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Govt, business consult on Africawide FTA
13-Oct-2018 NewsDay
Government has opened consultations with industry on rules of origin (RoO) for the ambitious African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aimed at promoting duty-free flow of goods and services originating in the bloc.
RCEP: Pressure mounts on India for partial conclusion of pace by year-end
13-Oct-2018 The Hindu BusinessLine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be under pressure to agree to a year-end partial conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact that India is negotiating with 15 countries, including China, when he attends the regional summit next month in Singapore.
China-US trade war gives impetus to conclude RCEP talks early: Malaysia
13-Oct-2018 Singapore Straits-Times
The ongoing trade tension between China and the United States has provided the impetus for an early conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), said Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Ministry.
CARICOM to ‘make agriculture great again’
12-Oct-2018 Barbados Today
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat is actively working with agriculture to help the industry regain its importance to the region which has been in decline over the years, Secretary General Ambassador Irwin Larocque has said.
Gov’t submits bill on ratification of KORUS FTA to parliament
12-Oct-2018 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry said Friday it has submitted a bill on ratifying the revised free trade agreement with the United States to parliament, the final domestic procedure needed for its implementation.
Crossbenchers plot to embarrass Labor over Trans-Pacific Partnership
12-Oct-2018 Financial Review
Crossbenchers are ramping up pressure on Labor at the 11th hour to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, drafting amendments that would force opposition senators to vote against the party’s policy.
Japan-EU to hold dialogue on free trade
12-Oct-2018 Japan-EU to hold dialogue on free trade
Japan and the European Union will discuss enhanced economic cooperation based on international trade rules in late October. It will be the first ministerial-level meeting under an economic partnership agreement.
EU-US engagement on regulatory issues
12-Oct-2018
Leaked from the European Commission
New briefing note – agricultural investments under international investment law
11-Oct-2018 IISD
The number of known investment treaty claims concerning agricultural investments has grown rapidly in recent years. This new briefing note from IIED, IISD and CCSI helps policy makers navigate the challenges.
Singapore, Indonesia ink pact to offer protection, global arbitration access to investors
11-Oct-2018 Business Times
Singapore and Indonesia signed an agreement to promote and protect investments, with the treaty promising Singapore companies operating in Indonesia protection and access to international arbitration in the event of investment disputes.
Philippines and US aim to announce free trade talks in November
11-Oct-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
The talks are part of US President Donald Trump’s strategy to pursue bilateral rather than multilateral trade agreements to let Washington secure the best possible deal.
COMESA welcomes SA’s ratification of the Tripartite FTA
11-Oct-2018 Tralac
South Africa has ratified the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, becoming the fourth country to do so after Egypt, Uganda and Kenya. 10 more ratifications are now needed for the Agreement to enter into force.
NZ plays down threat to European agri interests in FTA talks
10-Oct-2018 NZ Herald
New Zealand trade negotiators are trying to get their European counterparts to recognise that the nation’s agricultural exports are small-fry in comparison to the regional bloc’s farming sector.
China-Norway FTA may come next year, ambassador says
10-Oct-2018 Yicai Global
In the 12th round of China-Norway FTA negotiations, the two nations discussed goods and service trades and investment, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property, ecommerce, other matters.
Panama and China start FTA third negotiation round
10-Oct-2018 Prensa Latina
The third negotiation round will aim to advance in barriers and the facilitation of trade, customs procedures, intellectual property and electronic trade.
Trade and patent changes could increase healthcare costs by $100bn, CPHI annual report warns
9-Oct-2018 European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer
Patients may need to wait an extra five or 10 years to access generic medicines, which could raise healthcare costs by as $100 billion over the next five years, according to the latest CPhI annual report
Inclusion of Paris Agreement in CETA at risk
9-Oct-2018 Euractiv
France wants to make compliance with the Paris Agreement on climate a precondition to signing European trade agreements. However, this is an issue where France is struggling to get the other 27 EU members to agree.
Lessons for the Left from NAFTA Mark-II
9-Oct-2018 Daily Blog
The choice is not between the unilateralism of a populist autocrat, captive of the world’s most powerful corporations, on one hand, and the failed neoliberal model, polished in the TPPA on the other. A few clip-on statements on gender and small and medium enterprises is not a progressive alternative.
EU ready to offer UK ‘super-charged’ free-trade deal
8-Oct-2018 Bloomberg
The European Union is set to offer the UK a free-trade deal deeper than any agreement that’s gone before.
US may push Japan, EU not to strike trade deals with China: Ross
8-Oct-2018 The Mainichi
The "poison pill" provision to deter trade deals with China in the new US trade agreement with Canada and Mexico may be replicated in future US trade pacts, such as those with Japan and the European Union.