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China’s Hong Kong, Australia conclude FTA negotiations
China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Australia have concluded the negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) and an investment agreement.
Govt mulls delinking investment from FTAs, seeks legal opinion
Certain ISDS (Investor-state dispute settlement) cases against India led it to review its stand on investment treaties.
Four Romanian millionaires, two foreign companies sued Romania at Washington commercial court for over EUR 7 bln
Romania is the subject of six commercial trials at the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), with the claimants demanding more than EUR 7 billion in damages.
India sought to delay RCEP deal beyond general election
Indonesia accuses Japan of trying to ’force its interests’ on members
Latin America’s protectionists want Trump-style trade deals
Brazil, Argentina see Mercosur nations doing individual pacts. Growing support across trade bloc for pro-trade reforms.
Uruguay seeks alliance with China, challenging Mercosur
Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez has a free trade agreement with China high on his agenda.
RCEP meeting fails to reach consensus on e-commerce, investment
The ministers acknowledged the good progress made in the negotiations so far with successful conclusion of 5 chapters this year alone, taking the total to 7 chapters.
17th AEC Council meeting held in Singapore
ASEAN Economic Ministers and AEC Ministers signed the ASEAN Agreement on e-Commerce, concluded the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) and finalised the fourth protocol to amend the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA).
Canada eyes sweeping free-trade deal with China but remains open to sector deals
International Trade Minister Jim Carr says China’s interest in so many Canadian products could ultimately lead to a comprehensive trade deal.
Romania wins trial at ICSID Washington against energy trader Alpiq
The Romanian government has won a trial at World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes against the Swiss-based energy trader Alpiq in a case related to Hidroelectrica insolvency procedure.
Indonesian free-trade deal delayed
The free-trade deal appears to be on hold as Indonesia is angry about Australia’s potential move of an embassy to Jerusalem.
Vietnam ratifies Pacific rim trade pact abandoned by Trump
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership or CPTPP will take effect at the end of 2018 after Australia became the sixth nation to ratify it.
Ministers defer agreement on RCEP trade deal to 2019
Asia-Pacific pact risks bogging down as some member nations go to polls
Sh426 billion cases filed against Tanzania in global courts
Tanzania is currently facing 13 cases on investment disputes in various international courts with $185.58 million (about Sh426 billion) demanded.
China, Singapore explore more potentials for BRI cooperation
China and Singapore are jointly exploring potentials for further cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with recent conclusion of negotiations on the upgraded China-Singapore free trade agreement
Switzerland should stop pushing for TRIPS-plus measures in trade agreement with Indonesia
Swiss and Norwegians civil society groups addressed their serious concerns over TRIPS-plus provisions being included in the trade agreement under negotiation between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Indonesia.
RCEP and affordable medicines: Civil society reaches out to Minister of Commerce Suresh Prabhu
Civil society organisations, patient groups and health activists have been concerned about intellectual property provisions being discussed in RCEP which undermine access to medicines and affordable treatment for patients
RCEP members aim for complete deal in 2019: draft statement
Member countries of the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free-trade framework are aiming to conclude the deal in 2019, according to a draft joint statement.
Canada at odds with US changes to text of trade deal: source
Canada is pushing back against US attempts to change the text of their September trade pact and the issue may have to be referred to ministers to settle.
Namibia in advanced stage of finalising EPA implementation plan
Namibia’s Presidential Advisor for Private Sector said that Namibia is at an advanced stage of finalising the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) implementation plan and has begun implementing the plan’s crucial aspects.