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Why the new BIT may not work
26-May-2016 The Hindu
The new bilateral investment treaty’s gratuitous focus on local courts and taxation may not please our partners.
Australia-Hong Kong investment ruling released in plain packaging case
26-May-2016 ICTSD
The tribunal considered that the main and determinative reason for the 2011 restructuring was in order for the tobacco giant to bring a legal claim under the BIT Treaty, using a Hong Kong-based entity.
Spain: COAG will request cancellation of EU-Morocco free trade agreement
26-May-2016 Fresh Plaza
The head for fruits and vegetables at COAG is requesting in the European Parliament for the immediate implementation of the ruling cancelling the agreement for free agricultural trade between the EU and Morocco because of the illegal inclusion of Western Sahara.
We cannot afford to fail on the Continental Free Trade Area
26-May-2016 All Africa
Successful implementation of the CFTA will enable members to realize their potential to expand and accelerate the dynamism of intra-African trade
Takeaways from the leaked TISA documents
26-May-2016 Politico
Whistleblower platform and free trade agreement critic Wikileaks posted draft documents - and its own opinions - from the Trade in Services Agreement talks, on the eve of the 18th round of negotiations.
Melanesian Free Trade Agreement to start in 2017
26-May-2016 Radio NZ
A Melanesian Free Trade Agreement is expected to come into force after negotiations for a new deal concluded in Vanutau.
Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA): Consumers International makes urgent call for greater transparency in negotiations
26-May-2016 Consumers International
As the 18th round of negotiations on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) starts on May 26th, consumer organisations are making an urgent call for greater transparency.
TiSA - draft annexes (2015)
25-May-2016 Wikileaks
As leaked by Wikileaks on 25 May 2016
WikiLeaks releases Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) documents
25-May-2016 Wikileaks
WikiLeaks releases new secret documents from the huge Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) which is being negotiated by the US, EU and 22 other countries that account for 2/3rds of global GDP.
At landmark BRICS meet, India raises public health, pharma sector concerns
25-May-2016 First Post
A high-level panel hosted by India discusses the issues of trade deals that inhibit access to medicines and also limit policy space for governments to legislate in public interest.
China’s “new normal” in international investment agreements
25-May-2016 CCSI
China’s approach to international investment agreements (IIAs) is evolving, namely that China is adapting to prevailing international investment-law standards.
Standing up to patent bullying
25-May-2016 The Hindu
The Ministry of Commerce must be cautious of Free Trade Agreements being negotiated with the European Union as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership that further strengthen or extend intellectual property (IP) monopolies.
S. Korea to launch FTA negotiations with Israel next month
25-May-2016 Yonhap
South Korea said that it has come to an agreement with Israel to begin negotiations next month on a free trade deal that could further boost bilateral trade.
Member states’ proposal for more investor protection legally flawed
25-May-2016 Client Earth
The proposal would fundamentally undermine the EU’s internal market provisions and the role of the courts of the Member States and the European Court of Justice in safeguarding their operation.
Asia trade deal RCEP will undercut farmers’ control over seeds
25-May-2016 International Press Syndicate
According to the latest leaked draft of the RCEP agreement, the negotiating countries fall into two camps when it comes to legal rights over biodiversity and traditional knowledge useful for food production and medicine.
Citra Mina workers
25-May-2016 Focus
The Philippine government is hoping the EU-Philippines FTA wil facilitate more tuna exports to the EU, but the industry is riddled with issues of low wages, unfair labor practices, poor and slave-like working conditions.
Signing away sovereignty
24-May-2016 TNI
The Philippines has a web of investment treaties which severely constrain the government’s ability to regulate or close polluting mines, a legal straitjacket that will become even tighter if the EU–Philippines Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) proceed
Two chapters in RCEP agreement to conclude in June: Mustapa
24-May-2016 New Straits Times
Economic and technical cooperation chapters will be the first two chapters to be concluded during the 13th round of negotiations, ahead of plans to seal the deal by year-end.
Prosperous Mexican farms suck up water, leaving villages high and dry
24-May-2016 New York Times
Nafta is all about high-intensive-labor crops. Water extraction increased exponentially. Every year, farms bore farther into the aquifer, and scientists warn that they are reaching tainted water that is contaminated with arsenic and fluoride which is causing great harm.
TTIP less consensual than it seems in Central and Eastern Europe
24-May-2016 Bordelex
Support for TTIP in Central and Eastern Europe, though it remains strong, is no longer as consensual as it used to be.