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Japan cabinet endorses RCEP free trade deal
The Japanese government adopted at a cabinet meeting Wednesday a plan to approve a deal to forge the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which was agreed on by Japan and 14 other nations in November last year.
Mustaqeem de Gama, South African Mission in Geneva: “It is a bad idea for any African country to consider signing the Energy Charter Treaty”
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty is not in the public interest, according to South Africa’s government. It has also cancelled other agreements that allowed foreign investors to sue their state. This has not stopped investors from coming, says Mustaqeem de Gama.
Take action to end the climate-killing Energy Charter Treaty
Sign the petition to pull out of the Energy Charter Treaty and stop its expansion to other countries!
How Energy Treaty ’shadow’ courts prolong EU’s fossil age
The treaty enables companies to claim billions in compensation from states in front of international arbitration tribunals, if they feel unfairly treated by the states’ energy or climate policies.
India, Mauritius sign economic partnership deal
The trade deal would provide a gateway to the markets of the African continent as Mauritius has several pacts with them
Are the sustainability criteria in the Swiss trade deal with Indonesia toothless?
A free trade agreement with Indonesia has sparked backlash and Switzerland’s first national referendum on palm oil imports. On the eve of the vote to take place March 7, SWI swissinfo.ch fact checks claims on sustainability.
Two steps forward, one step back for Vietnam’s labor rights
Several EU statements still refer to EVFTA as helping to create "trade unions" in Vietnam, but WROs are different in many ways. They are only allowed to collectively bargain and organize strikes at the individual enterprise level, meaning they are restricted to individual companies.
EU farmers call for coherence amid Mercosur deal and climate action
An EU-Mercosur deal would be potentially detrimental to European farmers’ stability, EU farm organisation CEJA has warned.
CPTPP: More freedom for capitalists, more exploitation for workers
Behind the rhetoric of ‘liberalisation’, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is nothing more than vehicle for exploitation and global inequality.
Biden faces South African push to extend trade concessions
South Africa’s preferential market access to the U.S. is under review, however, the country is apprehensive about striking a new trade deal with the U.S. and would rather maintain existing relations with the world’s largest economy.
Brazil and Britain sign "Poison Memorandum"
Brazil and the United Kingdom created a joint committee to facilitate the relationship in agribusiness.
Commission wants to ‘explore options’ for India trade, investment
The European Commission said that it wants to “explore options” for expanding the EU’s trade and investment with India.
Panthera Resources engages law firm in its dispute with the government of Rajasthan
Panthera said it has been “consistently frustrated over an extended period” by the government of Rajasthan, which has rejected Panthera’s application for a prospecting licence for the gold project.
India to contest Cairn Energy arbitration award, lawsuits in international court
The move signals the government’s resolve to defend its sovereign rights in taxation. The government has kept open possibility of settling the dispute within existing Indian laws.
Negotiations on the UK’s future trading relationship with New Zealand: Update
The third round of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with New Zealand took place between 25th January and 9th February.
Canada, Indonesia trade talks begin for comprehensive economic partnership agreement
Bilateral trade between Canada and Indonesia remains small — amounting to just over US$3.7 billion in 2019.
EU to be tougher in trade talks, include climate change goals in deals
The European Union will become more assertive in trade talks and push for its international partners to include combating climate change in future deals, its trade commissioner said.
Here’s why China’s trade deal with Mauritius matters
Mauritius already plays an important role as an investment entrepôt for the subcontinent. This likely makes Sino-Mauritian ties even more important for the rest of the continent to watch.
India calls for ’fresh’ trade talks with US
India has called for a “fresh package” for trade talks with the United States and the new Biden administration that will go beyond, this time, the “nitpicking” and the constant shifting of goalposts that had bogged down the last round of discussions with the Trump administration.