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RCEP trade round: Singapore host privileges business over people’s rights
4-May-2018
Trade officials from 16 countries that are negotiating RCEP are meeting in Singapore this week. But Singapore government has gone backwards excluding trade unions, farmers and civil society organisations who will be adversely affected by RCEP that has gain a voice in previous rounds, although not nearly enough.
Why we must ban secret corporate courts from trade deals
3-May-2018 Friends of the Earth Australia
The ISDS system impedes on national sovereignty to the benefit of corporations, yet places no obligations on investors to behave responsibly, creating an asymmetric system that gives multinationals the same rights as sovereign states.
International Trade Committee launches probe into UK investment policy as Brexit approaches
3-May-2018 IBS Intelligence
The International Trade Committee launches an inquiry concerning the UK’s investment policy, which will examine the Government’s performance in promoting and facilitating inward and outward investment and its approach, upon UK exit from the EU, to negotiating agreements that liberalise and protect foreign investment.
Canada loses bid to overturn NAFTA ruling on rebuffed N.S. quarry
3-May-2018 CBC
New Jersey company behind quarry proposal in Digby Neck claims damages of $443M US in lost profits.
Brexit: Are countries really ’queuing up for trade deals’ with Britain?
3-May-2018 The Independent
Brexiteers have claimed that other countries are “queuing up” to strike trade agreements with Britain after it leaves the bloc. In reality, though, the situation is more complicated.
France supports Australia-EU FTA: Macron
2-May-2018 Xinhua
French President Emmanuel Macron has thrown his support behind Australia’s push for a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.
Ecuador signs free trade agreement with EFTA, launches new tuna brand
2-May-2018 Undercurrent News
The agreement will allow export of shrimp and tuna products to EFTA countries with a zero export tariff.
Parliament ratifies free trade pact
2-May-2018 Ghana Web
Ghanaian Parliament has endorsed the new agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Germany pushes EU trade deal with US in tariffs row as trade war looms
2-May-2018 Daily Express
Germany is pushing a watered-down version of the EU’s Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in a desperate last-ditch attempt to head of a looming trade war between the bloc and Donald Trump’s United States.
Ukraine eyes patent law reform after civil society push on medicines access
2-May-2018 IP Watch
Ukrainian lawmakers are poised to approve sweeping patent reform legislation, driven in large part by a push by patients’ groups for better access to affordable medicines and healthcare.
Charging into UK-US trade pact would be ‘catastrophic error’, warn MPs
2-May-2018 Euractiv
The UK would be making a “catastrophic error” if it charged into talks on a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States without setting out a ‘comprehensive strategy’ for life after the EU, MPs warned in a new report .
US wants 4-year phase-in for higher NAFTA auto content thresholds
2-May-2018 Reuters
The latest US proposal for increasing NAFTA’s regional automotive content would carry a four-year phase-in to meet a higher, 75 percent regional value threshold and new labor content rules requiring substantial work at wages of $16 an hour or higher.
Economics minister in Brazil to boost trade talks
2-May-2018 Swiss Info
Swiss economics minister Johann Schneider-Ammann has arrived in Brazil on a six-day visit to the region aimed at boosting talks on a free trade agreement with the South American economic area Mercosur.
PNG could sign onto Pacific trade pact
2-May-2018 SBS
The PNG government is doing some soul searching over whether to join the Pacer Plus free trade deal and potentially could sign up by the end of the year.
US firm Carlyle intends to file suit against morocco over USD 400 Million debt in SAMIR
2-May-2018 Morocco World News
The US-based private equity firm Carlyle, is suing the Moroccan government for over USD 400 million in the ICSID, claiming the sum is equivalent to the profit lost when Morocco’s sole refinery went bankrupt three years ago.
Elliott moving to sue gov’t over Samsung C&T merger
2-May-2018 Korea Times
According to an official at the ministry, the fund can file the ISDS after a 90-day "grace period," as it is stated in the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Thailand wants to join TPP ’as soon as possible,’ says deputy PM
2-May-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
Thailand wants to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership "as soon as possible," Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak told visiting Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy and Revitalization Minister Toshimitsu Motegi who is in charge of negotiations for the pact on Tuesday.
US eager to form trade deal with Japan ’at some point’: USTR
2-May-2018 The Mainichi
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Tuesday expressed eagerness to strike a free trade agreement with Japan "at some point."
Whispers on India joining China’s Belt and Road initiative
1-May-2018 New Indian Express
Did Prime Minister Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping agree at Wuhan that India would quietly join projects linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while formally opposing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor which cuts through PoK?
Investment to top Erdogan’s agenda during South Korea visit
1-May-2018 Hurriyet Daily News
At the top of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s agenda during his upcoming visit to South Korea on May 2-3 will be investments and cooperation in the defense industry, South Korean Ambassador to Turkey Choi Hong-ghi has said.