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CII: level playing field for domestic industry
24-Apr-2006
Concerned at the spate of Free Trade Agreements being signed by Government, CII on Sunday demanded a comprehensive strategy to ensure a level playing field for the domestic industry including small and medium enterprises.
North Korean goods pose local threat
24-Apr-2006
Cheaper products from North Korea’s Kaesong special economic zone, which is a part of the proposed Asean-South Korean free trade agreement, may flood into Thailand and hurt local producers, according to executives of the Board of Trade.
US-NZ talks ’outstanding success’ but no FTA move
24-Apr-2006
The first ever US-NZ Partnership Forum, has been described as an "outstanding success" by its organizers, and will be repeated in New Zealand in 2007.
Macho men and state capitalism - is another world possible?
24-Apr-2006 Centro de Medios Independientes de Colombia
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is widely seen to be at the center of Latin America’s transformation by building a regional trade bloc through the creation of ALBA and Venezuela’s membership in Mercosur to oppose US dominance and its constant push for free trade agreements with Latin American governments. However, the true democratic debate has been silenced in this simplified two-sided fight between the projects of macho men.
Pitfalls in signing BIT with US
24-Apr-2006 Dawn
A bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with the United States was billed to be signed during President Bush’s visit to Islamabad last month. However, the signing ceremony was put off because the US draft contained some provisions which President Musharraf said were highly objectionable and needed to be renegotiated.
Venezeula renounces Cartagena, leaves Andean Community
24-Apr-2006 Scoop
Text of the letter in which Venezuela renounces the Cartagena Accord and withdraws from the Andean Community of Nations, translated by toni solo.
US ag groups mount support for Peru TPA
24-Apr-2006 Farm Futures
The Agricultural Coalition for US-Peru Trade, comprised of 58 agricultural organizations, sent a letter last week to every member of US Congress urging support of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The letter states that "PTPA sets a new and higher standard for future free trade agreements."
CJI calls for full implementation of the human rights and democracy clause in Article 2 of the Lebanese-European Association Agreement
24-Apr-2006 Campaign for Good Governance in Lebanon
The Campaign for Judicial Integrity (CJI), a Lebanese policy and advocacy group active in promoting reform of the Lebanese judiciary and legal profession, urged the European Union to give the highest priority for the full implementation of the human rights and democracy clause in Article 2 of the Lebanese-European association agreement before fiscal reform and tax increases.
Punishing the victim: PCHR position paper on the decision to stop international aid to the Palestinian National Authority
24-Apr-2006 PCHR
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights says that the EU has failed to enforce Article 2 of its Association Agreement with Israel and suspend the privileges given to Israel until it fulfills its obligations on human rights and democracy.
Southern NGOs want greater say in agreements with EU
24-Apr-2006 IPS
Civil society organisations from a large group of developing countries are insisting on full participation in negotiations under way with the European Union.
Morocco textile industry adapting to free trade
24-Apr-2006 Reuters
Morocco hopes to create as many textile industry jobs as it loses over a two-year period, the kingdom’s trade minister said.
Uganda to join Comesa FTA soon
24-Apr-2006 ANDnetwork
Uganda will join the Common Market for East and South Africa (Comesa) Free Trade Area within three weeks. Mr Nathan Nabeta, State Minister for Trade disclosed.
Nuke policy still an issue in US trade talks - Brash
24-Apr-2006 stuff
New Zealand National Party leader Don Brash said it was "fairly clear" that some members of the US Administration felt there was no prospect of an FTA unless there was some change in New Zealand’s anti-nuclear position.
Korea pledges to protect rice market in FTA talks
24-Apr-2006 Korea Times
The Ministry of Finance and Economy said that it would exert all-out efforts to shelter the Korean rice market from an influx of US agricultural imports after the enforcement of the proposed Korea-US Free Trade Agreement.
Japan proposes text on resources cooperation with Indonesia for FTA
24-Apr-2006 Kyodo
Japan and Indonesia wrapped up their fourth round of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement in Tokyo on Friday, with Japan proposing for the first time a draft clause in the FTA which calls for bilateral cooperation on mineral resources.
"US-India Strategic Economic Partnership": Kowtowing to American big business
22-Apr-2006 countercurrents
The Report of the US-India CEO Forum titled "US-India Strategic Economic Partnership", which was released during the recent Bush visit, has not attracted much media attention in contrast to the hype over the nuclear deal.
US: Ecuador oil-tax law violates treaty
22-Apr-2006 AP
A US Embassy spokeswoman said Friday that a newly approved oil-tax law designed to cut into windfall profits of foreign oil producers, like US-based Occidental Petroleum Corp, violates a bilateral investment treaty.
Analysis: Prospects for a free trade area EU-Ukraine
22-Apr-2006 EurActiv
A study reports on feasibility and implications of a free trade area between the European Union and Ukraine, which will be discussed following the country’s accession to WTO. An FTA agreement is foreseen by the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Ukraine and will become part of the European Neighbourhood Policy framework.
Chávez: Colombia-US trade pact killed the Andean Community
22-Apr-2006 El Universal
Colombian authorities reject Chávez’ claims. "The Andean legal framework prevails over the FTA, as expressly provided for in the final text of the FTA," said Colombia Commerce minister Jorge Humberto Botero
US, SACU trade talks proves far-fetched
22-Apr-2006 AllAfrica.com
The US will look for other ways to kick-start investment in southern Africa.