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After APEC, free trade orthodoxy questioned
26-Nov-2008 AP
Leaders of 21 nations that represent half the global economy fear a raft of new protectionist barriers will strangle commerce as the world slides into a frightening recession. There are growing signs that developing countries will erect protectionist barriers to weather the crisis, partly because they have seen that time after time, "free trade" agreements have focused chiefly on beating rivals to market.
Thailand and Peru plan FTA talks
26-Nov-2008 MCOT
Thailand and Peru are exploring a possible bilateral free trade pact as the Peruvian government would like to see see the surged trading between the two countries, according to Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
India firm on signing FTA with Asean in Chiang Mai
26-Nov-2008 Bernama
India is firm in signing the much-awaited Asean-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, next month despite some teething problems that may further delay the trade pact, said a top trade official.
Farmers against FTA
25-Nov-2008 Straits Times
More than 11,000 South Korean farmers rallied on Tuesday against a pending free-trade deal with the United States, saying the accord threatens their livelihoods.
Israel, Mexico signed the amended Israel-Mexico Free-Trade Agreement
25-Nov-2008 Port2Port
The newly signed amendment allows for goods originating in Israel or Mexico to undergo minimal processing or storage in a third country such as the US or EU, and still retain duty-free status.
GCC and Europe FTA in few weeks
25-Nov-2008 Business 24/7
The Free Trade Agreement between European Union and GCC states will be signed within few weeks, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, has said.
Canadian Churches signal alarm over free trade deal with Colombia
25-Nov-2008 CNW
KAIROS calls on the government of Canada to conduct a Human Rights Impact Assessment before proceeding any further.
Korea, Chile agree to form new multilateral FTA
25-Nov-2008 Korea.net
President Bachelet reportedly asked her Korean counterpart to come to the negotiating table next March in Singapore, where countries including New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, the United States, India, Peru and Australia are expected to start negotiations on a multilateral FTA. According to Korean Presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan, President Lee gave a positive response to the proposal.
Thailand set to sign Asean-S Korea free trade pact
25-Nov-2008 Intellasia.net
Thailand is ready to sign the Asean-South Korea free trade agreement at the Asean Summit in Chiang Mai next month if the plan wins endorsement from Parliament today.
Free trade with Colombia a cruel move
25-Nov-2008 CUPE
Harper says that workers’ protection has been written into the trade deal. But whether these stipulations will be enforced is another story.
Is Australia genuine about a "new approach" to the Pacific?
25-Nov-2008 AidWatch
The Rudd government has made much of its ’new approach’ to Australia’s island neighbours, but the view from the Pacific — especially of the aggressive pursuit of a new free trade deal as part of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) — is that not much has changed.
Japanese firms plan to transfer to Philippines
24-Nov-2008 Manila Standard
A number of Japanese firms have expressed intention to move their businesses to the Philippines once the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement takes effect next month, an official said yesterday.
Tanzania: Thirsty for justice
24-Nov-2008 Multinational Monitor
British water giant Biwater cannot use an investment treaty to make Tanzania pay millions for an abrogated water privatization contract, an international tribunal ruled in July.
Japan, Colombia to start talks on investment pact
24-Nov-2008 TMC Net
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe agreed Saturday to launch talks on a treaty to increase protection of their bilateral investments, a Japanese official said.
AU brushes aside colonialism under its nose
24-Nov-2008 Daily Nation
The European Union is veering toward condoning colonialism. Worse, the African Union hardly notices. Meanwhile, the United Nations limps in pursuit of Morocco-occupied Western Sahara’s de-colonisation.
Hu’s LatAm trip expands China’s profile in US backyard
24-Nov-2008 AFP
Chinese President Hu Jintao has left Latin America with one free trade agreement in hand, another in the works and a deeper Chinese footprint in a region long seen as the US backyard.
Mexico’s Calderon warns Obama against renegotiating trade deal
24-Nov-2008 Bloomberg
Mexican President Felipe Calderon warned Barack Obama against trying to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying restricting commerce would only encourage illegal Mexican emigration to the US.
Canada and Colombia sign free-trade agreement
24-Nov-2008 Epoch Times
Canada and Colombia signed a free-trade agreement in Lima, the Peruvian capital, on Friday.
Philippine fishers warn against sectoral talks in WTO
24-Nov-2008
A national coalition of 14 fisher federations in the Philippines warned against mandatory "sectoral" talks in the World Trade Organization, saying that it would only benefit rich countries that wanted more market access for their products. On Friday, which was World Fishers Day, about 200 members of Kilusang Mangingisda also picketed the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and Asian Development Bank to protest against policies promoting fisheries trade liberalization.
Andean indigenous reject FTA with Europe
24-Nov-2008 Prensa Latina
The Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI) ratified rejection of a free trade agreement that governments of Colombia and Peru want to sign with the European Union. This reiteration is contained in a letter CAOI representative Miguel Palacin addressed to Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde, referring to the latter’s threats to expel Bolivian social leaders allegedly in Peru to take part in protests against the agreement.