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Africans fear ’ruin’ in Europe trade talks
African governments, policy analysts, regional economic groups and civil society organizations are increasingly speaking with one voice: the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) now being hammered out between Europe and the ACP countries must be significantly modified to safeguard those countries’ prospects for development.
Discontent Down Under: US officials say free-trade pact has been a great success, but Australians are unhappy
Much of the criticism in Australia focuses on the fact that the pact mandates changes in Australian laws that reflect US traditions, but not Australian traditions.
Ma: better ties with China needed for FTA with the US
Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou says the government should improve ties with China first if Taiwan wants to sign a free trade agreement with the US.
Fish exporters set conditions for EPAs
With barely five months to go before the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) come into force, it is still unclear whether agreements in the negotiations will be reached.
Free trade pact with US is unlikely, Asean official says
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations probably will not reach a free trade agreement with the United States, Secretary General Ong Keng Yong said Monday in Singapore.
Guiding ourselves by the African stars
What does the “grand debate” about a United States of Africa have to do with the fate of SA’s provinces?
New trade deals: Africa to lose out as EU gains
As Africa’s leaders met in Accra, Ghana, last week to consider ways of consolidating continental unity through increased trade, pertinent questions were being raised over the impact that a new trade arrangement between the European Union and the 75-member ACP trading bloc will have on regional integration.
Indian state minister for commerce due today
Indian State Minister for Commerce Jairam Ramesh will arrive in Dhaka today on a two-day official visit to hold talks on bilateral trade.
FTA with U.S., beef imports to cause sharp drop in local pork prices
The proposed free trade pact between South Korea and the United States as well as high demand for beef is expected to cause a drop in local pork prices, a think tank said Monday.
EU demands greater access to South Korean agri market at FTA talks
The EU claims there are considerable gaps between what Seoul is offering Brussels and what was agreed upon with Washington
US downplays trade deal with ASEAN
The United States is not ruling out a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Southeast Asia but it is too early to discuss the issue, Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in remarks published Monday.
India-Myanmar trade relations
Myanmar is the gateway to India’s ‘Look East’ policy. India is going all out to strengthen its relationship with Myanmar, especially in trade.
New free trade talks to start later this year
The Caribbean’s chief trade negotiator says discussions on a draft for a new free trade agreement between Canada and the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will begin later this year.
CEMAC, whither to with EPAs?
"These are not free trade agreements in the way anyone understand them. They are development tools, trade and Aid working together to deliver sustainable growth" Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner. The above is one of the high profiled empty speeches, characteristic feature of EU trade diplomacy. When Mandelson made the above speech, I came to the conclusion that I have witnessed the highest degree of hypocrisy since I came into this planet earth.
Korea-EU FTA talks see differences over IPR & cars
Already, the EU has shunned Korea’s request to include goods made in the inter-Korean industrial park in North Korea’s border city of Kaeseong in their potential FTA and requested Korea to introduce a system in which cafes and restaurants pay royalties to music producers and performers.
Philippines-Japan trade deal opposed
A multi-sectoral group has renewed its opposition to a bilateral trade agreement between the Philippines and Japan by calling on the Philippine Senate not to ratify the deal when it opens session on Monday.
EPAs may stifle struggling flower industry
Uganda’s flower industry needs government incentives and preferential European Union (EU) access to succeed, say members of the east African nation’s floricultural sector.
India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry to be launched
This Chamber is being launched by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry to provide a high-level forum for accelerating economic partnerships between the two countries.
Taiwan, US hold ’productive’ talks
Taiwan and the United States completed bilateral talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in Washington, DC July 11. They agreed to launch the Consultative Committee on Agriculture, a new mechanism for dealing with bilateral food and agricultural issues.
Can biofuels become sustainable?
Sustainability and trade barriers in biofuels could be addressed through new economic partnership agreements (EPAs), which are currently being negotiated with countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific bloc. “New EPAs and the EDF will provide a framework for action on trade in biofuels,” a spokesman for the European development commissioner said. “From 2008 onwards this issue will become much more visible.”