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Preparing for the COVID aftermath
11-Jun-2020 World Commerce Review
Arbitration cases due to COVID emergency measures would exacerbate the challenges that public budgets are already facing due to the need for stimulus measures and the difficulty in collecting government revenue.
Looking in the Mexican mirror
11-Jun-2020 TNI
26 years of free trade, industrial paradise for transnational corporations and environmental hell for the peoples.
India not ready to take up RCEP’s ‘flexible’ offer
11-Jun-2020 BusinessLine
Attempts to woo India back to negotiating table fail, as the country struggles to fight pandemic.
Africa should resist acceding to the Energy Charter Treaty
11-Jun-2020 Daily Monitor
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty could cost developing countries money that is urgently needed to fight Covid-19 and a loaming economic crisis. The Energy Charter Treaty has become increasingly controversial.
PH eager to forge FTAs with Mexico, US
11-Jun-2020 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines will pursue separate discussions with Mexico and the US for potential free trade agreements with each these two countries.
UK seeks swift Japan trade deal and CPTPP membership
10-Jun-2020 Nikkei Asian Review
The UK wants to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade pact as soon as possible, welcoming Japan’s support for Britain’s membership.
After being delayed by Covid-19, ACP-EU talks finally enter their last stage
10-Jun-2020 Togo First
The two parties commenced in Brussels technical discussions ahead of negotiations.
Belarus, Turkey plan to conclude trade in services agreement
10-Jun-2020 Belta
The first round of the negotiations is expected to take place in June this year.
Survival clause under Aus-Indo bit will not survive the implementation of IA-CEPA
10-Jun-2020 Lexology
On 5 February 2020, Australia and Indonesia signed an exchange of letters agreeing to the termination of the Aus-Indo BIT and its sunset clause.
Cambodia-China FTA to be signed by end this year
10-Jun-2020 Khmer Times
The third round of negotiations for the free trade agreement between Cambodia and China has completely solved all the remaining issues in the agreement text.
Why we need a moratorium on investment disputes during COVID-19
10-Jun-2020 The Hill
We call for a moratorium on investor-state arbitration cases and clarity of legal principles to ensure that governments have the policy space to protect their citizenry and combat the epidemic.
EU Commission launches public consultation on protection of intra-EU investment
9-Jun-2020
The EU Commission has launched a public consultation calling for comments on its initiative to improve the protection of intra-EU investment. This initiative could lead to the adoption of new rules enhancing investors’ rights vis-à-vis EU Member States and to the creation of new enforcement mechanisms for investors within the EU.
Steamed-up Parker slams ’derisory’ leaked EU trade offer
9-Jun-2020 Business Desk
The EU exported the equivalent of just under a kilogram of cheese to New Zealand per New Zealander in 2019 and, under the leaked offer, the EU proposes letting in just over 3 grams of New Zealand cheese per EU citizen
US trade deal could cripple agriculture, manufacturing in Kenya
9-Jun-2020 The East African
The agreement portends the danger of crippling sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing and disintegration of its economy in Kenya.
Japan and UK to begin negotiations on free trade agreement
9-Jun-2020 Japan Times
The countries will build on an existing Japan-European Union deal, with Tokyo looking to scrap auto tariffs while London has said it wants benefits for its financial services and textile industries.
S. Korea to push for conclusion of RCEP this year despite pandemic
9-Jun-2020 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea said it will spare no efforts to conclude a mega Asia-Pacific trade pact by the end of this year in line with efforts to revitalize an extended slump in its exports amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
Cabinet unrest over U-turn on animal welfare in US trade talks
8-Jun-2020 The Guardian
Leaked letter instructs ministers to have ‘no specific policy’ on the issue.
US, Brazil push for a mini deal
8-Jun-2020 Politico
US and Brazilian officials are working on a deal covering trade facilitation, digital trade and regulatory practices, with a target for the end of the year, a top Brazilian diplomat said.
British PM offers to accept EU tariffs on some goods to win trade deal: Daily Mail
8-Jun-2020 Reuters
The UK would accept tariffs on a small number of goods in return for the European Union dropping its demand that Britain continue to follow EU rules.
Vietnam ratifies free trade, investment pacts with EU
8-Jun-2020 Xinhua
Vietnam’s National Assembly passed resolutions ratifying the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement and investment protection agreement.