Trade Ministry allays fear over EPAs
MyJoyOnline, Ghana, 31 May, 2012
There are renewed calls on the Government to call the bluff of the European Union which is threatening sanctions if Ghana fails to finalize the Economic Partnership Agreement by 2014. More…
Van Rompuy wants early start of Japan-EU FTA talks: Hatoyama
The Mainichi, 31 May, 2012
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy plans to visit Japan in July for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in the hope of declaring a start of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday. More…
Rushing to finish a global free-trade deal
Bloomberg Businessweek, 31 May, 2012
To avoid gridlock over a major free-trade pact, the US and eight other Pacific nations have told Japan, Canada, and Mexico to wait. More…
Integration of economic blocs into a global player
Leadership, South Africa, 30 May, 2012
Plans to create an African free trade area (FTA) by integrating three existing African trade blocs consisting of 26 countries by July 2014 are gaining momentum. The aim is to create a free market of 525 million people with an output of US$1 trillion making it a global player. More…
USA-Colombia Free Trade Agreement worries poultry producers
WorldPoultry, 29 May, 2012
The Free Trade Agreement between Colombia and the USA is going through, freeing Colombian exports from Washington politics. Colombian poultry producers appear to have pulled the wrong straw, however. More…
India, Myanmar agree to step up trade & economic ties, fight terrorism
NetIndian News Network, 28 May, 2012
India today extended a $ 500 million line of credit to the Government of Myanmar as the two countries signed 12 agreements for cooperation in various areas and agreed on a vision for the future in the pursuit of the common good – bilaterally, regionally and globally. More…
South Korea, Colombia close to striking FTA: trade officials
The China Post, 28 May, 2012
Trade officials in Seoul indicated yesterday that South Korea and Colombia will soon conclude a free trade agreement (FTA). More…
China-Taiwan trade agreements complex as shared history
Vancouver Sun, Canada, 28 May, 2012
As Ma Ying-jeou starts his second four years as president of Taiwan, his opening up of the economy to China in his first term is presenting the island nation with as many head-aches as opportunities. More…
Japan ‘eager’ to join trilateral FTA with China, South Korea
The China Post, 28 May, 2012
Japan is becoming increasingly “eager” to join a free trade agreement (FTA) with China and South Korea while it is unable to join a broader Asian trade pact, and as Beijing and Seoul began negotiations on an agreement, said the ministry of commerce. More…
Yilmaz: Ankara, Tehran to finalise trade deal
NEW EUROPE, 27 May, 2012
Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz, addressing the Turkey-Iran Joint Business Council in Tehran, said that they recorded progress on the way for a preferential trade agreement between the two countries. Within one year, the two countries aimed to finalise this agreement which was an important step for free trade agreement, Anadolu Agency quoted Yilmaz as saying. More…
EU-Canada trade deal in jeopardy if visa problem not solved, Czech PM says
Czech Position, 25 May, 2012
Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas (Civic Democrat, ODS) has warned his Canadian counterpart that the Czech Republic could create problems with a trade and economic agreement between the European Union and Canada unless Ottawa backs down over its visa requirement for Czechs visiting the country. More…
Kirk looks at future of US-EU trade relations
Tax-News, New York, 24 May, 2012
After, earlier this month, the European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht had foreseen the possibility of a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and the European Union in 2014, the US Trade Representative Ron Kirk provided his view on US-EU trade policy during a recent speech in London. More…
Investment treaty with Canada opposed
The News International, Pakistan, May 24, 2012
The ministry of commerce has opposed the proposed bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with Canada on a number of grounds as the controversial clause of covered investment is only to favour Canadian companies, The News learnt reliably on Thursday. More…
EPAs future still hanging in limbo
The Daily Times, Malawi, 23 May, 2012
The future of the country in signing the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) still stands in limbo due to the current change of government administration in the country. More…
In the dark on trade deal
The Sunday Morning Herald, 22 May, 2012
Trade Minister Craig Emerson and his Malaysian counterpart will sign a free trade agreement that promises “a new chapter” in the Australia-Malaysia relationship. More…
Guam-NMI lawmakers want trade pact with Korea
Marianas Variety, 22 May, 2012
LAWMAKERS from Guam and the CNMI are organizing themselves to lobby for the inclusion of two territories in the U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement. More…
Taiwan-New Zealand free trade talks to begin soon
Focus Taiwan News Channel, 20 May, 2012
Taipei, May 18 (CNA) Taiwan will officially begin free trade talks with New Zealand “in the near future,” Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday, following the recent completion of a joint feasibility study into a bilateral economic cooperation agreements. More…
Minister-level meeting next month on India-EU free trade agreement
The Economic Times, India, 20 May, 2012
In a bid to fast track the much-delayed negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement between India and European Union, commerce minister Anand Sharma will hold comprehensive discussions with EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht next month in Brussels. More…
Trade win with Malaysia spurs regional talks
The Australian, 20 May, 2012
Labor hopes a breakthrough free trade agreement to be signed with Malaysia tomorrow – giving Australian companies unprecedented access to Asia’s eighth-biggest economy – will provide momentum to negotiations on other bilateral deals across the Pacific region. More…
Oman seeks to benefit from opportunities offered by FTAs
Times of Oman, 19 May, 2012
Ahmad bin Hassan Al Dheeb, Commerce and Industry Ministry undersecretary for Commerce and Industry said that the council of ministers’ assignment of the ministry to prepare tables that identify the Sultanate’s commitments towards World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) came to enlighten private sector companies and establishments and the public on the benefits, advantages and disadvantages of those conventions. More…
S. Korea’s reluctance clouds FTA / Domestic resistance throws prospects for trilateral trade pact into doubt
The Daily Yomiuri, 18 May, 2012
Despite an agreement to launch talks on a three-way free trade agreement this year, Japan, China and South Korea have different priorities, leaving the prospects for their trilateral trade initiative unclear. More…
Among Neighbours – How to energize India’s Look East policy
The Telegraph, 17 May, 2012
India has traditionally looked West for trade, investment, and economic cooperation. But since the late 1990s, trade policy rightly focused on the Look East policy, and recognized that India needs to become integrated into the cross-border production and trade networks in Asia. More…
United States: United States To Resume Bilateral Investment Treaty Negotiations On The Basis Of A Revised Model Treaty
WilmerHal 17 May, 2012
The United States appears poised to begin or resume the negotiation of bilateral investment treaties (“BITs”) with a number of countries, including the so-called “BRIC” countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). On May 4, 2012 the U.S. and China announced their intention to schedule a 7th round of talks on a BIT. The same week, both India and Russia publicly indicated that they were interested in talking to the U.S. about BITs. More…
Spain supports EU/Mercosur trade accord on a “region to region” basis respecting WTO rules
Merco Press, 17 May, 2012
Spain’s Foreign Affairs minister Jose Garcia Margallo said that Madrid supports negotiations for a free trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union on a “region to region” basis, back stepping from his proposal last April to exclude Argentina following the seizure of YPF from Repsol. More…
Taiwan should join trade pact: Ma
Taipei Times, May 17, 2012
President Ma Ying-jeou said he hoped the regional aviation circle would set a precedent for Taiwan taking a similar role in a regional trade pact. More…
BIT of no use if FTA between Pakistan, US not signed
Daily Times, Pakistan, May 17, 2012
The signing of Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will not bear fruit without signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and United States of America (USA). More…
VP Siew touts importance of trade liberalization
Taiwan Today, 16 May, 2012
Taiwan will pursue an economic alliance with Japan and up its pace of trade liberalization to overcome challenges arising from planned free trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region, according to ROC Vice President Vincent C. Siew. More…
Brazil targets Argentina with trade licenses
Chicago Tribune, 15 May, 2012
Beijing and Seoul’s positions have been “reasoned and well communicated” as they prepare for formal negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement that is expected soon, Kim Min-cheol, one of Seoul’s major negotiators, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily. More…
Pacific region urges EC engagement for EPA progress
Matangi Tonga online, 14 May, 2012
The Pacific bloc of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping has urged the European Commission (EC) to officially respond to its proposals on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). More…
S. Korea’s reluctance clouds FTA / Domestic resistance throw prospects for trilateral trade pact into doubt
The Daily Yomiuri, 14 May, 2012
Despite an agreement to launch talks on a three-way free trade agreement this year, Japan, China and South Korea have different priorities, leaving the prospects for their trilateral trade initiative unclear. More…