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Europe, Mexico to seek new trade pact to deepen North American ties
The European Union and Mexico will launch negotiations towards a new free-trade agreement later this year, as Europe seeks to tie its economy closer to North America following a deal with Canada and efforts to sign an accord with the United States.
EU-Mexico free trade agreement to be upgraded
The European Union and Mexico announced the joint intention to upgrade the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement.
Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo to hold new round of trilateral FTA talks
South Korea, China and Japan are set to resume a new round of negotiations this week aimed at forging a trilateral free-trade agreement.
COMESA, ZRA launch virtual trade facilitation system
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) have launched the COMESA virtual trade facilitation system (CVTFS) aimed at tracking the movement of cargo to curb illicit trade.
No TTIP deal with ISDS, warns parliament
MEPs have threatened to block TTIP if ISDS is included, despite revised plans presented to them by European trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström.
Certification will give US excessive leverage in the TPPA
The Malaysian government must scrap certification from the TPPA as it allows the US president to unilaterally amend FTAs for US interests, says Charles Santiago
China ’willing’ to seek EU investment treaty
"China is willing to push forward talks for a bilateral investment treaty" with the EU, Premier Li Keqiang said, adding that it would include a "negative list" of areas off-limits to European investors.
MEPs unimpressed with Commission’s ISDS proposal
European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström tried to convince MEPs that there are ways to keep the Investment-State Dispute Settlement in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership deal. But unimpressed lawmakers failed to greet it as a full-fledged reform.
Cartoon: Trans-Pacific speculation
The TPP is a bad deal for everyone who isn’t a multinational corporate person, writes cartoonist Brian McFadden.
South Africa’s revocation of its bilateral investment treaties – analysis
From an international policy point of view, South Africa’s denunciation of BITs is reasonable. It may even be seen as a refreshing retreat from a legal quagmire. But the domestic reality requires wider consideration.
Greece wants changes to EU-Canada trade deal to protect "feta" name
Athens will not back a multi-billion dollar trade pact between Canada and the European Union unless the deal is changed to specify that only Greece can use the term "feta" for its salty white cheese, according to a document seen by Reuters.
South Korea and Vietnam sign free trade agreement
The FTA with Vietnam is South Korea’s 15th to date, with greater levels of product liberalization than the previous FTA with the ASEAN countries (including Vietnam) that went into effect in June 2007.
Canada-EU trade deal faces more tinkering
Mission accomplished? Not quite. American negotiations with Europe may trigger more changes to CETA
$4.7 bln Lone Star case will begin next week
V.V. Veeder, a British national, has been appointed as the presiding arbitrator for a $4.7 billion international litigation between the Korean government and Dallas-based Lone Star Funds, sources said Tuesday.
A parade of reforms: The European Commission’s latest proposal for ISDS
The European Commission’s most recent proposal for ISDS reflects a move away from fake reforms to something potentially more meaningful, but it is insufficient and unreliable, says legal expert Gus Van Harten.
UN calls for suspension of TTIP talks over fears of human rights abuses
Alfred de Zayas said the UN will publish a report in August to illustrate the flaws in current plans for the TTIP.
Italy withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty
The Italian government has recently declared its withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (“ECT”).
EU’s trade chief wants special court for investor disputes
The EU’s trade chief proposed on Tuesday creating a new European court to settle disputes in international trade agreements, a step aimed at overcoming growing public resistance to a free-trade accord with the United States.
Morocco-Canada FTA – investment at the price of trade deficit
If Morocco signs the FTA with Canada, it will become the first African country to enter into a free trade agreement with Canada
Commission publishes updated EU textual proposal on regulatory cooperation in TTIP negotiations
Today, the Commission published the updated EU textual proposal on regulatory cooperation, following the 9th round of negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).