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Productivity Commission urges caution on free trade agreements
13-Dec-2010
The Productivity Commission has released a report backing Trade Minister Craig Emerson’s critique of many free trade agreements.
South Korean President Seeks To Quell Worries Over FTA With U.S.
13-Dec-2010
President Lee Myung-bak assured South Koreans Monday of long-term benefits from a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, saying it will not only expand South Korea’s economic domain but also bolster the Seoul-Washington military alliance, Yonhap news agency reported.
About-turn from SA on sugar access to Europe
13-Dec-2010
The government has thrown its weight behind the South African sugar industry’s demand for preferential access to European markets. If granted, this would put SA on an equal sugar-trade footing with other sugar producing developing economies — the African-Pacific-Caribbean countries and the world’s least developed countries — for the first time since the industry lost its access under apartheid.
Canada nears securing trade agreement with Europe
12-Dec-2010 Canadian Press
It appears the Europeans are increasingly warming up to a Canadian demand that closely resembles the Chapter 11 clause in the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Towards a North American Security Perimeter
12-Dec-2010 Global Research
There are numerous reports that Canada and the U.S. are secretly negotiating a security and trade deal which could be signed as early as January 2011. The proposed agreement would establish a security perimeter as a means to better secure North America and stimulate trade.
Turkey should lobby Saudi Arabia for GCC ties
11-Dec-2010
I followed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, last week and had a chance to see firsthand how the leaders of oil-rich Gulf Arab countries conducted the meeting against the backdrop of the challenges facing the Middle East.
Govt has no mandate to negotiate Indo-EU FTA: CPI(M)
11-Dec-2010
The CPI(M) today said the government has "no mandate" to negotiate the Indo-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) without consulting Parliament and political parties as it would adversely affect the economy and large sections of the people.
Trade imbalance to cast shadow on China-India talks
10-Dec-2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao faces a tough task when he arrives in India next week to allay New Delhi’s fears over China’s rise as a global power , and to smooth tensions in an often fractious relationship.
KORUS FTA concessions part of MB’s U.S.-centered strategy, analysts say
10-Dec-2010
In their South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) renegotiations, South Korea and the United States agreed to draft and submit an additional accord to their respective legislative bodies that includes full-scale revisions to the auto provisions of the previous agreement formally signed in 2007.
Intellectual Property Rights Office urged
10-Dec-2010
Caribbean companies will have access to European programs designed to support innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), according to a CARICOM trade specialist, who yesterday urged that Bahamian businesses should look to offer products or services "with a unique advantage that people are willing to pay a premium price for".
Bahamian firms decry absence of EPA information
10-Dec-2010
Stakeholders from the financial services, legal and accountancy professions yesterday expressed concern about a lack of access to information on how the Bahamian private sector can take advantage of opportunities arising from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe.
WTO to force 50% Bahamas tariff reduction
10-Dec-2010
A CARICOM trade specialist warned yesterday that the revenue losses the Bahamas will suffer from signing on to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe will be little compared to the "much more significant impact" that will be felt from new free trade deals with the US and Canada.
EU, SADC teams miss EPA deadline
10-Dec-2010 Mmegi
SADC states and the European Union have missed the year-end deadline for the completion and signing of a full Economic Partnership Agreement, a target set in June and designed to bring finality to the complex process.
Chief EU delegate rules out renegotiation of FTA
10-Dec-2010 Dong-A
The chargé d’affaires of the European Union delegation to Korea said Thursday that the EU will not demand renegotiation of its free trade deal with Seoul in the wake of Korea’s additional free trade negotiations with the US.
Building blocks laid for trade deal
10-Dec-2010 Stuff
What was achieved in the fourth round of negotiations, and why exactly a TPP would be good for New Zealand, remains a mystery – strictly controlled daily media briefings with Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry chief negotiator Mark Sinclair were short and impenetrable.
Farmers happy at trade policy shake-up
10-Dec-2010 AAP
Australia’s federal government wants to introduce trade reform that focuses less on geopolitical concerns and more on national productivity.
CIS summit to focus on free trade area
10-Dec-2010 Voice of Russia
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are to create a free trade area and single econonmic area
AFL-CIO, Steelworkers split with auto union on Korea trade deal
10-Dec-2010 Bloomberg
The AFL-CIO, the largest US union group, and the United Steelworkers oppose the Obama administration’s trade agreement with South Korea, splitting with unions representing auto and farm workers.
S. Korea, Malaysia seek bilateral FTA, closer ties on energy, defense
10-Dec-2010 Yonhap
In 2007, South Korea launched an FTA with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Malaysia, but Seoul hopes for a higher-level separate FTA with the country, one of South Korea’s major economic partners.
US group stands by intellectual property protection
9-Dec-2010 Radio NZ
An influential American business lobby, the US Chamber of Commerce, has hit out at New Zealand’s position on intellectual property rights in the TransPacific Partnership trade talks.