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Iran, Pakistan to begin free trade talks in September
29-Jun-2023 Tasmin News
Iran and Pakistan will start direct talks for a free trade deal in September, according to a senior Iranian trade official who said an agreement may be possible until the end of the Iranian calendar year in March 2024.
Trade: US trade policies a new form of “colonialism”?
29-Jun-2023 SUNS
The US policies in global trade appear somewhat like “old wine in new bottles,” with some semantic sophistry. It appears that “the more things change the more they remain the same” as regards the new forms of colonialism.
Public sector in Africa told not to be excited yet about AfCFTA’s progress
28-Jun-2023 Ghana Business News
Mr David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner, AB and David Africa, has urged African public sector players not to be too excited yet about the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) progress.
Regional NGOs warn Kenya on EU trade deal
28-Jun-2023 The Independent
Eastern and Southern African trade promotion organisations are asking Kenya to withdraw from its recent agreement with the European Union to implement the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The EAC: A customs union that isn’t.
28-Jun-2023 The Citizen
Negotiations between the EU and EAC to establish an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) have revealed, very clearly, that the EAC is not a genuine customs union.
India plans to revive trade deal with SACU
28-Jun-2023 Mint
Amid declining merchandise exports due to demand slowdown in the west, India is placing renewed focus on striking a trade deal with a union of five countries of Southern Africa.
British minister: UK-India trade deal should have strong investment protections
28-Jun-2023 Reuters
Britain’s investment minister said he would like to see strong investment protections in any future trade deal with India, and that the two countries could work more closely together on financial services even without a trade pact.
Mercosur/EU trade accord: Lula describes EU amendments as ’unacceptable”, but will continue talks
28-Jun-2023 MercoPress
Brazilian president Lula da Silva reiterated his support for the signing of the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur but expressed his dissatisfaction with the additional terms proposed by the European bloc, calling them “unacceptable.”
Brazil’s Lula calls for ’common sense’ negotiations on EU-Mercosur trade pact
28-Jun-2023 Reuters
Brazil cannot give up government purchases, Lula said, referring to an unwanted procurement clause of the deal allowing European companies to sell to Brazil’s public sector.
EU in talks with Chile on raw materials ‘strategic partnership’
28-Jun-2023 Euractiv
The modernised EU-Chile trade agreement, like its sister EU-Mexico trade deal, contains a new chapter on energy and raw materials, which opens the door for deeper cooperation in those areas.
Canada’s Enerflex calls for international arbitration after Mexican court awards ex-employee more than $120-million
28-Jun-2023 The Globe and Mail
Enerflex argued the ruling defied regional trade agreements between Mexico, the United States and Canada, also calling the court’s decision “indirect expropriation” and denouncing arbitrary treatment by the Mexican state.
Switzerland signs free trade agreement with Moldova
28-Jun-2023 Swiss Info
Switzerland joined Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland in signing an agreement to boost economic and trade relations with Moldova.
New code Y864 for goods imported into the EU with preferential origin from Israel as from 16 May 2023
28-Jun-2023 European Commission
The new code must be declared to benefit from the preferential tariff under the EU-Israel association agreement. Israeli settlements are not eligible.
India, Australia may conclude talks for comprehensive trade deal by Dec
26-Jun-2023 Business Standard
India and Australia plan to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive trade pact by December, a year after implementing the interim Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), according to people aware of the matter.
Version 3.0 China-ASEAN FTA holds 3rd round negotiations
26-Jun-2023 Xinhua Net
The opening ceremony of the third round of negotiations on Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) was held Sunday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, said the Ministry of Commerce.
Massive payout: South Korea slapped with $108.5 million penalty for Samsung merger
26-Jun-2023 Korea Tech Today
South Korea has been ordered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes to compensate hedge fund Elliott approximately $108.5 million concerning the 2015 merger of two Samsung subsidiaries.
Public service key to AfCFTA implementation
25-Jun-2023 The Sunday Mail
African countries should prioritise upskilling and digitising the public service in order to accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocols, especially in areas where tariff phasedown has been agreed.
US House approves Taiwan trade deal, demands future oversight
23-Jun-2023 South China Morning Post
The US House of Representatives voted to approve the first agreement signed under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade and to require congressional consultation for future negotiations.
Hong Kong investors keen to sign FTA with Bangladesh
23-Jun-2023 Bangladesh Post
Hong Kong investors are looking forward to sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China.
Between a mineral and a hard place
22-Jun-2023 TNI
In the era of the energy transition, questions of state control and power are back on the agenda in a big way.