India, Switzerland discuss economic ties
Sify Business, 31 March 2010
India and Switzerland Wednesday agreed to step up their economic ties when Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Ray rang up her Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna. More…
Canadian industry wants India to expedite trade agreement
LiveMint, 30 March 2010
The Canadian government is putting pressure on India to fast-track a bilateral trade deal at a time when both countries are negotiating a nuclear deal. More…
Zero duty for Lankan goods in Pakistan
Sunday Times, 29 March, 2009
The Department of Commerce said this week that under the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Pakistan has confirmed duty free status to 4,500 Sri Lankan products. “The Government of Pakistan has issued the respective notification implementing the 100% tariff reduction for 4,500 ‘Sri Lankan originated’ products, with effect from 20th March 2009,” a Commerce Department official told The Sunday Times FT. More…
Peru refuses price raise on medicines at FTA negotiation with EU
Xinhua, 27 March, 2009
The Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry said Thursday that Peru will not accept raise in medicine prices in the second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU). “We are not going to take an agreement where the medicines become more expensive,” Vice Minister Eduardo Ferreyros said in a press conference. More…
EU-India: Free Trade Agreement to be signed by the end of 2010 say MEPs
European Parliament, 26 March, 2009
Disappointed with the slow pace of negotiations, MEPs would like to see a Free Trade Agreement signed with India by the end of 2010, in a report adopted in Strasbourg by the European Parliament. The EU and India launched negotiations for an FTA in 2007. The report was adopted with 326 votes in favour, 226 against and 3 abstentions. More…
Mercosur-Israel free trade agreement becomes effective
MercoPress, 25 March 2010
The free trade agreement between Mercosur and Israel, the first out of the region for the South American block, became effective this week for Paraguay. For the rest of Mercosur full members, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay the official date is April first. More…
Afghan and Chinese presidents sign trade agreements
BBC News, 24 March 2010
The presidents of Afghanistan and China have signed agreements on trade and economic co-operation aimed at boosting the war-torn Afghan economy. More…
China vows to advance cooperation with New Zealand: Chinese FM
Xinhua, 24 March 2010
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday said China hoped to enhance dialogue, expand mutual trust and cooperation with New Zealand to push the development of bilateral ties. More…
Feds table trade agreement with Jordan
Toronto Sun, 24 March 2010
The federal government has tabled legislation to finalize a trade agreement with Jordan. International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan introduced the bill, which was killed last December when Prime Minister Stephen Harper prorogued Parliament. More…
Gulf Cooperation Council: Free-trade and regional grouping
Global Arab Network, 24 March 2010
Kuwait’s May 2007 decision to abandon dollar peg, to which all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members were committed, has proved a serious stumbling block to aspirations for greater union. More…
ECFA helpful despite negotiation difficulties: SEF head
Focus Taiwan, 23 March 2010
The proposed trade agreement with China will be helpful for Taiwan despite its complicated nature making negotiations difficult and time-consuming, Taiwan’s top cross-strait negotiator said Tuesday. More…
EU FTA won’t hurt domestic drug cos: Sharma
Indian Express, 23 March 2010
Trade Minister Anand Sharma today said that the forthcoming free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) would not hurt India’s generic drug industry. More…
Hong Kong free trade agreement to be signed
National Business Review, 23 March 2010
Trade Minister Tim Groser will sign a free trade agreement with Hong Kong when he visits there on Monday. The New Zealand Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) will help New Zealand businesses expand in the region, Mr Groser said. More…
‘India is a springboard to Asia’
Economic Times, 22 March 2010
India and the EU can benefit immensely by concluding a free trade agreement (FTA), not only in terms of enhanced bilateral trade but also through long-term economic partnership. More…
Japan sets up division targeting Korea FTA
JoongAng Daily, 22 March 2010
Japan appears to be speeding up steps to resume talks with Korea on an “economic partnership agreement”, the term Japan uses to describe a free trade agreement. More…
Pakistan looks to British diplomatic help for EU free trade deal
Telegraph, 21 March 2010
Pakistan is to appeal for free trade access to Europe during a landmark summit with EU leaders next month as the key Western ally steps up its demands for more support for its war-ravaged economy. More…
Asia’s Drive for Free Trade
Wall Street Journal, 21 March 2010
East-West trade tensions are rising, and a new global free-trade agreement seems a distant dream. Yet here’s the paradox: the drive for free trade within Asia, where the world’s greatest concentration of economic growth now resides, has never been stronger. More…
Peru aims for Japan, South Korea trade talks in April
Channel News Asia, 20 March 2010
Peru is aiming to complete negotiations on free trade agreements with Japan and South Korea in April, Trade Minister Martin Perez said Friday. More…
Now Thailand object to India-EU free trade agreement
DNA India, 19 March 2010
As informal talks have started between India and Europe on the free trade agreement (FTA) in New Delhi since Monday, apprehensions over provisions that could impact early access to generic medicines are being voiced in Thailand. More…
Turkey, S.Korea to start free trade talks in late April
World Bulletin, 19 March 2010
Turkish State Minister Zafer Caglayan said on Friday that Turkey and South Korea would start talks on Free Trade Agreement (STA) in April 26 and 30, 2010. More…
Dhaka, Beijing to establish ‘closer comprehensive partnership’
Financial Express Bangladesh, 19 March 2010
Bangladesh and China have decided to establish a “Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation” from the strategic perspective and on the basis of the principles of longstanding friendship, equality, and mutual benefit. More…
Nepal, Bhutan to discuss on duty-free trade
Republica, 17 March 2010
Nepal and Bhutan are holding trade talks on entering free trade agreement in a bid to give new impetus to bilateral trade that presently stands almost negligible. More…
South Korea wants fast US free trade ratification
Business Week, 16 March 2010
South Korea’s industry minister called on the United States to quickly ratify a bilateral free trade agreement that has languished in limbo for nearly three years after being signed. More…
Brazilian president in Israel to mark Mercosur FTA
Globes, 15 March 2010
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio (Lula) da Silva met with President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem today and said that Brazil had given its final approval for a free trade agreement between Israel and the Mercosur bloc (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay). More…
Talks start in Australia on Pacific trade deal
Reuters, 14 March 2010
The United States, Australia, Peru and Vietnam are seeking to join the Trans Pacific Partnership, which already includes Chile, Singapore, New Zealand and Brunei. More…
EU, Vietnam to Start Free-Trade Talks
WSJ, 03 March 2010
The European Union and Vietnam announced the start of free-trade negotiations Tuesday, signaling a major effort to move ahead in the race to secure new markets despite the failure of the Doha Round of global trade talks. More…
Peru opens trade deal with China and reaches agreement with European Union
Peruvian Times, 02 March 2010
A free trade agreement between Peru and China came into force on Monday, 15 months after President Alan García and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, wrapped up talks to seal the trade deal. More…
Singapore, European Union To Commence Free Trade Agreement Talks
NASDAQ, 02 March 2010
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said Wednesday it will commence negotiations with the European Union on a free trade agreement this month. More…