bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

S. Korea, Britain to launch talks for FTA upgrade next month
4-Dec-2023 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea and Britain will begin negotiations for upgrading the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) next month in response to changing global business circumstances.
Can existing international agreements on ‘investment facilitation’ advance sustainable development, climate action, and human rights?
1-Dec-2023 CCSI
Terminating investment treaties and withdrawing advance consent to ISDS would allow governments to clear the path from problematic treaties centered on investment protection and ISDS, which in practice benefit unsustainable investment.
Looking for lithium in the Andes — Peru is key to India’s Latin America push
1-Dec-2023 The Print
India has been pursuing a trade agreement with Peru since 2017. The two countries held the 6th round of negotiations last month and talks are scheduled to be held again in December.
Sri Lanka eyeing investment only deal with India, RCEP hits roadblock: President
1-Dec-2023 Economy Next
Sri Lanka has started discussions on separate agreements on investment and trade with India and an attempt to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has been hit by a lack of rules to admit new members.
India and EFTA states conclude 20th round of trade talks
1-Dec-2023 Financial Express
India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, recently completed the 20th round of negotiations for a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
Vietnam wants to sign foreign trade deal with Türkiye, says prime minister
1-Dec-2023 Anadolu
Vietnam’s prime minister said that they are willing to sign a foreign trade agreement with Türkiye as relations between the two countries are at their peak.
Ministry reports difficulties in next-generation FTA implementation
1-Dec-2023 Vietnam Net Global
Foreign invested enterprises make up the majority of Vietnam’s export turnover of high-revenue products. Meanwhile, Vietnamese enterprises still mostly do outsourcing, and export raw materials or half-finished products.
When investors subvert states
1-Dec-2023 Project Syndicate
The ongoing lawsuit brought against Honduras by an American company underscores the unjust and undemocratic nature of the investor-state dispute settlement system.
EU, South America near deal on elusive Mercosur trade pact
1-Dec-2023 Yahoo
The European Union and South America’s biggest economies are closer than ever to concluding a major trade agreement more than two decades in the making, with leaders from both regions optimistic they can strike the elusive deal next week.
Dispute settlement mechanisms: BoI asked to show ‘flexibility’
30-Nov-2023 Business Recorder
These directions were issued after threadbare discussion with Saudi Arabia and Qatar which are insisting on the option of international arbitration in a template of Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Mercosur and UAE to begin trade negotiations in the first half of next year
30-Nov-2023 MercoPress
Brazil currently the chair of Mercosur has opened a consultation period until December 18 on a possible trade agreement between the South American block and the United Arab Emirates.
Who knew Queensland’s richest man is a foreign investor?
30-Nov-2023 The Australia Institute
Clive Palmer’s controversial legal strategies challenge Australia’s trade agreements and environmental laws, and have profound implications for global climate action.
Investor-state dispute settlements: a hidden handbrake on climate action
30-Nov-2023 IIED
To achieve the Paris Agreement’s climate goals, states must move away from fossil fuels. But investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) — a system that enables companies to take states to international arbitration — can increase the cost of this transition.
Spain and Brazil leaders to discuss EU-Mercosur deal at COP - sources
30-Nov-2023 Reuters
Spanish Prime Minister and Brazilian President will meet at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai to discuss the conclusion of negotiations on a long-awaited trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur.
WTO investment facilitation for development text (final draft, Jul 2023)
30-Nov-2023
Somalia embraces the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), validates its national strategy
30-Nov-2023 Zawya
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Somalia embraces AFCFTA in a meeting convened in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), of its African Continental Free Trade Area national implementation strategy.
30 countries to begin trading under AfCFTA next year - Senior Advisor
28-Nov-2023 Ghanaweb
Thirty countries in Africa will begin trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) next year as part of measures to implement the Af­CFTA agreement, senior advisor to the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, Peter Joy Serwornoo, has stated.
"Free trade agreements are an engine of poverty and inequality." Interview with José María Oviedo
28-Nov-2023 bilaterals.org
In a context where free trade policies have had a significant impact on peasant and farming communities around the world, La Via Campesina has declared that it is time to take strong action.
EU-New Zealand trade pact gets Brussels’ final green light
28-Nov-2023 Euractiv
Brussels gave the final green light for an EU-New Zealand trade deal that, while mutually lowering barriers for both markets, highlights the recent failure of EU-Australia negotiations.
EU lawmakers approve New Zealand trade deal to end hiatus
28-Nov-2023 Reuters
The European Parliament approved the European Union’s free trade agreement with New Zealand, its first endorsement of such a deal in more than three years.