizes Myanmar connection in free trade deal
29-Aug-2008 Voxy
The Maritime Union of New Zealand says a free trade deal signed with ASEAN nations including the military dictatorship of Myanmar is bad for workers as it will boost the violently anti-worker regime in Myanmar and threatens workers rights.
EPA, worst thing since slavery - NWU
28-Aug-2008 Radio Jamaica
One of Jamaica’s major trade unions is insisting that Jamaica could be heading down a dangerous path if it goes ahead and signs the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
‘Don’t vote on JPEPA until sure pact complies with Charter’
28-Aug-2008 Inquirer
Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday said she will ask Senate President Manuel Villar to postpone voting on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) until after a formal exchange of notes that will guarantee the treaty does not violate the Constitution.
ASEAN concludes FTA with Australia, New Zealand
28-Aug-2008 Kyodo
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded Thursday a free trade accord with Australia and New Zealand that will link up the 10-member grouping with the latter’s free trade pact, the sides said.
ASEAN concludes free trade deal with India
28-Aug-2008 AFP
ASEAN nations have concluded a deal for free trade in goods with India, the bloc’s seventh-largest trading partner, ministers said Thursday.
ASEAN pledges to ratify FTA with Japan soon
28-Aug-2008 MCOT
Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, meeting in Hanoi, have pledged to work for the speedy ratification of an economic partnership agreement with Japan that is expected to take effect before the end of this year. A Philippine official says the pact will come into force on 1 October.
ASEAN, China make substantive progress on investment pact
28-Aug-2008 Xinhua
The Southeast Asian bloc and China announced here Wednesday that they made substantive progress in the negotiations on the bilateral investment pact which is expected to be signed at the Bangkok Summit in December this year.
Jamaica: Trade unions want EPA signing delayed
28-Aug-2008 Jamaica Observer
The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) says it will seek to delay the signing of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), between CARIFORUM and the European Union, to allow for a review and possible renegotiation of the agreement.
’RP gave too many concessions to Japan in free trade deal’
28-Aug-2008 ABS-CBN
A former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law on Wednesday criticized as unconstitutional the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) for allowing Japanese citizens to own land, practice certain professions and operate and administer educational institutions in the Philippines.
Honduras: Joining ALBA ‘a step towards the centre-left,’ says president
27-Aug-2008 IPS
Honduras has joined the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), amid criticism from the business community and right-wing political sectors.
Peru-China free trade negotiations could close in November
27-Aug-2008 LIP
Peru’s minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz, considered today the possibility that negotiations with China in order to reach a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could end in November.
Labor’s opposition continues to Colombia free trade pact
27-Aug-2008 PWW
While Colombian representatives lobby the Democratic and Republican conventions in support of the Bush administration’s Colombia Free Trade Act, the US labor movement continues its opposition to the pact, signed in November 2006 but put on hold by Congress last April.
Canada and Jordan reach free trade pact
27-Aug-2008 Forbes
The Canadian government said Tuesday it had wrapped up free trade negotiations with Jordan, along with parallel labor and environment agreements.
Evo Morales accuses the US of using the FTA to divide Latin America
26-Aug-2008 Opinión
The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, accused the US of extending its Free Trade Agreements program to divide Latin American countries.
Botswana agriculture anxious about effect of SADC Free Trade Area
26-Aug-2008 Mmegi
A few days after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) became a free trade area, fears are mounting that the move may spell doom for Botswana’s agricultural industry.
ECOWAS civil society groups kick against trade deals with EU
26-Aug-2008 GNA
Civil society organisations have asked governments of ECOWAS countries to suspend all trade-related negotiations with the EU.
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago prepare for economic shutdown
26-Aug-2008 Caribbean Net News
Labour unions in Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up for a nationwide shut down of the country on September 8. They are protesting rising crime, uncontrollable food prices and increasing violence in the country, and calling for Trinidad and Tobago not to rush into signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
EU pact hit by last-minute revolt
26-Aug-2008 IPS
Eight months after congratulating themselves for having become the first region within the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping to conclude negotiations with the European Union on a new trade and economic pact, Caribbean leaders are getting cold feet as the time draws near to affix their signatures to the document.