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AIDS drugs dog US-Southern Africa trade deal
1-May-2005 Reuters
The United States and the Southern African trade bloc are set to revive free trade talks next month, but analysts say intellectual property rights for urgently needed AIDS drugs remain a stumbling block.
From TRIPS-minus to TRIPS to TRIPS-plus: Implications of IPRs for the Arab world
1-May-2005
This article sheds light on the evolution of free trade agreements (FTAs) and the IPR protection incorporated within such agreements. The emphasis will be on the latest free trade and investment agreements concluded between the United States and the European Union (EU) with the Arab world and their “TRIPS-Plus” nature.
Howard scores big in China
30-Apr-2005 Japan Times
You can’t win ’em all. Fast-jetting Australian Prime Minister John Howard discovered that on his latest barnstorming through East Asia. In Beijing he was buoyed by the success of signing on to a feasibility study aimed at preceding a free trade agreement (FTA). In Tokyo he got the usual welcoming smiles but no deal on an FTA.
Chen: Taiwan and China should sign FTA, not CEPA
30-Apr-2005 ET Today
Meetings for the first time in 56 years between leaders of the KMT and Chinese Communist Party, were staged on Friday. President Chen Shui-bian closely monitored the proceeding of such a meeting, worried that the KMT will ignore the government’s opposition against signing a Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with China.
India looks for FTA ray from land of rising sun
30-Apr-2005 Economic Times
Setting the stage for a quantum jump in economic ties, India and Japan have decided to look at the formation of a free trade area (FTA), with an eye on more than doubling bilateral trade to $10bn.
Least favored nation: Impact of EU trade agreements on US agriculture
30-Apr-2005 FAS
A review of European Union free trade agreements in agriculture - looking at Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Chile - and the impact on US interests.
Questions raised over benefit to Australia of trade deal with China
29-Apr-2005
A former leader of Australia’s governing Liberal party, John Hewson, has questioned whether a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China will provide any great benefits for Australian exporters.
FTA with Sri Lanka to double bilateral trade
29-Apr-2005
As free trade agreement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is set to be effective from June 1st exporters believe the development would prove a boon to increase the trade figures by 100 percent and major imports from the Island are expected to cost 50 percent lesser.
Thailand has little to gain in trade pact with US
29-Apr-2005 Bangkok Post
The FTA with the US would tighten the intellectual property rights regime even further, offering no perceptible benefit to Thailand
FTAs key to accessing new markets
29-Apr-2005
Despite the pitfalls and opportunities inherent in FTAs, they are sweeping the world and will continue growing as long as the World Trade Organisation is unable to coordinate comprehensive tariff reductions worldwide, experts said at a Bangkok seminar yesterday. Thus, Thai exporters were advised to try to work within the confines of bilateral and regional pacts.
Framework agreement between Mercosur and GCC is ready to be signed
28-Apr-2005
The text of the framework of the free trade agreement between the Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is ready to be singed, a Brazilian foreign ministry official has disclosed.
EU worries that Thai-Japan FTA could hit auto industry
28-Apr-2005
The proposed Thai-Japanese free trade agreement should be carefully considered so as not to disadvantage other trading partners, European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson told Thailand yesterday.
S.Korea, US to hold FTA feasibility meeting in Washington
28-Apr-2005
South Korea and the United States will hold a third working-level meeting this week to review the feasibility of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Trilateral free trade agreement
28-Apr-2005
Not too long ago, the entire country and the National Assembly agonized over the ratification of Korea-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Its final National Assembly passage was delayed from the strong opposition of many people, particularly from farmers. It is remarkable to learn that the Korean government is now either negotiating or planning to negotiate with as many as 50 countries to complete their FTAs by 2007.
Fidel’s Presence at the Inauguration of the Fourth Summit of the Battle Against the FTAAs
28-Apr-2005 Granma, Cuba
The Fourth Summit on the Battle against the FTAAs was launched in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro in Palacio de las Convenciones.
FTA prompts boost in logistics cooperation with China
28-Apr-2005
Thailand is poised to open at least four new consulates in China, and is accelerating the development of logistics operations with China in anticipation of the birth of the Chinese-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade aAea in 2010, Deputy Foreign Minister Preecha Laohapongchana revealed today.
Flop Trade Agreements: Exports need policy impetus, not low tariffs
28-Apr-2005
The global experience on FTAs suggests that regional FTAs (e.g. EU) and those between the North and the South (NAFTA) work. However, South-South FTAs are less inspiring. A key issue is whether the economies of the countries entering into an FTA complement or compete with each other.
The Fourth Hemispheric Summit against the FTAA launches today.
27-Apr-2005 Granma
The current situation of the FTAAs negotiating process and the campaign of the people’s struggle against this annexation plan devised by the US Government will be analysed from today in the Fourth Hemispheric Summit of the Battle Against FTAAs.
EU and ASEAN to study possible free trade deal
27-Apr-2005 Jakarta Post
The European Community and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to study the potential for a free trade agreement between the two groups, trade officials said on Wednesday.
Rice calls on Brazil to ’reenergize’ free trade talks
27-Apr-2005 Bloomberg
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Brazil to "reenergize" talks with the US on the proposed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas.