bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Articles by language


MEPs take initial position on TTIP negotiations
The resolution supported by the committee does not explicitly call for a ban on controversial investor-to-state dispute mechanisms (ISDS), instead calling for the jurisdiction of national courts to be "respected" in the deal.
Free trade agreements lead to rising exports, study confirms
As regional free trade agreements proliferate in the Asia-Pacific, a new APEC Policy Support Unit report confirms that these agreements do make a difference in boosting exports.
Saudi sheep farm sparks "bribery" calls in New Zealand Parliament
New Zealand’s Auditor General has been asked to investigate government spending of 11 million NZ dollars (US$7.96m) on a sheep farm in Saudi Arabia in what has been labeled a bribe to secure a free trade agreement with the Arab Gulf states.
PH eyes 3 more bilateral agreements
The Philippines plans to forge bilateral agreements with Mexico, Chile and Canada, after the countries started last week exploration talks aimed at further strengthening their trade and economic relations.
Counter-summit: Trade relations between European Union and Latin America
Under the title "Days of Mobilization: Reclaiming Peoples’ Sovereignty against the Corporate-led Trade and Investment Architecture" a counter summit is taking place with many activities on 8 - 10 June 2015, right before the official EU-CELAC-Summit hosted in Brussels this year (10 - 11 June 2015).
Julian Assange on the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Secretive deal isn’t about trade, but corporate control
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange warns that the secret Trans-Pacific Partnership could chill the adoption of health and environmental regulations affecting 40 percent of the global economy.
Capitalism, culture and the legacy of victimization: Black America and the political economy of neoliberal trade deals
Over the last week African Americans organization have rallied in opposition to the TPP and established its defeat as an immediate priority for black people, even as some members of the Congressional Black Caucus are wavering in their initial opposition as a result of pressure from the Obama administration.
Chinese dairy farmers upset with Australian free trade agreement
Chinese dairy farmers fear their government is sacrificing the local industry to promote trade with Australia.
Challenges and opportunities for EU-Mexico trade relations
In early May, the Brussels think tank CEPS and the Spanish bank BBVA organised a meeting between high-level representatives from the EU and Mexico aiming to review the EU-Mexico trade relationship
Philippines, Peru set to engage in FTA talks
The Philippines is set to engage into free trade agreement talks with Peru, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Processing requirements ’off the table’ in CETA spat with Ottawa: Darin King
A dispute between the Newfoundland and Labrador government and Ottawa surrounding the Canadian European Union Comprehensive Trade Agreement (CETA) was reignited Tuesday, with the province saying it will not relinquish authority over minimum fish processing requirements.
China-led lender adds urgency to Japan’s pursuit of pan-Pacific trade pact
"If the new Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank goes ahead and TPP fails .... perception-wise it will hurt in the leadership contest for the Asia-Pacific," a Japanese government source told Reuters.
TTIP – now it gets political
In a series of forthcoming votes, the European Parliament and US Congress are turning their attention to an agreement that is becoming more toxic with every passing day.
Paul Krugman: Pacific trade deal will fail without established trust
Instead of addressing real concerns, the Obama administration has been dismissive, trying to portray skeptics as uninformed hacks who don’t understand the virtues of trade. But they’re not: The skeptics have on balance been more right than wrong.
Sitharaman-EU trade commissioner meeting next week on FTA
India Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet her EU counterpart Cecila Malmstrom next week to take stock of the proposed FTA at political level, an EU envoy said, stating that taxation will not be part of the trade deal’s coverage.
Intellectual property issues viewed as last TPP hurdle
Trade negotiators for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in Guam are now focusing on intellectual property issues, which appear likely to be the last hurdle to concluding the talks.
EU dropped pesticide laws due to US pressure over TTIP, documents reveal
EU moves to regulate hormone-damaging chemicals linked to cancer and male infertility were shelved following pressure from US trade officials over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade deal, newly released documents show.
Action: Call on MEPs to firmly reject special rights for foreign investors!
Join this e-action on the European Parliament, asking MEPs to pledge that they will reject ISDS in TTIP. The action is going to run until the vote in the plenary on 10 June and is available in 9 languages.
Korean government criticized for lack of transparency on ISDS suit
While the South Korean government is facing its second international arbitration under the investor-state dispute settlement system, civic groups are demanding that the details should be made public as they could cost several billion dollars of taxpayers’ money.
EU committment to Pacific trade despite EPA stall
The European Union’s ambassador to the Pacific says the EU is still committed to trade relations with the Pacific, despite stalled negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement.