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Articles by language

Bangladesh: FTA offers little benefits to weaker economies

19-Feb-2008 The Independent Bangladesh

"There is no compelling case for an FTA with India" warns Dr Hamid Rashid, director general of the Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs

Sri Lanka: The cost of free trade

19-Feb-2008 The Island

India’s Minister of Commerce was in Colombo last week. He had the usual few words to say about the benefits that are supposed to have accrued to pretty much everybody since the entry into force of the free trade agreement with Sri Lanka in 2000. Unfortunately, the story isn’t so simple. Taking a closer look at what has happened in practice would prompt even the most ardent believer to question the undoubtedly beguiling theory of free trade.

Striking farmers shut access to Peru’s Machu Picchu

19-Feb-2008 Reuters

Peruvian farmers upset over a free trade deal with the United States blocked rail service to the famous Inca ruins at Machu Picchu on Monday and paralyzed vast swaths of the Andean country by halting traffic on key highways.

FTA approval could be held up by unconstitutional clauses

19-Feb-2008 Hankyoreh

A South Korean parliamentary report says that some of the clauses of a free trade agreement with the United States — National Assembly’s right to dictate taxable items and tax rates — may be unconstitutional.

US-Korea Understanding on Agricultural Biotechnology (2007)

18-Feb-2008 Korean Advanced Farmers Federation

Negotiated on the sidelines of the US-Korea FTA, in March 2007.

Premier forum d’investissement des Etats membres de l’Accord d’Agadir

18-Feb-2008 Business News

L’objectif général du forum serait d’accroître le flux des investissements européens dans les pays de l’Espace Agadir

US Treasury Dept outlines open investment campaign to ward off protectionism

18-Feb-2008 Forbes

Developing a policy response to the concerns surrounding sovereign wealth funds, addressing the national security aspect of foreign investment, and negotiating bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are ’at the forefront of an open investment campaign that must be waged to hold the forces of protectionism at bay,’ a US Treasury Department official said today.

Talks focus on copyright laws

16-Feb-2008 Kuwait Times

Government officials in Kuwait expressed their keenness over signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States but a senior US economic representative recently noted that talks with regards to the issue are ongoing.

US labor leaders to Bush: No trade deal with murderers

16-Feb-2008 PWW

Top labor leaders ended a trip to Colombia Feb. 13 by telling that country’s president, Alvaro Uribe, that American unions will not support the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the killing of union members by right-wing death squads there is put to a stop.

Talks with US on for Bipa-like trade treaty

14-Feb-2008 Economic Times

India and the US have begun discussions this week on an agreement to promote bilateral investment. The negotiations are expected to be protracted as the US agenda is highly ambitious.

House panel extends Andean trade pact

14-Feb-2008 AP

A US House panel on Thursday approved a 10-month extension for a trade program providing reduced tariffs for exports from the four Andean nations of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Ivory Coast says EPA deal will lead way for region

14-Feb-2008 Reuters

Ivory Coast will sign a definitive Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe in June, which it believes will open the door for other West African countries. it is also advising regional powerhouse Nigeria on how to seal an EPA.

Mexican farmers cite surge in corn imports from US

13-Feb-2008 Hoover’s

A group mainly representing Mexican family farmers denounced Monday that imports of white corn from the United States increased 384 percent after last month’s NAFTA-mandated end to trade barriers in agriculture.