Rep. Bright to launch working group for U.S./Korea Free Trade
WSFA News, 30 June 2010
A bipartisan group Wednesday launched the Congressional U.S. – South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) Working Group to build further support for efforts to resolve outstanding issues and prepare the agreement for congressional consideration. More…
Bilateral trade with India to reach $12 bn in next 3 to 4 years: Israel’s Ambassador to India
Economic Times, 30 June 2010
Mark Sofer, Ambassador of Israel to India, talks about Israel’s bilateral trade relation with India and the country’s plans going forward, in an exclusive interview to ET Bureau. More…
BIMST-EC Potential to become Regional Grouping of Economic Benefits Stressed
Ali Baba, 30 June 2010
The BIMST-EC – regional grouping of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation – has the potential to become a regional association of some economic benefit, particularly if the objective of developing BIMST-EC as a Free Trade Area with a Preferential Trading Arrangement (PTA) as an intermediate stage, becomes a reality, Shri Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for commerce&Industry, said in a statement on behalf of the Government of India at the Third BIMST-EC Trade & Economic Ministers’ Meeting held yesterday at Yangon in Myanmar. More…
Taiwan, China sign historic trade deal
CNN, 29 June 2010
Mainland China and Taiwan signed a historic free-trade agreement Tuesday that is expected to strengthen ties and reduce the potential for cross-strait tensions. More…
CII’s engagements with China
Economic Times, 29 June 2010
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has a long-standing association with China. CII has established institutional partnerships with organisations like China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), All China Federation of Industry & Commerce (ACFIC), Ministry for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) (renamed as Ministry of Commerce), Trade Development Bureau (TDB) to facilitate promotion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. More…
EU-Mercosur Free-Trade Accord Is ‘Not Clear Cut,’ De Gucht Says
Business Week, 29 June 2010
European Union farm producers may weaken plans to forge a free-trade deal with Latin America’s Mercosur bloc that would add 4.5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) to exports and spur job growth, trade chief Karel De Gucht said. More…
Canada, India sign nuke power pact
Toronto Sun, 27 June 2010
In what is being hailed as a “landmark” in bilateral relations, Canada and India have signed a nuclear cooperation pact and taken steps to deepen cultural and educational ties. More…
Caution in Taiwan as China trade pact sealed
eTaiwan News, 27 June 2010
Taiwan says a new trade deal with China is a “milestone” but analysts warn the pact is no economic panacea and will only give Beijing more political clout over the breakaway island. More…
A free-trade agreement will help strengthen bilateral economic ties
Financial Express, 26 June 2010
Michael Carter, trade commissioner at the Australia Trade Commission, in an interview with FE’s Neha Pal, talks about investment opportunities in India and Australia and his plans of working closely with India to realise the potential for two-way trade and strategic partnerships between the two countries. More…
Obama Sets November Deadline for S. Korea Trade Deal
Business Week, 26 June 2010
President Barack Obama said he will revive stalled free-trade talks with South Korea, with the goal of finishing a deal during his November visit to Seoul and submitting a reworked accord to Congress in the following months. More…
EU, RP initial new partnership agreement
Philstar, 25 June 2010
The European Union and the Philippines on Friday initialed the text of a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), following negotiations early this month. More…
Trade and Investment Council meeting to be held on Monday
Angola Press, 25 June 2010
The first meeting of the Trade and Investment Council will be held on Monday in Luanda under the framework agreement signed on May 19, 2009, between the governments of Angola and the United States. More…
Taiwan, China finishing important trade pact
Associated Press, 24 June 2010
Negotiators from China and Taiwan met Thursday to finish a bilateral trade deal that seems destined to change the island’s character in a way not seen since it split from the Chinese mainland amid civil war 61 years ago. More…
Turkey proposes free-trade area with East African Community
Wire Update, 24 June 2010
Sander Gurbu, the Turkish Ambassador to Tanzania, expressed his country’s interest in establishing a free-trade and investment area within the East African Community (EAC) on Wednesday. More…
Anand Sharma invites U.S. investments in India
The Hindu, 23 June 2010
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has urged the US industry leaders to increase their engagement with India and benefit form its investor-friendly environment. More…
Australia, China Strengthen Trade Ties
ICTSD, 23 June 2010
A free trade agreement could be on the horizon for Australia and China, given the positive outcome of Monday’s talks between Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. More…
Trade gap with Asean grows
Economic Times, 23 June 2010
India’s trade balance with the 10-member Asean countries has deteriorated sharply over the last eight years, despite a six-fold increase in total trade, an industry study has revealed. More…
Pakistan, Malaysia trade can increase 5-fold
Pakistan Observer, 23 June 2010
Pakistan and Malaysia have the potential of a five-fold increase in bilateral trade by tapping unexplored trade potential. More…
India, EU hold talks on trade, Afghanistan
Hindustan Times, 22 June 2010
India and the 27-nation European Union held extensive talks Tuesday on wide-ranging issues from improving trade to exploring cooperation in Afghanistan when EU’s top diplomat Catherine Ashton met Indian leaders in New Delhi. More…
India-EU FTA likely by year-end, says Sharma
Business Standard, 22 June 2010
Both multilateral trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) like the India-EU (European Union) FTA, need to be speedily concluded in order to aid global recovery from the economic crisis, Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma said on Monday. More…
Australia, China sign major deals, push free trade
AFP, 21 June 2010
Australia and China signed new deals worth 10 billion dollars (8.8 billion US) Monday and vowed to push for an early free trade agreement as they ignored diplomatic concerns to focus on economic ties. More…
Taiwan’s economy to undergo transformation after signing ECFA: VP
Focus Taiwan, 21 June 2010
Vice President Vincent Siew predicted Monday that Taiwan’s economy will undergo a transformation thanks to its signing of a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China to boost bilateral trade exchanges. More…
India, S. Korea Discuss Cooperation In Nuclear Energy, Space
AHN, 18 June 2010
India has agreed to begin talks with South Korea about a pact on nuclear energy cooperation, which might also facilitate Seoul’s export of a nuclear power plant. More…
Chile Seeks To Strengthen Asia-Pacific Ties -Chief Trade Rep
NASDAQ, 18 June 2010
Amid its extensive network of free-trade agreements, the Chilean government aims to further strengthen ties with its partners along the Asian-Pacific rim, the country’s chief trade negotiator Jorge Bunster said. More…
Chinese VP calls for deeper free trade cooperation with New Zealand
Xinhua, 17 June 2010
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for more cooperation between China and New Zealand in various fields so as to elevating the bilateral relations up to a higher level. More…
Bahrain, US agreement to boost bilateral ties
Zawya, 17 June 2010
Bahrain has signed deals in Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Houston that will boost already strong commercial and economic ties between the Kingdom and United States. More…
Gul says Turkey, S.Korea must sign free trade deal this year
World Bulletin, 16 June 2010
Gul said South Korean executives and he had agreed to sign the free trade agreement soon. The Turkish president said on Tuesday that Turkey and South Korea had 3.1 billion USD of trade volume. More…
Second Round of Trans-Pacific Trade Talks Gets Underway
ICTSD, 16 June 2010
Eight Pacific-Rim countries are engaged in free trade talks hosted by the United States in San Francisco this week. The negotiations, which are still in their early stages, aim to establish a free trade zone that would span Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. More…
India calls for ‘creative solutions’ to Kashmir issue
Daily Times, 15 June 2010
India has called for using “creative solutions” to settle the Kashmir problem, at the same time urging Pakistan to “shed its insecurity” and to stop looking at “India’s growth in subjective or negative terms”. More…
New talks launched to forge Pacific trade deal
AFP, 14 June 2010
The United States and seven other nations have launched a second round of talks to forge a Pacific trade deal that could become President Barack Obama’s first free trade agreement. More…
Sri Lanka India CEPA: How valid are the criticisms?
Lanka Business Online, 14 June 2010
The recent protests in Colombo by a vocal group of businesses have brought to the fore the issue of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and its merits and demerits in the Sri Lankan context. More…
Lebanon-Syria closer to free trade
Ma’an News Agency, 14 June 2010
A Lebanese-Syrian technical preparatory commission approved 15 agreements around consumer protection, agriculture, tourism, transportation, culture, justice, education, higher education and the economy, media reports said Monday. More…
Canadian Lawmakers Approve Free Trade Agreement With Colombia
Bloomberg Business Week, 14 June 2010
Canadian lawmakers today approved a free trade agreement with Colombia, a move that may give its agricultural producers an advantage over U.S. competitors in the Latin American country. More…
Taiwan, China Hold Trade Talks Amid Deal Speculation
Bloomberg Business Week, 13 June 2010
China and Taiwan held a third round of talks to strengthen economic and trade ties, reaching a basic agreement on goods, services and industries chosen for initial tariff cuts. More…
Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to Set Up Free Trade Zone
The Media Line, 13 June 2010
Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria have agreed to set-up a regional agreement that would allow for free trade and travel between the four countries. More…
Malaysia-India talks to conclude by Sept
The Star, 12 June 2010
Malaysia and India are expected to conclude the talks on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca) by September, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Secretary-General (Trade) Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria. More…
EU to open market fully to Palestinian exports
YNet News, 12 June 2010
The European Commission plans to open European Union markets fully to Palestinian exports in the coming months to help strengthen the Palestinian economy, the EU trade chief said on Thursday. More…
‘Let economics drive our relations’
The Economic Times, 10 June 2010
Bangladesh has urged India to open its doors wider to allow duty-free goods and reach a “meaningful” free trade agreement (FTA) to facilitate a “convergence (of interests)” that will make economy drive politics and bilateral relations. More…
China, Uzbekistan Agree to Boost Economic Ties
CriEnglish, 10 June 2010
China and Uzbekistan on Wednesday agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, finance, transport and other areas, pledging to give priority to building stable trade ties. More…
Turkey, Arab Nations Eye Free-Trade Zone
WSJ, 10 June 2010
Turkey and the Arab countries of Syria, Jordan and Lebanon have decided to establish a cooperation council to create “a zone of free movement of goods and persons” among them. More…
Trade deals not to be inked without services, says India
Financial Express, 11 June 2010
Unhappy with its FTA partners who backtrack on promises to amplify the scope of these agreements with liberalisation of trade in services, New Delhi has decided not to enter into such agreements unless talks on services and goods are concluded simulateneously.More…
South Africa to move ambitiously on PTA: Davies
Economic Times, 05 June 2010
South Africa will approach the proposed preferential trade pact with India ambitiously, and will look to achieve the bilateral trade target of $10 billion by 2012. More…
Sri Lankan airline chief calls for fully liberalized skies with India
Sri Lanka Business Online, 04 June 2010
Sri Lanka and India should fully liberalize air services within the two countries, further strengthen links between them and set an example to South Asia, the head of the island’s state-run national carrier said. More…
Pakistan, EU agree to further enhance strategic partnership through five-year engagement plan
Business Times, 04 June 2010
The European Union on Friday while appreciating and supporting Pakistan’s determination to combat terrorism and extremism agreed on a five year Engagement Plan,outlining specific targets for joint actions. More…
Bolivia Abandons Trade Agreement
Poder 360, 04 June 2010
Beginning June 7, Bolivia will terminate its free trade agreement with Mexico which has existed since 1994. No reason was given for why the Andean nation is taking this step. More…
Framework for trade pact with GCC by Oct
Business Times, 04 June 2010
MALAYSIA expects to come up with a framework outlining a free trade area agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council by October, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. More…
Indian foreign policy opens new American chapter
Business Standard, 04 June 2010
For years, Indian ministers have brought a message to American investors – we need you. Speaking at the 35th anniversary of the US-India Business Council here, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna cited examples ranging from Titan watches that reportedly impressed even the Swiss, and a low-cost mobile banking system developed by the State Bank of India, to deliver a message to the American capital: You need us. More…
China signs agreement with Myanmar on border stability
Reuters, 03 June 2010
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reached broad agreement with Myanmar about maintaining stability in restless border regions during a visit on Thursday that he said marked a new stage in ties, media reported. More…
Tunisia-Spain to bolster trade partnership
Tunisia Online News, 03 June 2010
Organized by the Port of Barcelona, the Tunisian Merchant Navy and Ports Authority (OMMP) and the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), , the Tunisian-Spanish trade and partnership days, took place in Tunis on June 1 and 2, 2010. More…
South Africa eyes $10 bn in bilateral trade by 2012
Money Control, 03 June 2010
India and South Africa may have shared histories but that has not translated into economic opportunity for Indian business. The visit of South African President Zuma may well remove the thaw created after the failure of Bharti-MTN deal over policy issues, reports CNBC-TV18’s Sajeet Manghat and Sandeep Shrikanth. More…
US Tries To Build Consensus For Trans-Pacific Trade Talks
Wall Street Journal, 03 June 2010
The Obama administration is pressing ahead with trade expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, even as it struggles to build consensus with labor and business groups. More…
Bright prospects for Indo-South African investment, trade
Business Standard, 03 June 2010
Indian companies are currently executing projects of the order of $2 billion in South Africa, said a senior trade official from that country. More…
Tango with Russia shows promise
NZ Herald, 02 June 2010
Trade Minister Tim Groser has chalked up a victory in New Zealand’s long quest for a free trade deal with the emerging economic powerhouse of Russia. More…
Taiwan asks China not to obstruct free trade agreements
Taiwan News, 02 June 2010
The Presidential Office called on China Wednesday not to block Taiwan from signing free trade agreements with its trading partners. More…
China makes top priority of free-trade deal
The National, 01 June 2010
China has made securing a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the GCC a high priority as demand for energy and industrial imports in the fast-emerging global superpower rises. More…