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Twelve-country report on FTAs
15-Dec-2004 ANN
A report on the status of FTA fever in 12 Asian countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Signing of Qualified Industrial Zones Agreement (QIZ)
14-Dec-2004
On December 14, Israel, Egypt and the United States will sign the agreement leading to the establishment of Qualified Industrial Zones in Cairo, Egypt.
Egypt, Israel sign deal on free trade with US
14-Dec-2004
Egypt and Israel will sign a joint free-trade agreement with the United States in Cairo today
Gov’t seeks ’Kaesong provision’ in future FTAs
14-Dec-2004
The South Korean government said that it will seek provisions in future free trade talks that will permit preferential duties for products from the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea so that they will be treated as if produced in the South.
New FTA website to be created
14-Dec-2004
A new website dedicated to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bahrain and the US is being created by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Third round of Thai-US FTA talks postponed until after election
14-Dec-2004
The third round of free trade talks between the United States and Thailand has been postponed until after the latter’s general election in February 2005, local press reported on Monday.
Labour: The spread of bilateral trade agreements
14-Dec-2004 GURN (135kb PDF)
This report looks at major Customs Unions, Free Trade Areas, and economic association agreements around the world, with particular attention to any clauses covering social issues, core labour standards and trade union participation.
Egypt, Israel, US sign partial free trade deal
14-Dec-2004 Khaleej Times
The agreement on Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) opens the US market to goods produced in Egypt with Israeli inputs, promises jobs for Egyptians while offering Israel a symbolic economic foothold in the largest Arab nation.
China’s new regional trade agreements
14-Dec-2004 University of Rome "Tor Vergata"
This paper discusses the recent regional trade agreements that China has concluded rapidly following accession to the WTO in 2002.
Tectonic trends in trade [Christian Science Monitor viewpoint]
13-Dec-2004
Two political tremors in recent days reveal that the global trading system may be creaking and groaning into isolated blocs of countries - without the United States.
Chile, Peru to start FTA negotiations in January
12-Dec-2004
Chile and Peru will start negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) in January, local press cited Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker as saying on Saturday.
Pakistan, Mexico will negotiate free trade agreement
12-Dec-2004
Mexico City: President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that Pakistan and Mexico had agreed to negotiate a free trade agreement, hoping it would pave the way for booming bilateral trade.
’Singapore can be Iran’s anchor into Asia’
12-Dec-2004
Singapore can be a springboard for oil-rich Iran to expand its business links in Asia, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said Thursday as the city-state emphasised its desire for closer bilateral trade ties, IRIB reported.
Sri Lanka, Iran sign bilateral agreements
12-Dec-2004 ColomboPage News Desk
Sri Lanka and Iran signed a preferential trade agreement and several memoranda of understanding yesterday at the Islamic Republic Mansion in Tehran, the Office of the President said.
Sino-Asean free trade pact a bane to RP, says Ibon
12-Dec-2004
An economic research group warned an upcoming free trade agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Nations will have adverse effects on the country’s economy.
Asian free trade vogue could heat up
12-Dec-2004
Free trade agreements are flying around East Asia these days, with even India, from South Asia, getting a piece of the action.
Tefron’s Yosef Shiran: Free trade agreement a death blow to local textile industry
12-Dec-2004 Globes [online]
Delta Galil Industries chairman Dov Lautman, currently in London, told "Globes" this morning that the free trade agreement with Egypt was not only an economic achievement, but also a major political one. "The agreement will contribute to Israel’s economy, and to political reality in the Middle East."
FTA with SL in Jan: Humayun
12-Dec-2004 Daily Times, Pakistan
KARACHI: Humayun Akhtar Khan, the federal minister for commerce, said on Saturday that free trade agreement with Sri Lanka would be finalised in January next year while trade talks with India are linked with sustainable political dialogue between the two countries.
Cash-strapped Jordan aims high
12-Dec-2004 AME Info
After spending years negotiating FTAs with the US, Europe and fellow Arab countries, Jordan is determined to gain a competitive advantage for Jordanian industries in world markets. And Washington appears eager to help them achieve success.
Free trade at a heavy cost for India
12-Dec-2004 Asia Times
The recently signed India-Thailand FTA has stirred a hornet’s nest in India. It is being argued that India has shown unnecessary haste in signing the agreement without fully comprehending its economic implications for Indian industry.