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FTA - The poor fear for their future
8-Feb-2007 Malaysiakini
A 52-year-old rubber tapper from Semenyih rode on a bus for more than an hour to bring his concerns to the doorstep of the United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur today.
Cattle farmers protest US-South Korea beef talks
8-Feb-2007 Houston Chronicle
Korean cattle farmers protested today as US and South Korean officials discussed easing restrictions on imports of American beef, an issue Washington says threatens to scuttle a possible free trade agreement.
GPKK demonstrates against FTA outside US Embassy
7-Feb-2007 Bernama
The Coalition of Factory Workers and Trade Unions (GPKK) demonstrated for half-an-hour outside the United States embassy, here Wednesday to protest against the on-going Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation which it claimed violated the rights of the lower-income group.
Malaysia: Iran deal clouds free trade plans with US
7-Feb-2007 IPS
A free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Malaysia, in its final round this week, has run into opposition from trade unions and also from U.S. lawmakers opposed to an energy deal struck between this country and Iran.
Senior US official dashes FTA hopes
7-Feb-2007 Taipei Times
A senior US trade official on Tuesday dashed Taiwan’s hopes that Washington could enter into negotiations on a US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) anytime soon, and said that Taiwan would have to gain strong support from the US business sector and Congress before an FTA could ever be considered.
US reaffirms commitment on FTA with Oman
7-Feb-2007 Times of Oman
The United States yesterday reaffirmed its commitment for expanding trade ties between the two nations and implementing the free trade agreement (FTA) as early as possible.
Taiwan asks US to use security law as model for FTA
7-Feb-2007 Channel News Asia
Taiwan has asked the United States to use a special law that commits American defence to Taipei as a framework for forging a free trade agreement between the two economies.
Colombian president asks congress to fast track FTA with US
7-Feb-2007 Dow Jones
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Tuesday asked Congress to fast track a free trade agreement with the US, saying prompt approval is a "necessity" because the US is Colombia’s main trading partner.
W. Africa accepts year-end EU trade deal deadline
7-Feb-2007 Reuters
West African countries said on Tuesday they had agreed to conclude a new trade deal with the European Union by the end of this year and drop demands for a two-year delay.
Joseph Stiglitz defends public ownership
7-Feb-2007 Periódico 26
The Nobel prizewinner said he believes neither Colombia nor the United States needs a Free Trade Agreement. “It’s not necessary. One of the problems is that within these treaties there isn’t really much commerce. They are mainly about protection of investments and intellectual property that will make it harder for Colombians to acquire medicines that can save their lives,” Stiglitz said.
Intellectual property, bilateral agreements and sustainable development: The challenges of implementation
6-Feb-2007 CIEL
What appears to be the experience of countries that have negotiated FTAs is that the process of negotiations does not conclude with the signing of the agreement. The implementation process is a complex and tedious one. In addition, once this implementation phase has been concluded, a subsequent and difficult phase begins with the monitoring of this implementation.
Korea, Canada make progress on farm issues in FTA talks
6-Feb-2007 Korea Times
Korea and Canada have made progress on agricultural issues in their latest free trade talks, brightening the prospect for a formal agreement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest said Tuesday in Seoul.
Pros and cons waging ad war on FTA
6-Feb-2007 Korea Times
Proponents and opponents of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States are waging a war through advertisements to win the hearts and minds of the Korean public.
Malaysia Attorney-General defends generic medicines before UN rights body
6-Feb-2007 3D
Malaysia’s Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani has publicly stated his country’s stand "that generic drugs should not be restricted in any manner". Implying that a US-Malaysia FTA could result in more expensive drugs, he said that Malaysia is not going to negotiate on this issue, and added “we are providing the drugs for free.”
Canada nears European trade treaty
5-Feb-2007 Globe and Mail
Canada is quietly entering the latter stages of free-trade talks with Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. If concluded, this would be the first free-trade deal Canada has endorsed in nearly six years and the first sign that Ottawa is serious about catching up in the global race to sew up preferential commercial partners.
Mexicans protest sharp hike of tortillas, other food staples
5-Feb-2007 AFP
Thousands of people marched in Mexico City to protest the sharp hike of basic food products, including tortillas, and to demand the government exclude food staples from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "No corn, no country," the protesters shouted in the first major demonstration to confront conservative President Felipe Calderon since he took office December 1.
India, Japan move closer to trade pact
5-Feb-2007 Economic Times
India and Japan have decided to set up four working groups in goods, services, investment and bilateral cooperation to take forward negotiations on the proposed bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).
EU-Korea FTA prospects good: envoy
5-Feb-2007 Korea Herald
"Everything will be on the table" when Korea and the European Union start official negotiations for a free trade agreement in March, said EU Ambassador Brian McDonald.
More trade concessions likely for Mercosur bloc
5-Feb-2007 Business Standard
India may expand the list of items on which it will offer concessional imports to the Mercosur trading bloc as the two parties work towards an FTA.
US targets Malaysia in drive to sign Muslim countries to free trade agreement
4-Feb-2007 Media Monitors Network
FTAs are increasingly being regarded by many countries as Washington’s economic analogue of a nuclear bomb.