U.S. encourages Japan to join Pacific trade pact
Japan Today, 30 September, 2011
The United States said Thursday it would welcome Japan’s participation in a future trans-Pacific trade agreement as it voiced frustration at a lack of new initiatives tying together the two allies. Japan is debating whether to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade pact being negotiated by nine nations including the United States, but the government faces strong opposition from farmers. More…
Myanmar, India seek to double trade by 2015
Indian Express, 28 September, 2011
India envisages doubling the current $1.5 billion trade with Myanmar by 2015, along with broad-basing the trade basket of the two countries, commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said on Tuesday. “Businesses of both sides need to be encouraged to utilise duty free tariff preference scheme and ASEAN free trade agreement channels to diversify trade,” Sharma said after meeting his counterpart U Win Myint. More…
Palestine joins Agadir FTA
Maghreb Arab Press and All Africa Global Media, 27 September, 2011
Foreign Ministers of the signatories to the Agadir free trade agreement (signed on February 25, 2004 and includes Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan) agreed, Monday in New York, to Palestine’s membership of the grouping. Moroccan Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri noted that the agreement would include the new, free Libya. More…
Ukraine edges closer to EU status
Irish Examiner, 27 September, 2011
Hopes are high that the EU will agree to initial the comprehensive free trade agreement with Ukraine at a summit in Warsaw this week, marking an important step towards the country’s membership of the bloc. The EU had warned it would delay and downgrade relations with Ukraine over what is seen as a politically motivated trial of former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko. More…
Auto parts industry opposes FTAs
Business Standard, 27 September, 2011
India is on the verge of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), but a concerned auto component industry has started raising its voice against such agreements because they have adversely affected domestic manufacturers, dominated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). More…
EU seeks to begin FTA negotiations with S. Mediterranean countries
Kuwait News Agency, 26 September, 2011
The European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council on Trade Monday agreed to begin negotiations on free trade agreements (FTA) with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. “The Council agreed on the importance of sending a strong signal to the Southern Mediterranean countries which are ready to undertake economic and democratic transformation,” Polish economic affairs minister Marcin Korolec told a press conference after the meeting this afternoon. More…
India-ASEAN free trade agreement increases market access: survey
Xinhua (China), 25 September, 2011
A prominent Indian commerce and industry association said Sunday the country’s Free trade agreement (FTA) with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has increased access for both Indian and ASEAN companies into each other’s markets. A survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said “FTA has opened up more opportunities for Indian industries in terms of greater market access for their products in the ASEAN region.” More…
Think Tank for Landlocked Nations ‘Vitally Important.’
UN News Press Release, 23 September, 2011
Highlighting the special constraints faced by landlocked developing countries, the President of Mongolia today appealed to United Nations Member States to sign and ratify a multilateral agreement to set up an international think tank in his country’s capital to address the concerns of this vulnerable group. More…
Independence of Trade Office Required
Solomon Times, 23 September, 2011
Solomon Islands says that the independence and integrity of the Pacific’s Trade Advisory Office is a priority for the region and should not be undermined by Australian funding decisions. The office of the Chief Trade Advisor was set up to give Pacific countries independent advice as they face up to Australia and New Zealand in negotiations for the proposed PACER Plus trade agreement. More…
Taiwan, Japan sign investment accord in ’stepping stone’ to FTA
Bloomberg, 22 September, 2011
Taiwan and Japan signed their first investment accord, strengthening economic ties and stepping closer toward negotiating a free-trade deal. The treaty provides for investment protection, promotion and liberalization, Peng Run-tsu, chairman of Taiwan’s East Asia Relations Commission, said today in Taipei after signing the agreement with Mitsuo Ohashi, the chairman of the Japan Interchange Association. More…
Pakistan to ink FTAs with Asean, GCC
The Nation, 21 September, 2011
Pakistan expects to seal Free Trade Agreement (FTAs) with two promising regional groupings to boost the country’s trade performance, Secretary Commerce, Zafar Mahmood has said. “Pakistan is to sign the agreements with ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council,” he said in an interview following the conclusion of Pakistan Malaysia Business Forum and the meeting of Joint Review Committee on FTA. More…
Armenia presents achievements at EU-RA Cooperation Committee sitting
PanARMENIAN.Net, 20 September, 2011
Armenian Economy Minister characterized a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement-related issues as an important component of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement negotiations. More…
Clarity sought on pursuit of EU trade pact
Bangkok Post, 19 September, 2011
The Trade Negotiations Department is seeking a clear policy on whether the country will pursue a free trade agreement with the European Union. Thailand and the EU started negotiating a framework but have not officially launched FTA talks. Singapore and Malaysia have almost concluded their respective negotiations with the EU while Vietnam and the Philippines are working on plans, according to the department’s director-general, Srirat Rastpana. More…
Rival parties clash again over KORUS FTA
The Korea Times, 19 September, 2011
The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) clashed again Monday over when to ratify the pending Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (KORUS FTA) on the first day of the 20-day annual inspection of state affairs. The two rival parties this time differed in their opinion on the economic impact of the pact referring to previous free trade deals made with other countries. More…
US Treasury Secy. says Korea, US FTA ‘Good Agreement’ For US Companies
Arirang (Korea), 15 September, 2011
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says free trade deals with countries like Korea are absolutely critical to the US and adds that if these trade pacts are not approved soon, other countries will tap into these markets and take market share away from US companies. More…
Baku to host Azerbaijan-EU association agreement negotiations
Azerbaijan Press Agency, 14 September, 2011
The next round of the negotiations on the association agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union will be held in Baku in October. The statement came from charge d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Jerome Pons. More…
India to Rely on Free Trade Pacts amid Doha Stalemate
The Wall Street Journal, 13 September, 2011
India will keep signing free trade pacts with regional blocs and countries to boost merchandise exports, top officials said, as the World Trade Organization’s Doha round of talks remains deadlocked and economies in traditional western markets struggle to recover. “We are doing that, we have done it and we are negotiating with many countries,” Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said recently, referring to India’s efforts to seal trade pacts. More…
East Africa Wants to Trade beyond the EU
The World News, 13 September, 2011, Wambi Michael
The East African Community (EAC) and European Union head back to negotiations on Monday to resolve the controversy over the delay in signing an economic partnership agreement between the two trading blocs. Economic partnership agreements (EPAs) between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries are aimed at promoting trade between the two groupings. But since 2007 talks between the EAC and the EU have lagged. More…
Colombia, Japan sign trade treaty
Colombia Reports, 12 September, 2011, Adriaan Alsema
Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos and Japan ‘s Primer Minister Yoshihiko Noda signed an investment protection agreement Monday. According to Santos , who is in Japan to improve economic ties with one of Asia’s largest economies, the signed Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments Agreement between the two countries is a step towards an Economic Cooperation Agreement that is to further strengthen bilateral trade between Colombia and Japan. More…
EU Trade chief De Gucht visits Namibia and South Africa to boost trade and development deal
European Commission – Press release, 12 September, 2011
The EU’s Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht will today travel to Southern Africa to boost negotiations on a comprehensive trade and development agreement between the two regions. On 13 September he will meet with President Hifikepunye Pohamba and key ministers in Namibia as well as Namibian business representatives, and civil society. He will travel to South Africa on 14 September to meet South African Trade Minister Rob Davies before participating in the EU–South Africa Summit on 15 September. More…
GCC discusses economic plan for Jordan, Morocco
Khaleej Times, 11 September, 2011
The Gulf Cooperation Council on Sunday discussed a five-year economic development plan for Jordan and Morocco, which both hope to join the alliance of oil-rich monarchies. More…
The false promise of Obama’s trade deals
Guardian.co.uk, 08 September, 2011
As protestors greeted trade negotiators, GDAE’s Kevin P. Gallagher and Timothy A. Wise published an article in the Guardian on Sept. 8th on the Obama Administration’s disappointing proposals for the TransPacific Partnership (TPP), now under negotiation in Chicago. More…
Non-Aligned Movement Backs Palestinian Statehood Bid
Tehran Times, 08 September, 2011
Representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states have voiced their support for the Palestinians seeking recognition of the Palestinian State at the United Nations General Assembly. More…
Solomon Islands Included in Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme
Solomon Times Online, 08 September, 2011
Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced that Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu have been invited to join the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. This will provide an important economic boost to communities in our Pacific neighbourhood and offer Australian producers an avenue to source workers, where seasonal demands outstrip the local supply of labour. More…
Turkey Eyes Egypt Alliance
Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey), 07 September, 2011, Sevil Küçükkoşum
Turkey is looking to develop greater economic and strategic ties with Egypt following the Ankara government’s decision last week to downgrade relations with Israel as part of the continuing conflict over the deadly Mavi Marmara raid in 2010. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to sign military and economic cooperation agreements. More…
Preferential trade agreements and the WTO
East Asia Forum, 06 September, 2011, Nadia Rocha and Robert Teh
Participation in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) has grown rapidly in recent years. In 1990, there were only about 70 PTAs in force. Thereafter, PTA activity accelerated noticeably; by 2010 the number of PTAs in force was close to 300. The average WTO member is party to 13 PTAs. More…
Indo-Pak set to scale up bilateral trade, business
Indo Asian News Service, 05 September, 2011, Updated: 06 September, 2011
India and Pakistan are set to scale up bilateral trade and business when Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim comes here later this month on an important visit during which Islamabad could grant New Delhi the long-overdue Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. More…
China Builds Trade with South America
Live Trading News (Singapore), 05 September, 2011, Paul A. Ebeling, Jnr.
Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman Saturday urged a boost to the south American country’s trade ties with China, saying a free trade agreement (FTA) between Beijing and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) could be “extraordinary”. More…
Dushanbe summit pledges to boost regional trade
The News, 03 September 2011
The quadrilateral meeting of heads of state of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russia ended, adopting a joint statement pledging to strengthen regional trade and to fight terrorism and the narcotics trade. More…
Keep investment provisions out of trade agreements
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 01 September, 2011
“The government must keep investment provisions out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and the Free Trade Agreement with Hong Kong” said John Ring, Democrats for Social Credit spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. “The next round of negotiations for the Trans Pacific partnership Agreement between New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Chile, Peru, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, and Malaysia begins on the sixth of this month. More…
EU close to trade deal with Palestinian Authority
The Irish Times, 01 September, 2011
The EU moved closer to a trade deal with the Palestinian Authority yesterday after unanimous backing from European lawmakers to fully open markets to farm and fish products from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. More…