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News from the movements

Beyond the Bolsonaro policy, it is the very content of the EU-Mercosur agreement that promises an environmental disaster
18-Sep-2020 Veblen
The commission of experts has spoken: an annual increase in deforestation of 25% for 6 years, facilitated entry into the European market of foodstuffs produced with pesticides banned in the EU, risk of weakening European environmental and health standards.
Japan backs ISDS in fierce debate at Energy Charter Treaty review
17-Sep-2020 AFTINET
A written submission from Japan published by the ECT secretariat rejected language on the “right to regulate” and changes to the investor-state dispute resolution mechanism.
Shaping future UK trade policy: investment protection provisions
16-Sep-2020 Trade Justice Movement
As the UK regains full responsibility for its trade and investment policy post-Brexit, it must seriously consider its approach to international investment protection.
The red carpet investments in the middle of a pandemic result in crisis of people’s sovereignty
11-Sep-2020 Indonesia for Global Justice
Indonesian CSOs assesses the national economic recovery strategy by strengthening policies economic liberalization focusing only on investment and exports will only be increasingly open space for corporate monopoly on economic resources.
Between free trade and local markets: Thailand’s attempt to enter CPTPP negotiations meets opposition again
11-Sep-2020 GRAIN
In this time of Covid-19, free trade negotiations have not subsided, and are even increasing. In Thailand the government is trying again to join the CPTPP.
Poll: Vast majority of Europeans opposed to EU-Mercosur trade deal
10-Sep-2020 Sum Of Us
Consumer group SumOfUs urges the EU to call off its free trade agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in the face of Amazon rainforest fires.
Amazon, Bolsonaro, cattle: the ABC’s of destruction
9-Sep-2020 Greenpeace
The Amazon is under attack but the Canadian government plans to continue negotiating a Canada-Mercosur free trade agreement with Brazil. But you can do something about it.
It’s time to transform. It’s time to globalize solidarity, localize agriculture!
6-Sep-2020 La Via Campesina
Time has come for us to take back control of our food systems and promote local production of our food systems.
Mining companies dominate ISDS treaty-shopping claims from Australian companies
3-Sep-2020 AFTINET
Australia, with its many Bilateral Investment Treaties and FTAs, contributes to a system of treaty shopping by mining companies looking to sue governments over unfavourable decisions.
Mining injustice through international arbitration
25-Aug-2020 Earthworks
El Tambor is a controversial gold mining project in Guatemala. After years of local protests and litigation, it was halted in 2016 for lack of prior consultation with Indigenous people.
Trade Secrets
24-Aug-2020 Global Justice Now
The truth about the US trade deal and how we can stop it.
Juggling crisis
24-Aug-2020 TNI
Latin America’s battle with COVID-19 hampered by investment arbitration cases.
How ‘digital trade’ rules would impede taxation of the digitalised economy in the Global South
13-Aug-2020 TWN
The new digital trade regime, which has already been adopted in some free trade agreements and is being proposed in the WTO, would exacerbate the harmful tax practices of multinational enterprises within a deeply integrated digitalised economy.
Video: India-US free trade agreement and its impact on small-scale food producers in India
6-Aug-2020 La Via Campesina South Asia
In the following videos, the possible impacts of this proposed agreement on India’s small-scale food producers are discussed.
A Canadian mining company is threatening to sue Mexico to avoid paying taxes... and is asking Canada to help them do it
13-Jul-2020 Council of Canadians
Already, Mexico’s progressive reforms have made it an ISDS target. First Majestic, a Canadian silver mining company has been threatening Mexico for the last few years, under NAFTA’s Chapter 11.
What do FTAs mean for African women? A critical look into the African Continental Free Trade Area
9-Jul-2020 GRAIN
What does this trade deal mean for African women and their role in the continent’s food production and trade?
No more EFTA power play against the South!
9-Jul-2020 Swiss Right to Seeds Coalition
Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway are undermining farmers’ rights to seeds in the countries of the global South
Opposition to the proposed US-Kenya free trade agreement
9-Jul-2020
Kenya should abandon or, at the very least, postpone the United States-Kenya Free Trade Agreement negotiations to a later date, civil society groups say in letter to the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Countries serious about climate change should leave the Energy Charter Treaty, says former ECT official
3-Jul-2020 bilaterals.org
Interview with Yamina Saheb, former head of unit in the Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat .
Time to rethink – Stop the EU-Mercosur agreement!
29-Jun-2020 S2B Network
265 civil society organisations call on the Federal Governments and the EU Commission and EU-Parliament to reject this agreement!