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The Future of Indo-US Trade
6-Nov-2008
Over the last few days we have been talking about various issues, be it business, be it IT outsourcing or the way the American campaign is looking at India an the rising power of Indian voters. But as we go into the period post the election verdict the big questions will be who takes the bold steps on the multilateral trade talks, the WTO aspect, and the Form subsidy aspect.
Trade progress pleases Panama
6-Nov-2008
A delegation of Panamanian trade officials was in Ottawa last week to launch free-trade negotiations with the Canadian government. The first round of negotiations came after a successful "exploratory process," including one meeting in Ottawa in May and another in Panama City in July. The Canadians also undertook a month-long consultation with Canada’s provinces and territories as well as with businesses, industry associations and the public.
BIMSTEC meet to positively impact India’s northeast region
6-Nov-2008
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand established in 1997 is a $810 billion economy, sharing about 22% of world population and 3.64% of surface area. After a gap of three years, India is going to host the second BIMSTEC summit during November 11-13, 2008 at New Delhi. The last summit was held in Bangkok in 2004. The summit-level meeting in BIMSTEC was delayed mainly due to political reasons and non-cooperation of some of the member countries.
FTAs with China, Malaysia worsen Pak trade imbalance
6-Nov-2008
Pakistan has so far signed three Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), of which trade balance with two countries is in negative while the remaining one shows marginal growth.
Together we are stronger
5-Nov-2008
Twenty six African countries, a single market and open borders that allow persons to move across freely and conduct business. That was the vision of the Tripartite Summit that took place in Kampala last week. President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania called it “a landmark summit for a landmark decision” while President Yoweri Museveni said it was “historic”.
Botswana hopeful about the EPAs
5-Nov-2008
Botswana is cautiously optimistic about the on going Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that are being negotiated between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community, despite some snags.
Investment protection - Bilateral Investment Treaties
5-Nov-2008
There is a Slovak proverb which says: “When catching a bird, they sing it a sweet song”. Another Slovak proverb says: “Those who want to beat a dog will certainly find a club“. For investors who find themselves in a situation similar to that described by these proverbs, the bilateral investment treaties (“BITs”) very often provide the last available legal option. A BIT is an agreement establishing the terms and conditions for private investment by nationals and companies of one state in the state of the other.
Key wants FTA kept at the forefront
5-Nov-2008
US President-elect Barack Obama has acknowledged his government faces huge economic challenges and more tough times ahead.
South Korea warns next U.S. president on trade deal
5-Nov-2008
South Korea on Wednesday urged the new U.S. president not to renegotiate a free-trade deal signed last year, saying the winner of the vote will find the pact beneficial to both sides.
Australia seeks free trade deal with GCC
5-Nov-2008
Australian Minister for Trade Simon Crean, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, has reaffirmed the need to initiate talks for a free trade agreement between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Australia.
Siniora calls for free trade deal
5-Nov-2008
As the global financial crisis pressures economies, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said the best response to the crisis would be enhancing business relations between Turkey and the Arab world.
NZ hopes Obama will sign on to trade deal
5-Nov-2008
New Zealand’s free trade talks with the United States should still be on the agenda early next year, even though president-elect Barack Obama is less of a trade liberal than John McCain.
Pitfalls in implementing tax treaties
5-Nov-2008
The recent ratification of the Japan-Philippines Partnership Economic Agreement, or JPEPA, and the modified RP-Japan tax treaty by the Philippine Senate has once again focused attention on these international agreements which grant reciprocal tax concessions to the contracting parties.
Forget EPAs With Europe, Go for GSP-Plus, Activists Say
5-Nov-2008
Developing countries negotiating with the European Union for an economic partnership agreement (EPA) or a free trade agreement should apply for "GSP-Plus" status with the EU, Kenya Civil Society activists say.
Change Has Come To America, But Will It Affect Malaysia?
5-Nov-2008
"Change has come to America" — that was how Barack Obama described his victory in the United States presidential election Wednesday.
The danger of trade agreements
5-Nov-2008 Phnom Penh Post
When Cambodia negotiates an FTA with a hegemonic power, it must use a template which confines the negotiations to trade matters only, says Jagdish Bhagwati
General Electric, Caterpillar push for free trade under Obama
5-Nov-2008 Bloomberg
General Electric Co. and Caterpillar Inc. say the Obama administration should keep trade as open as possible to help boost exports and should resist lawmaker calls for protectionism during the global financial crisis.
Obama win likely to harm S. Korea’s bid for early FTA approval
5-Nov-2008 Yonhap
South Korea’s push to ratify a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States by year’s end is widely expected to face further hurdles following Barack Obama’s election as US president.
India’s ties to Asean must look beyond trade in goods
3-Nov-2008
After the negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement on goods between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (the India-Asean FTA) were successfully concluded on August 28, consumers now expect to enjoy a wide range of duty-free imports such as textiles, capital goods, plastics and electrical machinery, among many others, from India next year.
Costa Rican economist says CAFTA is a bad deal
3-Nov-2008
Costa Rican economist and former presidential candidate Ottón Solís spent the spring at the University of Florida as the Bacardi Family Eminent Scholar, teaching a course on free-trade agreements in the Americas at the university’s Center for Latin American Studies.