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Kazakhstan to sign trade agreement
13-Feb-2023 The Express Tribune
Kazakhstan plans to sign a Transit Trade Agreement with Pakistan to provide a legal framework for businesses alongside an agreement between banks of both countries to develop cooperation in the banking sector.
In Mexico, US complaints help union organizing efforts
13-Feb-2023 AP
It has been nearly two years since the United States began pressing Mexico over labor rights violations by using rapid dispute resolution methods contained in the USMCA but workers and union organizers are mixed on the results.
China’s South America free-trade deal to have ‘clear impact’, but may irk US by seeking opportunities in its ‘backyard’
13-Feb-2023 South China Morning Post
The election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president of Brazil has raised the possibility of a free-trade deal between China and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).
UK must quit climate-harming energy charter treaty, experts say
13-Feb-2023 The Guardian
Secret international court system enables fossil fuel firms to sue governments for lost future profits.
Switzerland says won’t follow EU out of beleaguered Energy Charter Treaty
13-Feb-2023 Euractiv
Bern said it will not join the European Union’s proposed mass exit from a controversial energy investment protection treaty, sparking fears that fossil fuel companies will use Switzerland as a rear base to keep suing governments over climate action.
Indonesia, Timor Leste Agree to establish Bilateral Investment Treaty
13-Feb-2023 Tempo
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak agreed on a number of commitments. One of the commitments was related to the establishment of a bilateral investment treaty.
EU seeks currency convertibility from India
13-Feb-2023 Live Mint
The European Union has suggested that India liberalize its capital account restrictions as part of a comprehensive free trade agreement being discussed with New Delhi, according to the text of the latest negotiations.
China willing to accelerate FTA talks with Nicaragua: senior official
13-Feb-2023 Global Times
China is willing to accelerate comprehensive FTA negotiations with Nicaragua, promoting bilateral development in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Thailand, UAE to form closer trade ties
9-Feb-2023 Bangkok Post
Thailand and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to form a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
UK trade minister visits Mexico, targeting new deals
9-Feb-2023 Reuters
Britain’s trade minister begins a two-day visit to Mexico, targeting a bilateral trade deal as well as Britain’s accession to a Pacific trading association.
Free-trade agreement ‘logical next step’ for Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates, city leader John Lee says
9-Feb-2023 South China Morning Post
A bilateral free-trade agreement will be the “logical next step” for Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates to boost investment ties, the city’s leader has said during his visit to Dubai.
Kenya, US to hold talks on strategic trade and investment partnership in Feb
9-Feb-2023 Capital News
The United States and Kenya will hold an in-person round of conceptual discussions under their Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) in Washington, DC, from February 6-10, 2023.
China-ASEAN negotiations enter next round
9-Feb-2023 China Daily
The first round of consultations on the 3.0 version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area negotiations was launched between China and the bloc, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce.
UK, EU seek access to India’s public procurement market
9-Feb-2023 Live Mint
Large Indian companies bidding for government tenders will soon be facing foreign competition as India prepares to open up its $500 billion public procurement market as part of free trade agreement negotiations.
Without public participation, the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiations potentially create a multidimensional crisis in Indonesia
9-Feb-2023 Indonesia for Global Justice
The Indonesian CSOs assesses that the I-EU CEPA Agreement will deepen the crisis of democracy, climate and social justice for all Indonesian people. For this reason, the MKE Coalition urges the Government of Indonesia to not submitting the agreement before they can guarantee legal certainty for the fulfillment of democratic rights, guarantees for the protection of human rights, social justice, and sustainable environment.
Egypt’s trade minister touts $994 mln trade exchange in meeting with Swiss ambassador
8-Feb-2023 Ahram online
Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said on Tuesday that Egypt and Switzerland have distinguished trade and investment relations, with the volume of trade exchange between the two amounting to $994 million in 2022.
AfCFTA: Ambitions of free trade must move beyond talk
8-Feb-2023 The Africa Report
How can Africa’s continental free trade agreement be moved forward from talk to action? An eventful week in Ghana ended with new promises from African governments and state parties to speed up processes towards the full realisation of the world’s largest free trade area – AfCFTA
Second round of IPEF negotiation to start in India on Wednesday
8-Feb-2023 Business Standard
India has opted out of the trade pillar as broad consensus had not emerged on issues pertaining to labour, environment, digital trade, and public procurement.
Canada, Taiwan to begin formal talks to spur foreign investments
8-Feb-2023 Reuters
The talks about a so-called "Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement" aligns with Canada’s plan to increase trade and influence in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region.
EU-India trade deal: Business as usual?
8-Feb-2023 Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung
The EU-India trade deal is a neoliberal deal, entrenched in the idea that more trade between the two markets will bring significant benefits. Benefits there will be, for Indian and European multinationals but people and the planet will significantly lose from this deal.