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Asian bloc hopes new deal with Canada could lead to free trade pact
17-May-2007 Embassy Magazine
Vietnam’s assistant foreign affairs minister says Canada and members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are "optimistic" about a free trade agreement, but doesn’t want to speculate as to when such a deal would come to fruition.
Important challenges face Asian FTAs
17-May-2007 Ohmynews
Asian economic regionalism, driven by active FTAs, reached a decisive point recently as China, South Korea, Japan and ASEAN countries compromised on the plan for financial reserves to put the possible financial crisis under control.
SKorea official warns FTA with US could collapse
17-May-2007 AFP
A senior South Korean official warned Wednesday that the free trade deal with the United States could collapse if Washington "unilaterally" urges Seoul to revise it to reflect new US policy guidelines.
Congress report says US conceded little in FTA negotiations
17-May-2007 Hankyoreh
The Congressional Research Service, the research arm of the United States Congress, concluded in a recent report that the establishment of a "Committee on Outward Processing Zones on the Korean Peninsula" was a concession on the part of the US from its stance on products produced in North Korea, but that American negotiators yielded nothing of substance in free trade talks with South Korea.
EU vows to press ahead with free trade deals with ACP states
16-May-2007 EUX.TV
The European Union on Tuesday vowed to press ahead with efforts to eliminate tariffs and quotas on imports from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, arguing that the deals were needed to open up markets in poor nations. "We must create regional markets, ... poor countries need bigger regional markets," German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek- Zeul said.
South Korea, Australia to begin study of free trade pact this year
16-May-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and Australia will begin a joint study this year to explore a free trade agreement, a senior trade official said Wednesday.
Asean, EU may take years to ink FTA
16-May-2007 Financial Express
A deal may come only nearer to 2015, the year Asean is targeting for the creation of a single market for its 10 members, Asean secretary general Ong Keng Yong said.
Malawi-South Africa agreement "will attract investors"
16-May-2007 IPS
The Malawian government is optimistic that its new economic and technical cooperation agreement with South Africa will finally draw investors from its mighty neighbour.
Indo-Thai FTA talks gather momentum
16-May-2007 Economic Times
India has sought a major expansion of the opportunities on offer for Indian professionals in Thailand, as the two countries rush to conclude the negotiations on a free-trade agreement (FTA) comprising trade in goods and services and investment, which is likely to be signed during Thai premier General Surayud Chulanont’s visit to New Delhi in June.
Indian pharma cos see hope as US retreats on data exclusivity
15-May-2007 Economic Times
A section of India’s generic drug industry has claimed that its ability to export generic drugs to over a dozen countries with which the US is planning FTAs will increase, if a “conceptual agreement” reached last week by the US’ House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Bush administration is ratified and implemented.
Dominican Republic, Grand Caribbean headed for free trade
15-May-2007 Dominican Today
The Central American Integration System’s (SICA) 22 member countries and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) last Saturday have announced the start of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the two blocs as a first step to continue advancing towards an association pact.
AfroColombians oppose free trade agreement
15-May-2007 ZNet
Ana Valencia still tries to eke out a living as a miner in the hills near the headwaters of Colombia’s Rio Salvajina. Her sisters are gone now to the nearest city of Cali, where they work as domestics. She’s having a hard time hanging on.
GCC FTAs: Dead ends or new beginnings?
15-May-2007 MENAFN
What do the Gulf Cooperation Council countries want from FTAs?
Bipartisan trade deal: full text
14-May-2007 Committee on Ways and Means
Full text of the bipartisan trade deal reached between the US’ Democrat-led Congress and the Bush Administration
Japan, Switzerland launch FTA talks
14-May-2007 Ohmynews
Switzerland is the first European country with which Japan negotiates an FTA.
Agreement on ’Trade in Goods’ in the proposed ASEAN-Japan economic pact to be finalized November
13-May-2007 Balita Organization
On the contentious issue of transboundary movement of toxic waste, which inclusion in the JPEPA had caused an uproar locally, Philippine Trade Secretary Peter B Favila said it is likely that the same provision would be carried in the Japan-ASEAN trade deal.
Letter from Lebanon: Farmers risk losing big
13-May-2007 Scoop
As Lebanon heads down the fast track to trade liberalisation, some commentators are predicting a devastating impact on small-holder farmers. Unable even to sell produce on the Lebanese market let alone for export, farmers are painfully unprepared to compete with subsidised imports. Yet little is being done to fortify the agricultural industry as the fruits of major bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and liberalising reforms loom on the near horizon.
Bipartisan trade deal: USTR "fact sheets"
13-May-2007 USTR
Korea hopeful of trade pact with India by Dec
12-May-2007 Moneycontrol India
South Korea hopes to wrap up a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India by December 2007. The CEPA would encompass trade in goods and services and investment.
Ecuador maintains no to free trade with the US
12-May-2007
The visit of US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte to Ecuador has reconfirmed the government of Rafael Correa’s rejection of negotiating a free trade agreement with Washington, reported Prensa Latina.