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Asean Economic Community launch will see rise in trade flows, but also more problems: OCBC chief
The launch of the Asean Economic Community this year will see an increase in trade flows, but also more problems such as money laundering and fraud, OCBC Bank chief executive Samuel Tsien said on Wednesday.
France open to FTA with Australia
France has indicated it is willing to consider a free-trade agreement with Australia.
UN expert says secret trade deals threaten human rights
Secret negotiations on international trade deals threaten human rights, an independent United Nations expert said on Thursday in comments that appeared aimed at agreements the United States is seeking with the European Union and Pacific nations.
PACER-plus chapter on Investment draft text (November 2013)
This is the leaked draft chapter on Investment text from the PACER Plus Intersessional meeting in Auckland, 26-28 November 2013.
Brazil has signed Investment Cooperation and Facilitation agreements with Mozambique and Angola
The ICFAs open a door to arbitration, providing an alternative to the local courts, but State-to-State, not investor-State.
Insurers lead moves to include financial services in TTIP
Insurers from the US and EU are amongst leading backers of a financial services chapter within the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP), although the US remains opposed officially.
Book alleges donor cash influenced Hillary’s stance on Colombia trade deal
While stopping short of a direct accusation, conservative author Peter Schweizer implies there was a blurred line between Bill Clinton’s charity work and Hillary Clinton’s work at the State Department — ultimately leading to her support of the US-Colombia trade deal.
Noam Chomsky: Every word in the phrase ‘free trade agreement’ is false
Noam Chomsky discusses how so-called free trade agreements, such as the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, enrich corporations while creating migration crises.
Pacific Network on Globalisation launches anti-PACER-Plus campaign
The Pacific Network on Globalisation have launched their campaign against the regional free trade agreement, known as PACER-Plus.
Obama and Republicans agree on the Trans-Pacific Partnership … unfortunately
Fast-track must be defeated, and a solid debate about TPP must be opened among well-informed representatives, with plenty of public input, says renowned food writer Mark Bittman.
India, Australia plan to sign FTA by December
India and Australia aim to conclude the comprehensive free trade agreement by December, following a renewed push to the pact months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia.
EU-US trade talks should pick up steam once “fast-track” bill is voted through Congress, says top US farm lobbyist Bob Young
Bob Young, Deputy Executive Director at the American Farm Bureau Federation, talks with journalist Rose O’Donovan (AGRA FACTS) about on-going agricultural developments in negotiations towards a Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The EU claims that TTIP won’t reduce EU food safety standards – but is this true?
The EU commission has claimed that there will be no lowering of food safety standards in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that is currently being negotiated with the United States. However, an examination of the EU’s negotiating position shows that they are already offering changes which could lead to increased amounts of pesticide residues in food in the EU in the future.
Parliament’s opposition to TTIP arbitration on the rise
Half of the European Parliament’s committees have rejected the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership’s investor-state dispute settlement mechanism, casting doubt over the trade deal’s prospects of to passing through Parliament.
China ’uncomfortable’ with US negative list for investment treaty talks
The US government has outlined key infrastructure, important technology and national security into its negative list where Chinese investment would not be not allowed under the proposed US-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)
US-Japan fail to seal trade agreement before Abe US trip
US and Japanese officials failed to reach agreement in marathon trade talks in Tokyo, a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s hopes of arriving for a summit in Washington next week with a pact in hand.
Canada’s most sacred cows under attack as TPP takes aim at agriculture
The Americans have made it clear they have a deal-breaker with Canada — supply management in agriculture, notably dairy and poultry.
April 17: Lobby action tour on TTIP, impacts for food and farmers
On 17 April, Via Campesina, the D190-20 Alliance and Corporate Europe Observatory held a lobby tour around the Brussels European quarter, highlighting the corporate lobbies who are pushing an aggressive agenda around TTIP (the EU-US trade deal currently being negotiated).
105 Colombian trade unionists killed in 4 years: NGO
Colombia’s National Union School presented a report to the US Congress denouncing the killing of at least 105 trade unionists since the implementation of the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.