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Protecting Korean farmers key goal of FTA talks with China
29-Oct-2007 KOIS
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Seoul stressed the need to reflect the concerns of local farmers in any future free trade agreement (FTA) with China at preliminary discussions held in Weihai last week.
Visa row mars NZ-India free trade talks
28-Oct-2007 NBR
On the same day that Trade Minister Goff announced that progress had been made on the NZ-India FTA joint study, news broke that New Zealand immigration officials in New Delhi had refused visas to members of the Indian delegation to the India NZ Joint Business Councils.
Positive start to NZ-India FTA talks — Goff
28-Oct-2007 Scoop
New Zealand and India have made good progress towards initiating a free trade agreement between the two countries, Trade Minister Phil Goff said today.
Kenya: Manufacturers join trade case
28-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
The stage is set for a battle pitting small-scale farmers against manufacturers and exporters of fresh produce. On Friday, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and Kenya Fresh Produce Exporters Association applied and were included in the case as interested parties to support the Government against the farmers and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
Caribbean nations grapple with biofuel issues
28-Oct-2007 USA Today
In the United States, experts debate whether biofuel growth in the tropics will cut into profits for Midwest producers. Special free-trade agreements with those countries can make it less expensive to ship ethanol from there to the US coasts.
Costa Ricans to strike against FTA
27-Oct-2007 Prensa Latina
Trade unions from the Costa Rican Electricity Institute announced a strike against the complementary agenda of CAFTA, so that the company continues to govern in the fields of electricity and telecommunications.
Ecuador exporters warn increased duties could derail FTA
27-Oct-2007 Dow Jones
Ecuador’s Federation of Exporters warned Friday that the country’s recent increases in import duties will negatively affect negotiations on a free trade agreement between Andean countries and the European Union.
Activists want FTA with Japan nullified
27-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Activists opposing the Thai-Japanese free trade area (FTA) agreement yesterday filed a complaint with the Constitution Court, asking it to nullify the deal which they say is unconstitutional.
Free trade agreement between Iran and Armenia to be ratified later
27-Oct-2007 Panorama
During the Iranian President’s official visit to Armenia the agreement on free trade between the two states was not signed
Canada: Potential new impediments to M&A transactions
27-Oct-2007 Mondaq
On October 9, 2007, Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, announced that the government of Canada will consider introducing new guidelines on takeovers by foreign state-owned enterprises and amending the Investment Canada Act to permit the review of foreign investments that could compromise Canada’s national security
US Congress may delay Fata zones legislation
27-Oct-2007 Dawn
The United States Congress is likely to put on hold for several months, possibly a year, legislation for setting up reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) in tribal areas and finalisation of a bilateral investment treaty till a new democratic set-up comes into power in Pakistan
Fear and voting in Costa Rica
26-Oct-2007 FPIF
Costa Rica’s recent referendum was supposed to decide once and for all whether that country should enter into the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Instead, the Oct. 7 vote polarized and politicized this small country of four and a half million people more than anything since neighboring Nicaragua’s war between the Sandinistas and the Contras two decades ago. And even though supporters of the treaty prevailed by a slim margin, CAFTA opponents still have a few cards to play and may yet block its implementation.
JPEPA: Gross violation of the Constitution
26-Oct-2007 Magkaisa Junk JPEPA
The JPEPA was based on the Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement, literally employing the "cut-and-paste" method. Page 71 of the Working Draft of the JPEPA still contains the word Singapore in one of the provisions.
Colombia’s workers, peasants need int’l solidarity
26-Oct-2007 Workers World
Even the New York Times, which has reported very little about the horrendous violence against Colombia’s workers and campesinos, in an Oct. 8 editorial recommended that the pending Free Trade Agreement with Colombia be delayed because “President Álvaro Uribe and his government have not done enough to bring to justice the paramilitary thugs-and their political backers-responsible for widespread human rights violations.”
Using Chávez as counterpoint, Bush pursues Latin trade pacts
26-Oct-2007 NYT
The Bush administration has enlisted an unlikely ally in its international trade agenda: Hugo Chávez, the leftist president of Venezuela, who makes a practice of denouncing United States’ influence in Latin America.
NZ: Free-trade agreement with India on agenda
26-Oct-2007 Radio New Zealand
New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff will be pushing forward with a proposal for a study into a free-trade agreement with India when he meets representatives of the Indian business community on Friday. Mr Goff says India is potentially a huge market for New Zealand and is becoming even more significant with growth of between 8% and 9% every year.
China, Costa Rica to begin FTA process
26-Oct-2007 China Daily
China and Costa Rica said they will conduct a feasibility study on a free trade agreement — four months after the two established formal diplomatic ties.
EU negotiations launch, so does opposition
25-Oct-2007 Tico Times
As negotiations between the European Union and Central America over an association agreement kicked off this week, so did something else: opposition.
Free Trade undermining democracy in Costa Rica
25-Oct-2007 Alliance for Democracy
Democracy in Costa Rica was undermined after several violations to costarrican law.
Legal obstacles emerge over free trade deal with Europe
25-Oct-2007 Business Daily Africa
A landmark case has entered the Kenyan corridors of justice as a group of farmers and a human rights watchdog move to challenge the State over ongoing negotiations for a new trade agreement with Europe.