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Alcohol lobbyists expose FTA pitfalls
26-Aug-2011 Voxy
Lobbyists for the alcohol industry are threatening to use New Zealand’s free trade agreements against government proposals to restrict products targetting young drinkers
Procurement a sticking point in FTA talks
26-Aug-2011 Livemint
India has convinced both New Zealand and Australia not to include the subject in the ongoing negotiations
EU FTA red tape keeps Korean wine market tied up
26-Aug-2011 Yonhap
Years before the FTA, in Europe, wine grower associations and media emphasized the importance of the FTA and focused on how the new deal would increase sales. But nearly two months later, confusion still reigns.
The US whitewashes Panama’s fatal flaws to champion FTA
26-Aug-2011 Scoop
US policymakers would be wise to re-evaluate the TPA, carefully separating the pros from the cons.
Signing EPA will be suicidal - CSOs
26-Aug-2011 Myjoyonline.com
A number of Civil Society Organisations in Ghana have painted a bleak picture about the Economic Partnership Agreement, warning the government will be consigning the economy to irretrievable doom, if it signs the pact with the EU.
World-first plain packaging for tobacco products becomes law in Australia
25-Aug-2011 The Conversation
Legislation requiring tobacco products to be in plain packaging was passed by Australia’s House of Representatives last night. This is the first such measure in the world to become law.
Homework for trade talks with India, US begins
24-Aug-2011 Republica
The government of Nepal has initiated preparation for trade talks with the country’s two crucial trade partners — India and the US.
Large number of FTAs to impact manufacturing sector: Ficci
24-Aug-2011 PTI
Expressing concern over a large number of free trade agreements signed by India, industry body Ficci on Tuesday said it would make the country’s manufacturing sector "uncompetitive".
Korea, China, Japan to hold 6th study meeting on FTA
24-Aug-2011 Bernama
South Korea, China and Japan will hold their sixth joint study meeting next week on the feasibility of a free trade agreement (FTA) among the three Northeast Asian countries, trade ministry said on Wednesday.
Chandel people protest against EU-India free trade agreement
23-Aug-2011 Imphal Free Press
Various social organizations held sit-in-protest against European Union-India free trade agreement at Zaphou in Chandel district (Manipur, India) today.
The alarmingly uneven deal of the India-EU FTA
22-Aug-2011
For over four years now, India has been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) - the largest trade and investment deal the country has ever embarked on. As much as New Delhi expects to lure the European market and investments closer to India, the actual consequences for the country’s economy could be dire: the open up of public procurement, the deregulation of the banking, automobile, retail and mining industries plus the adverse impact the deal will have in small-scale farmers make of this FTA a counter-productive undertaking.
Some see trade deals as threatening state laws
22-Aug-2011 AP
In Vermont, Maine and other states, there’s growing concern that free trade agreements could undermine states’ authority in a host of areas, ranging from the regulation of groundwater extraction by bottled water companies, to negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs, to issuance of state approval for a takeover of an electric utility by a foreign-owned company.
Costa Rica, Jamaica move forward on trade deal
22-Aug-2011 Inside Costa Rica
Jamaica and Costa Rica are attempting to press forward with the formal implementation of a seven-year-old-free trade agreement signed in 2004 between Costa Rica and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Turkey, South Africa agree to waive visas, draft free trade agreement
22-Aug-2011 Today’s Zaman
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu shared news of the first steps toward a free trade agreement to be signed between Turkey and South Africa
UNASUR protects the region against the international crisis
20-Aug-2011 Minga Informativa de Movimientos Sociales
The Union of South American Nations resolved today to put in place a six-point Plan of Action to protect the region from the international crisis that is shaking Europe and the United States.
S. Korea expands support for farming sectors to cut losses from FTAs
19-Aug-2011
The government will set aside a total of 22.1 trillion won (US$20.5 billion) to help local farmers and fishing households who could get hurt by cheaper foreign products.
Signez la pétition en ligne "Stop au nouvel accaparement des ressources du Sud par l’UE !"
18-Aug-2011 AITEC
La Commission européenne définit actuellement sa nouvelle politique sur le Commerce et le Développement et a lancé une consultation publique sur cette question. De nombreux lobbies industriels vont utiliser cette consultation pour s’assurer que cette politique défendra leurs intérêts afin qu’ils puissent continuer à profiter de l’exploitation à bas prix et sans limite des matières premières de ces pays.
Canada, China in investor-protection pact talks, Trade Minister Ed Fast says
17-Aug-2011 Vancouver Sun
Canada is discussing an investor-protection agreement with China, Trade Minister Ed Fast said Tuesday in an interview.
Canada backs profits, not human rights, in Honduras
17-Aug-2011 Toronto Star
On Friday Aug. 12, Stephen Harper became the first foreign leader to visit Honduras and meet with President Porfirio Pepe Lobo since the country was readmitted to the Organization of American States June 1. This shouldn’t be a point of pride for Canada, however; it reflects a very dangerous and problematic feature of the Conservative government’s foreign policy in Latin America.
No need to divulge draft Free Trade Agreement under RTI
17-Aug-2011 Law et al. News
India’s Central Information Commission has refused to provide a copy of the text of the proposed ‘India - European Union Free Trade Agreement (India – EU FTA)’ as sought by an applicant under RTI Act.