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Investor-State Dispute Settlement: What are we trying to achieve? Does ISDS get us there?
12-Feb-2018 CCSI
Evidence suggests that the inclusion of ISDS in investment treaties may not actually be effective, or optimally effective, while at the same time, ISDS imposes significant costs on the sustainable development objectives of states.
Extraordinary summit to be held on Africa’s CFTA this March
12-Feb-2018 SUNS
An extraordinary summit of the African Union is scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 March 2018 to consider and sign the Framework Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).
Sri Lanka seeks deeper ties, free trade agreement with China
12-Feb-2018 Modern Diplomacy
Sri Lanka wants a longer-time period to negotiate a free trade agreement with China as it is concerned about the economic impact of a rushed deal on their small country, the Sri Lankan ambassador said.
Australia, Peru sign free trade agreement
12-Feb-2018 Xinhua
Under the deal, tariffs on 99 percent of Australian goods exported to Peru will be eliminated within five years.
US-Malaysia FTA unlikely until CPTPP sealed
12-Feb-2018 Malaysian Reserve
Unlikely that a US-Malaysia FTA will transpire anytime soon, says American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce
EU-Mercosur trade talks close with key gaps remaining
12-Feb-2018 Reuters
Negotiators for the European Union and Latin American bloc Mercosur have concluded two weeks of talks in Brussels on a free trade deal with no clear breakthrough and no formal offers made.
US$22.6 billion of assets of Kazakhstan’s national fund remains frozen
12-Feb-2018 Cision
Frozen assets secure a US$520 million award against Republic of Kazakhstan.
South Korea to seek investor protection measures in FTA talks with China
12-Feb-2018 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s trade ministry said Monday it will seek ways to better protect investor rights from arbitrary regulations when holding talks with China to expand the scope of the two countries’ free trade agreement (FTA) to the service and investment sector.
Auto industry skeptical of Canadian TPP side deal on vehicles with Japan
12-Feb-2018 Global News
Auto workers and manufacturers are rejecting assertions by Canada’s trade minister that the country won major access for them into the highly protected Japanese market in the recently rebooted Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Tokyo’s drift towards intellectual property crusader
12-Feb-2018 East Asia Forum
Japan’s role in RCEP negotiations appears to have been shaped by its participation in the TPP. Japan is now championing for expanded intellectual property right provisions which may block access to affordable medicines
Belt and road initiative: Ominously, Chinese investment in South Asia target control of natural resources
12-Feb-2018 Financial Express
Economic corridors have hardly been as controversial as China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI). It could have avoided controversies if it had proceeded in a consultative fashion like multi-country cross-border corridors.
China agrees to accommodate Pakistan’s concerns on FTA
9-Feb-2018 Pakistan Observer
The demands included those from exporters to provide tariff concessions equivalent to the ASEAN countries.
SL-S’pore FTA sparks investment interest among NZ firms
9-Feb-2018 Mirror Business
The recently signed Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement has been able to create a lot of enthusiasm among New Zealand companies operating in Singapore.
Grain exports surging because of free trade deals
9-Feb-2018 The Farmer’s Exchange
Free trade agreement FTA partners purchased half of all exports of feed grains in all forms in 2016-17, according to the US Department of Agriculture trade data and analysis by the US Grains Council.
Mise à niveau : Un rempart contre la disparition des entreprises locales
9-Feb-2018 Chateau News
Depuis la ratification par le Cameroun, le 22 juillet 2014 de l’accord de partenariat économique avec l’Union Européenne les petites et moyennes entreprises camerounaises sont menacées par le spectre de déflagration.
Indonesia strives for completion of RCEP negotiations
9-Feb-2018 Vietnam Plus
Indonesia is committed to accelerating negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Jakarta Post quoted Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita as saying.
What now for economic integration in the Asia-Pacific?
9-Feb-2018 The Diplomat
Progress made in TPP negotiations spurred on RCEP talks, which in turn further stimulated TPP efforts. It is thought that the recent consensus on TPP-11 has increased momentum for RCEP countries to reach a deal as well.
Kerala fears zero tariff under RCEP may hit domestic dairy industry
9-Feb-2018 The Hindu BusinessLine
Kerala has raised concern over the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement between 16 Asian-Pacific countries on the ground that it would impact the country’s dairy sector.
The emerging global right to investment: Understanding the reasoning behind foreign investor rights
8-Feb-2018 SSRN
Relying on property and contract law theory, this article shows that the arbitral interpretation of foreign investor rights privileges wealth maximization over propriety.
UNCTAD’s World Investment Reports 1991-2015: 25 years of narratives justifying and balancing foreign investor rights
8-Feb-2018 SSRN
These reports describe foreign investor rights following a narrative of wealth maximisation by transnational corporations (TNCs), and focus on a TNC-assisted restructuring of host states and local communities.