December 2012

Bolivia takes the leap into the big pond of Mercosur

Inter Press Service, 29 December, 2012
To go down fighting in the Andean Community (CAN), with a combined market of 92 million consumers, or move up to the big leagues of Mercosur. More…

Thai-EU FTA raises alarm for people with AIDS

Inter Press Service News, 29 December, 2012
Days before leaders of the European Union (EU) arrived in Norway to collect this year’s Nobel Peace prize, Thai public health activists sent a letter to the northern powerhouse. More…

EU OKs signing association agreement with Ukraine

ZIK, 28 December, 2012
The European Union passed a strategic decision to sign the agreement on association with Kyiv. More…

Mexico finds unlikely allies in trade fight

The New York Times, 24 December, 2012
As tomato growers in Florida and some other states fight a 16-year-old agreement that they contend allows farmers in Mexico to export tomatoes at a price below their costs, the Mexican farmers are finding allies in the United States. More…

Asean FTA conclusion sets stage for India’s massive re-entry to region

Business Standard, 24 December, 2012
The India-Asean commemorative summit just concluded in Delhi has been widely acknowledged as one of India’s recent successful diplomatic initiatives. As many as nine heads of states and governments out of ten Asean states attended. More…

Duty-free access: Infrastructure hurdles restrict Pak-India trade

Express Tribune, Pakistan, 23 December, 2012
Businessmen and traders of Pakistan and India have agreed that infrastructure bottlenecks are hindering the growth in trade relations between the two sides and these should be removed to deepen the ties. More…

TPP decision may come before upper house vote

Daily Yomiuri, Japan, 23 December, 2012
A decision on whether Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free-trade talks could come before the House of Councillors election next summer, which is considered the deadline for. More…

Portugal expects FTA to bolster EU-GCC trade ties

Menafn.com, 22 December, 2012
Buoyed by a big surge in exports to Dubai, Portugal said on Thursday that it expects to significantly boost its trade with the GCC after the conclusion of a long-awaited free-trade agreement between the European Union and the GCC. More…

Different trade agreements to boost textile industry

The News International, Pakistan, 22 December, 2012
Advisor to Prime Minister on Textile Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said that trade concessions on 65 items from the EU, implementation of GSP plus status. More…

BD-India bilateral trade up by 20pc

Financial Express, 22 December, 2012
Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India rose nearly 20 per cent to more than US$ 4.50 billion in the fiscal year (FY) 2011-12 following reduction of sensitive lists by the relevant authorities in both the countries in late 2011. More…

Information gap holding back EAC integration

The Star, Kenya, 21 December, 2012
Lack of public information on the operations of the East Africa Community has been blamed for the slow integration among member states. More…

India, Asean expand free trade pact

The Economic Times, 19 December, 2012
India and Asean on Thursday extended their free trade pact to include services and investment, a move that will help Indian doctors, nurses and engineers get access to the vast markets in East Asia. More…

Focus Taiwan News Channel, Taiwan

Taiwan News, 20 December, 2012
Taiwan should deepen trade talks with China and work to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea to race against the upcoming China-Japan-South Korea FTA negotiations, an expert on East Asia said Thursday. More…

EAC growth model questioned

The Observer, Uganda, 20 December, 2012
When the treaty establishing the East African Community (EAC) came into force on July 7, 2000, the main goal was to widen and deepen cooperation. More…

Time for an EU-PHL free trade deal — ECCP

GMA News, Philippines, 20 December, 2012
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on Thursday said it is committed to support a Philippine-European Union free trade agreement, which it expects to possibly come about in the next three years. More…

ASEAN, India conclude FTA talks on services, investment

Jakarta Post, 20 December, 2012
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) concluded a long-bargained free trade agreement (FTA) with India on services and investment on Wednesday ahead of a two-day commemorative summit in New Delhi, India. More…

LDP needs to placate internal foes to TPP entry

Japan Times, 19 December, 2012
After regaining power in Sunday’s general election, the Liberal Democratic Party now faces the challenge of reaching internal consensus on whether Japan should join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. More…

Obstacles to an Indonesia-Taiwan economic partnership

Jakarta Post, 19 December, 2012
More often than not, whenever a Taiwanese official pays a visit to Jakarta, there is usually one question on his mind: “Dude […] where’s my FTA?”. More…

India-Israel FTA: Next round of talks in January

The Economic Times, 19 December, 2012
India and Israel will hold in January another round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement, a move which would increase bilateral commerce and investment between the countries, Parliament was informed today. More…

Asean-India FTA likely to be finalised at summit

The star Online, 19 December, 2012
The long awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Asean and India in the services and investment sectors will most likely be finalised at the summit here. More…

EU in major free trade deal with Singapore

International Advisor, 17 December, 2012
The European Union and Singapore have agreed what was described in an EU statement as “one of the most comprehensive” agreements the bloc has ever negotiated. More…

TPP traps – we need to know the costs as well as the gains

New Zealand Herald, 17 December, 2012
I’m not an economist, but I do understand what a net loss or a net gain is. Most people will be familiar with the concept – at the end of the day. More…

Rumpf bemoans EPA support in Brussels

The Namibian, 17 December, 2012
Ambassador to Belgium, Hanno Rumpf, has expressed concern over the lack of support from developmental partners in Europe when it comes to economic partnership agreement. More…

President Mahama Wants Better EPA Deal For ACP Countries

Ghana Business News, 16 December, 2012
President John Dramani Mahama has described as unfortunate, the deadlines set for the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA), explaining that it will adversely impact the economies and trade systems of other nations. More…

Free trade pacts hurting, not helping India: FIEO news

Domain B, 15 December, 2012
Disappointed with India’s exports growth for the month of November, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) on Friday said that the. More…

Business worried about India FTA

The Nation, 15 December, 2012
The private sector has asked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra not to announce any agreement to proceed with a bilateral free-trade pact with India. More…

Europe urges Colombia to speed up FTA

The Lahore Times, 12 December, 2012
The European Union (E.U.) on Wednesday urged Colombia’s congress to fast track ratification of a free trade agreement (FTA) signed in June and ratified by the European Parliament earlier this week. More…

Harper government resists strong labour rights chapter in slow-moving TPP trade talks

Rabble.ca, 12 December, 2012
Canada’s first week as a full-fledged member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership has been … well … a little dull. More…

Jane Kelsey: Secret talks breed scepticism

New Zealand Herald, 12 December, 2012
As the 15th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPPA) negotiations in Auckland comes to an end the New Zealand public has still not been told what is being discussed behind closed doors. More…

The Second Round of Negotiations for the Japan-Mongolia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

METI, 10 December, 2012
The Second Round of the Negotiations for the Japan-Mongolia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will be held from Tuesday. More…

Thailand, Pakistan to move forward in signing PTA, FTA

The Lahore Times, 12 December, 2012
Thailand and Pakistan move forward to sign accords for Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) leading to Free Trade Agreement (FTA). More…

US trade deal could be a lot for Europe to swallow

Independent Online, 12 December, 2012
Can Europeans, who have balked for years at many U.S. food imports, accept a free trade agreement with the United States that opens the door for imports of genetically modified crops. More…

Top Trade Official Sees U.S. Seeking More Multilateral Deals

Wall Street Journal, 11 December, 2012
The administration’s top trade official signalled Tuesday that the U.S. intends to pursue deals with coalitions of countries rather seeks out the type of. More…

Beyond NAFTA: Shaping the Future of North American Integration

Dissidentvoice.org, 11 December, 2012
In a move that signalled the importance placed on the NAFTA partnership, Mexico’s new president visited the U.S. and Canada before his inauguration. More…

European Parliament approves Colombia trade pact

Colombia Reports, 11 December, 2012
The European Parliament on Tuesday ratified a free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru despite human and labor rights concerns. More…

EU-Ukrainian Association Agreement: To sign or not to sign?

EurActiv, 10 December, 2012
The leak of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement (AA) turns the focus of their relations to a Shakespearean question: to sign or not to sign. And since Ukraine is ready to sign, it puts the onus on the EU. More…

New U.S.-Morocco Agreements Seen as Boost to Trade Relations

AllAfrica (US Dept. of State), 10 December, 2012
The United States and the Kingdom of Morocco have signed new agreements that the top U.S. trade official says will stimulate significant additional commercial activity. More…

Critics warn of EU free trade deal with Peru and Colombia

Deutsche Welle, 10 December, 2012
The EU is set to liberalize trade with Colombia and Peru. Human rights organisations fear that Latin American farmers will suffer. More…

NZ’s embarrassing TPP overtures to the US

Scoop, 10 December, 2012
New Zealand has been hosting the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks in Auckland for the past week, but you’d have to say things haven’t worked. More…

Its high time to agree on BIT

Business Recorder, Pakistan, 10 December, 2012
The United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, has called for early conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). More…

S. Korea to prioritize FTA with China

Yonhap, 07 December, 2012
South Korea will prioritize the conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) with China over a possible trilateral free trade deal that further encompasses Japan, Seoul’s top envoy to Beijing has said. More…

A free-trade agreement with Europe?

Washington Post, 06 December, 2012
At a recent meeting of German business and foreign-policy leaders, one participant summed up an anxiety that’s almost palpable here: “Europeans have a sense of being left alone. More…

TPP vs. RCEP: A new Washington-Beijing tug-of-war?

The Nation, 06 December, 2012
How the government navigates the contest between the United States and China in the economic sphere will be a litmus test of Thailand’s diplomatic and political skills. More…

The public must be heard on free trade proposals

The Nation, 06 December, 2012
With Thailand set to join numerous trading blocs, it is essential that the govt opens a public discussion, as this issue will affect everyone. More…

Will the Pacific trade deal protect workers?

Al Jazeera, 05 December, 2012
This week saw the beginning of the 15th round of negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Auckland, New Zealand. More…

Cabinet approves EU FTA talking points

Bangkok Post, 05 December, 2012
The framework of the Thai-EU free trade agreement will be scrutinised by parliament as required by the charter before bilateral talks on 17 trade issues can proceed. More…

Colombia FTA with EU may increase money laundering

Colombia Report, 05 December, 2012
A free trade pact between the E.U., Colombia and Peru will increase the risk of illegal money flows and capital flight, said a report Wednesday from a group of Members of the European Parliament. More…

EU and Mercosur to resume free trade talks at two events next January

MeroPress, 05 December, 2012
The European Union and Mercosur will resume talks on a free trade agreement during a coming summit in Brazil and later at a meeting in Santiago de Chile, both. More…

Auckland TPP trade talks spark protest

ONE News, Auckland, 03 December, 2012
Long running talks to hammer out a free trade agreement between 11 Asia Pacific countries have resumed in Auckland, sparking criticism and protest. More…

No time to lose on FTA with EU: Thai ministry

Yahoo News (Asia News Network), 01 December, 2012
Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is rushing to get Cabinet’s endorsement of the draft Thai-EU free-trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday in. More…

Export firms eagerly await EPA talks / Deal could even playing field with S. Korean automakers in EU, offset surging yen

The Yomiuri Shimbun, 01 December, 2012
News that Japan and the European Union have agreed to start negotiations for an economic partnership agreement was a breath of fresh air for Japanese export-related companies, as. More…