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What the European-Union Mercosur trade agreement means for copyright
Many of the intellectual property provisions raised by the European Union in this agreement are bad for internet users.
EU stalls on new Mercosur trade offers, delaying deal: source
Trade talks between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc will likely extend into next year after European negotiators said they needed more time to respond to improved offers.
Investment laws of ASEAN countries: A comparative review
No ASEAN country grants general consent to investor–state arbitration in its investment law.
Trade agreements that impact seed laws in Africa
Free trade agreements represent a powerful source of pressure to privatise seeds and people’s knowledge connected to seeds.
Trump and GOP tax cut is handing corporations like Ford a giant incentive to move offshore
Giant corporations got what they wanted out of Republicans on taxes, now they’re lobbying the Trump administration hard to retain their NAFTA privileges.
Globalisation: time to look at historic mistakes to plot the future
Trade deals were hammered out in secret by multinationals at the expense of workers and citizens. Benefits must be shared if the global economy is to work.
New report shows that trade tribunals are threatening the right to water
A new report finds that the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) process, included in NAFTA and other trade and investment agreements, is threatening the right to water around the world.
UNCITRAL and ISDS reform: Pluralism and the plurilateral investment court
The investment treaty system is likely to be marked by the co-existence of investor-state arbitration and an international investment court, leading to pluralism rather than a dichotomous either/or choice or a clear before-and-after moment.
UNCITRAL and ISDS reform: Not business as usual
This Working Group was not “business as usual” because it was much more government-led than is typical of UNCITRAL Working Groups and it started out with a vote instead of conforming to UNCITRAL’s typical approach of working by consensus.
Sitting International Court of Justice judges worked as arbitrators in at least 90 investor–state cases: study
IISD researchers identified 90 investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) cases in which sitting ICJ judges have worked–or are currently working–as arbitrators. The true number may be higher given that many ISDS cases are not public.
Chile interested in joint partnerships with Pakistan
A Joint Feasibility Group will work to formalize the FTA within six months’ period.
KORUS FTA having negative impact on South Korean agriculture
The damage to the overall agricultural sector during the five years since the KORUS FTA took effect has been “broad and deep” across nearly all products.
Maldives ’open doors’ in 64 fields for China
The controversial China-Maldives free trade agreement (FTA) is expected to open the doors of trade in 64 different fields in Maldives for China while the Asian monolith will open trade doors in 98 fields to Maldives.
Taiwan asks Japan for support in seeking membership of CPTPP
Taiwan asked Japan for support in its efforts to join a new regional trade arrangement called the "Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership" (CPTPP) to contribute to regional prosperity.
Latest NAFTA talks run through Friday in Washington
Investors remain on alert over the threat of NAFTA talks failing even as negotiators meet in Washington and seek minor victories on less contentious issues.
EU to restore full political contacts with Thailand
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union agreed to gradually resume all political re-engagement with Thailand and to possibly restart free trade talks.
UNCITRAL deliberates possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement
Working Group III of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) began its deliberation on possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS).
EU-Japan trade agreement not compatible with EU data protection
The implicit cross-border data flow commitments do not have a sufficient safeguard. This is not compatible with the EU Fundamental rights system.
EU-Mercosur talks hit snags, announcement could be delayed
Free-trade talks between the European Union and South American trade bloc Mercosur still face hurdles over beef and ethanol.
End-of-year deal on Indonesia Australia free trade agreement in doubt
Indonesia and Australia’s trade ministers will meet in Argentina amid growing doubt the free trade deal between the two countries will meet the end-of-year deadline.