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Critics decry secrecy, corporate access to Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations
27-Sep-2012 Between the Lines
Interview with Ben Beachy, research director with Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, conducted by Scott Harris
US pharma companies could be real beneficiaries of Canada-EU trade deal
27-Sep-2012 iPolitics
Although the EU is asking Canada to change its patent regime, it is not possible to do so just for the EU. The actual beneficiaries would be all of the world’s brand-name companies. Of the world’s top 12 health care companies by revenue only three or four are resident in the EU.
WTO hopes regional integration from Pak-India trade boost
23-Sep-2012
The decision taken by Pakistan and India to scale down tariff to a maximum of 5% and remove all non-tariff barriers (NTBs) by 2020 will lead to regional integration, according to an official of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO).
EU Backs Down On EPA Deadline
22-Sep-2012
Namibia, and other ACP countries, are celebrating a victory in trade negotiations after the European Parliament voted to extend the deadline for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union from January 2014 to January 2016.
MPs move to block signing of EPAs
22-Sep-2012
Legislators, trade experts and analysts have described the delayed signing of the Economic Partnerships Agreement (EPAs) as a detriment to development of trade among developing nations.
Botswana dodges a bullet in EPA talks
22-Sep-2012
Botswana has escaped the imposition of an amendment which would have charged higher duties on the country’s exports to the European Union after 2014 thereby dealing a deathblow to local sectors such as agriculture, minerals and manufacturing.
Not yet Uhuru as long as interests of capitalist economies persist
22-Sep-2012
It cannot be Uhuru yet for Namibia and its partners, or should one say fellow downtrodden countries united in the economic bloc of the African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) countries.
EAC Sceptical of Trade Agreements With Europe
22-Sep-2012
In his keynote address on the role of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements in fostering trade and development in Africa early this year, former Tanzanian president, Benjamin William Mkapa, raised critical questions and warned East African Community (EAC) countries that signing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) would deny the region chances to develop into industrialized nations.
Partners and rivals
22-Sep-2012
Deadlines are to trade negotiators what chastity and continence were to St Augustine: distant aspirations rather than binding obligations. No surprise then that the target of completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this year will be missed. The 14th round of talks among nine states negotiating this “21st-century” regional trade agreement ended on September 15th. The next, to be held in New Zealand in December, and joined by two new members, Mexico and Canada, will not be the last.
U.S. seeks Internet data flow safeguards in Asia-Pacific trade pact
22-Sep-2012
The United States is asking countries for strong rules to protect the free flow of data, ranging from video clips to back-room office operations, in talks on a Asia-Pacific free trade agreement, a U.S. official said on Friday.
Tories hope to work with PQ on its free-trade concerns
22-Sep-2012
International Trade Minister Ed Fast says he expects the federal government will collaborate with a new Parti Québécois government that has serious concerns with the Canada-EU free trade deal, and he remains hopeful the agreement will be competed this year.
’Only tuna industry will benefit from EU-PH trade deal’
22-Sep-2012
If the government pursues a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Euopean Union (EU), only the tuna industry is bound to benefit from it.
HIV patients urge caution on EU FTA talks
22-Sep-2012
People afflicted with the Aids virus have called on the government to proceed carefully on free-trade negotiations with the European Union, as the latter’s demands for copyright protection could make it difficult for patients to access cheap medicines.
FM, Canadian trade minister discuss ties
22-Sep-2012
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Saturday discussed with Canadian minister of International Trade Ed Fast economic ties between the two countries as a Jordanian-Canadian Free Trade Agreement FTA goes into force early next month.
China calls for free-trade deal with Canada within a decade
22-Sep-2012
Canada and China should move quickly toward a free-trade agreement, Beijing’s ambassador has urged, insisting it would provide a longer-term solution to questions about two-way investment sparked by the $15-billion Chinese takeover bid for Alberta oil firm Nexen Inc.
Forget CEPA: Focus on Indo-Lanka FTA
22-Sep-2012
Amidst continuing opposition from professionals and businessmen to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, the Sri Lankan government is now shifting gears to strengthening the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a top government official said.
New steel policy in India on docket as FTA pressure builds
20-Sep-2012 Metal Miner
While India’s steel sector debates the finer points in the draft of a new steel policy, the cry to delete steel from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and countries like Japan and Korea just got shriller.
Hamas appeals to Egypt over closure of smuggling tunnels
20-Sep-2012 Reuters
Egypt’s crackdown on smuggling tunnels along its border with the Gaza Strip is making shortages ever tighter. Hamas officials asked Egypt late on Monday to consider alternative trade routes, such as a free trade zone, a direct deal that could boost Hamas tax revenues and circumvent rival Fatah’s and Israel’s control of official imports to Gaza.
The European Parliament is rewarding Israel’s human rights violations
19-Sep-2012 Huffington Post
On 18 September 2012, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) passed the Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) by a slim margin.
En mon nom, ne le ratifiez pas!
19-Sep-2012 FTA-EU-LatinAmerica
Signe et envoie une lettre à tes député(e)s européen(ne)s pour exprimer ton refus face à la ratification des Accords de Libre Echange et des Accords d΄Association entre l΄Union européenne et la Colombie, le Pérou et l΄Amérique centrale.