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Interview: Argentina seeks diplomatic exit from ICSID suits
12-Oct-2007 Dow Jones
Facing a flood of unfavorable arbitration rulings, Argentina is shifting from a legal strategy to a diplomatic one in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in foreign investor claims arising from its 2002 financial crisis.
Teamsters challenge Bush on free trade arguments: Hoffa responds to Bush
12-Oct-2007 PR Newswire
"When President Bush says the economy benefits from trade deals, he must mean the part of the economy he cares about — the top one percent," Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said. "It’s not competition we’re afraid of, but the global capitalists who rig the system against the American worker."
Bush tries to build support for Latam trade deals
12-Oct-2007 Reuters
Bush urged Congress on Friday to approve free-trade agreements with Peru, Panama and Colombia "as soon as possible," saying failure to do so would diminish US leadership in the hemisphere.
China sets up new harbor area for planned free trade zone with ASEAN
12-Oct-2007 AHN
China has started construction of a bonded harbor area that will form part of a future free trade zone with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thai food exports to reach Bt600 billion
12-Oct-2007 MCOT
Thailand’s food exports are expected to increase by 7.8 per cent from last year to Bt600 billion this year and to further rise by 10 per cent next year due to the free trade area (FTA) agreements and an increased demand for products as a result of global warming, according to industry executives.
Caribbean may sue to reinstate EU sugar deal
12-Oct-2007 IPS
Caribbean Community leaders may try to reinstate the EU sugar protocol through an international court.
NLA nod ’not needed for JTEPA’
12-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram insisted the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement, signed by the Surayud administration, is in line with the 2007 constitution and it is not necessary for it to be endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Taiwan, Nicaragua ratify free-trade agreement
12-Oct-2007 Monsters and Critics
Taiwan and Nicaragua ratified their free-trade agreement in Taiwan Thursday, further liberalizing trade.
US-Panama trade pact looks shaky
11-Oct-2007 LA Times
Washington officials say that even if Gonzalez — the president of Panama’s National Assembly, who is wanted on murder charges in the US — were to quit, attitudes in Congress and in the Bush administration have hardened against the free trade deal.
Rice, Clinton clash over Korea-US FTA
11-Oct-2007 Chosun Ilbo
With a firm eye on the support of labor unions, which oppose free trade pacts, US presidential contender Hillary Clinton denounced not only the Korea-US trade deal but also NAFTA, which was signed by her own husband, former president Bill Clinton. It seems the Korea-US FTA is unlikely to be ratified by Congress before the tenure of President George W. Bush is out.
Brazil, US executives seek to make up lost ground on trade
11-Oct-2007 Dow Jones News
After the failure of talks on the Free Trade Area of the Americas and slow progress in advancing the Doha round agenda of the World Trade Organization, executives from Brazil and the US have decided to take the matter of improving trade relations between their countries into their own hands.
Philippine Senate prepares to shoot down FTA with Japan
11-Oct-2007 Japan Times
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s campaign to persuade the Senate to ratify a landmark free-trade agreement with Japan is looking increasingly hopeless
Korean Alliance call for international protest letter
10-Oct-2007
Please sign this international protest letter against the arrests of Mr. Seok-woon Park and Mr. Je-jun Ju of the Korean Alliance against Korea-US FTA, and the continuing suppression of the Korean anti-FTA movement, before 19 October 2007
Ghana: Industries against signing
10-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
The Association of Ghana Industry (AGI) has added its voice to the clarion cry on African governments not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or risk killing local industries.
India: FTA concerns
10-Oct-2007 Sify
With elections likely to be held earlier than scheduled, the prospects for progress on the free trade agreements with Thailand and Asean have weakened further.
Uruguay union staves off US pillage
9-Oct-2007 Prensa Latina
Feet firmly planted, Juan Castillo, coordinator of Uruguay’s PIT-CNT central union plugged his nose at the visit of US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez here Monday.
New FTAs could worsen Canadian auto deficit: CAW
9-Oct-2007 CTV
"A free trade deal with Korea will take a bad situation and make it worse...The government should cancel these talks," said Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove.
Egypt, Israel to amend trade agreement
8-Oct-2007 IHT
Egypt and Israel have agreed to reduce the percentage of Israeli components that must be included in Egyptian-made products that receive duty-free status when exported to the United States
Costa Rica referendum on CAFTA outcome questioned
8-Oct-2007
US intervention, corruption, and an internationally financed fear campaign provoke questions about referendum process
Venezuela mulls return to CAN
8-Oct-2007 Forbes
President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Venezuela may return to the Andean Community, or CAN, because leftist leaders in Bolivia and Ecuador who have resisted free trade deals with the United States could help to transform the regional trade bloc.