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Trade agreements must balance economic merit and strategic interests, says Jaishankar
10-Sep-2019 Connected to India
Trade agreements must be a balance of strategic interests as well as economic merit said Indian External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar.
Indonesia eyes October to conclude CEPA negotiations with South Korea
10-Sep-2019 Antara News
Indonesia is targeting substantial conclusion to negotiations on the draft of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with South Korea in October 2019, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita stated.
Minister hopeful RCEP talks can conclude by year-end
10-Sep-2019 Malaysia Kini
Malaysia sees positive progress towards concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade pact, by year-end.
US and Japan rush to finish trade deal by Trump’s tight deadline
9-Sep-2019 Japan Times
Negotiators are now finalizing many of the core elements, including how much Japan is willing to open its agriculture market to US imports, cuts to industrial tariffs, and the treatment of digital trade.
Singapore to join Russia-led free-trade zone in October
9-Sep-2019 RT
One of the leading Asian economies, Singapore, is set to ink a free trade agreement with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.
Political pressures rolled back globalization before. It can happen again
9-Sep-2019 The Washington Post
It’s a good guess that the new global economic system will give overt political considerations greater weight than its predecessor. Countries will link trade benefits and penalties to their political agendas.
Mauritius agrees to sign free trade agreement with China
9-Sep-2019 Bloomberg
Mauritius will sign a free trade agreement with China, it’s second biggest supplier, providing duty-free access to the Asian market for 8,547 products, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on its website.
RCEP meet: ASEAN members, partners reaffirm their resolve to conclude free trade deal talks
9-Sep-2019 Business Today
The 16 negotiating partners have agreed that they should not lose the long-term vision of deepening and expanding the value chains in the RCEP.
South Korea and Russia to work on FTA in goods sector
9-Sep-2019 Business Korea
South Korean Economy and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said that the South Korean government would work on a free trade agreement with Russia in the goods sector as well as investment and service.
HK unrest shouldn’t halt free trade agreement: Foreign Minister
9-Sep-2019 The Age
Australian Foreign Minister has urged the Hong Kong government to show a "commitment to negotiation" to end months of protests, as she welcomed its decision to withdraw an extradition bill that mobilised millions of opponents.
UK health service not on the table in US trade talks: Johnson
6-Sep-2019 Reuters
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told visiting US Vice President that Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) would not be included in negotiations with the United States for a trade deal.
United States and Japan reach "agreement in principle," but questions and obstacles remain
6-Sep-2019 JDSupra
This report provides an overview of the announced agreement and the prospects and timing for its completion and entry into force.
ASEAN countries want free trade agreements to develop Russian trade
6-Sep-2019 ASEAN Briefing
Numerous ASEAN member states called for improvements in the region’s free trade status with Russia at this week’s Far East Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
AFTINET joins Unions to rally against ratification of Hong Kong agreement
6-Sep-2019 AFTINET
AFTINET has joined with the ACTU, APHEDA and other Union and community groups to stand in solidarity with workers and pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
Is Southeast Asia winning the US-China trade war? not so fast
6-Sep-2019 The Diplomat
If the U.S.-China trade war continues or worsens ASEAN countries will also experience a bumpy ride.
India readies list of products for sops as crucial RCEP meet nears
6-Sep-2019 The Economic Times
India has begun drawing up a list of products on which it can offer duty concessions to the 15 other Asia Pacific member countries, including China.
The other trade war—Japan vs South Korea
6-Sep-2019 Inquirer.Net
Japan imposed export restrictions on three key chemical materials upon which South Korea is highly dependent for the production of semiconductors. With other actions, that were viewed by South Korea as a “declaration of economic war”.
Ambassador: ‘We should be more creative’ in finalising Azerbaijan-EU trade deal
5-Sep-2019 Euractiv
It took 20 years for the EU and Mercosur to sign a trade agreement. “We don’t want to wait that much,” says the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the EU, urging the European Commission to drop its “bureaucratic matrix” thinking.
Luxembourg leads EU push to climate-proof Energy Charter Treaty
4-Sep-2019 Euractiv
Critics say the Energy Charter provides excessive legal protection for oil and gas companies, which can claim uncapped reparations from governments who frustrate investments in fossil fuel projects.
Modernized free trade agreement lifts duties on Israeli imports of Canadian foodstuffs
4-Sep-2019 Fresh Plaza
The expanded Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement took effect, eliminating or reducing tariffs on the import into Israel of a wide range of foods from Canada.