bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

All articles

Free trade pacts turning a tool to dump spices
12-Jul-2005 Hindu Business Line
Ever since the Free Trade and Preferential Trade Agreements (FTA/PTA) between India and its neighbours have come in to force, spices that are not even grown in these countries are landing here as produce of those nations.
Indonesia happy with CAFTA with China, sees no need for FTA
12-Jul-2005 Asia Pulse
Indonesia will not seek to sign bilateral agreements with China outside the China-Asean Free Trade Area (CAFTA) scheme when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visits that country later this week.
CAFTA and the legacy of free trade
12-Jul-2005 Znet
Passage of CAFTA is not guaranteed because of splits within the US corporate elite over the proper pace and focus of free trade.
Legal implications of Thailand-US FTA
12-Jul-2005 Bangkok Post
Even though potential commercial gains are expected from this FTA agreement, domestic industries and US companies are equally sceptical of the legislative changes in Thailand.
Free or even fair?
11-Jul-2005 Bangkok Post
As the 4th round of Thailand-US free-trade negotiations start today in Montana, a key issue will be the shape of any future intellectual-property regime. The survival of Thai jasmine rice, and the people who grow it, may very well depend on whatever system is finally agreed upon.
US-Thai FTA: Final trade deal not expected in Montana round
11-Jul-2005 Bangkok Post
The fourth round of trade negotiations between Thailand and its single largest trading partner, the United States, is not expected to yield any significant outcome, although both parties hope the talks starting today will help the two better understand each other and bring them closer to solving respective concerns.
Progress made in talks with Tokyo
11-Jul-2005 Bangkok Post
Free-trade talks between Thailand and Japan may be edging toward a conclusion, thanks to better-than-expected results in the most recent round of discussions in Tokyo last week, according to a source close to the bilateral negotiations.
S. American group ready for PTA talks with Pakistan
11-Jul-2005 Dawn
MERCOSUR, a trading zone of South American countries, has agreed to initiate a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Pakistan.
Early FTA talks with US good for RP
10-Jul-2005 Manila Bulletin
An American expert on international trade and business practice has underscored the benefits for the Philippines to begin negotiating for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States.
1st report on FTAs with 9 major countries prepared
10-Jul-2005 Daily Times
The first draft of the report on free trade agreements between Pakistan and its nine major trading partners has been completed, an official told Daily Times on Saturday.
Bangladesh keen on free trade agreement
10-Jul-2005 Telegraph
Bangladesh is keen to sign a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with India.
The big steal
10-Jul-2005 Newsline
Most observers realise the existence of a parallel economy in Pakistan and the integral role that it plays in the overall financial system. The underground piracy economy is estimated at billions of rupees, providing employment to thousands of people. So no one is complaining. No one except the corporations and Uncle Sam.
Kosovo to sign FTA with Bosnia in September
10-Jul-2005 ECIKS
The delegation of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) returned yesterday from Sarajevo, where they met Bosnian authorities to discuss possibilities for reaching a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bosnia.
Council created to boost US-Arab trade
10-Jul-2005 Daily Star
The new body will work to fully open region’s markets to American firms.
Of rice and men
10-Jul-2005 Tech Central Station
For US and Thai trade negotiators meeting next week in Montana, intellectual property rights protections for plant breeders and pharmaceutical innovators are proving to be the most contentious issues in negotiating a Thailand-US Free Trade Agreement (TUSFTA).
Interview: Free trade hurting India vanaspati makers
10-Jul-2005 Dow Jones Newswire
India’s vanaspati industry, already plagued by excess capacity, has been cast into deeper gloom lately by trade agreements that have opened the way for cheaper imports from neighboring Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Statement of National Corn Growers Association on US-Morocco FTA
10-Jul-2005 US HoR
The Morocco FTA cuts the tariff on US corn initially in half and then proceeds to zero by year six. This provides a significant advantage to US exporters and could potentially allow them to capture near 100 percent of the Moroccan market.
Chinese Amb. Wang calls for preparations for Japan-China FTA
9-Jul-2005 Kyodo
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi called on the Japanese business community Friday to launch preparations for negotiations on a Japan-China free trade agreement.
South Africa, Japan plan panel to get FTA ball rolling
9-Jul-2005 Japan Times
Japan and South Africa agreed Thursday to form a study group to examine the feasibility of striking a bilateral free-trade agreement. Japan will proceed with South African FTA talks with an eye to eventually concluding a free-trade pact with the entire SACU.
US-Thai FTA: Framework needed before discussions on finance sector
9-Jul-2005 Bangkok Post
Financial sector liberalisation is a sensitive subject for the talks. US authorities have insisted that no FTA agreement can be negotiated without it. Thai authorities have been reluctant to make any commitments on opening up the banking, insurance, asset management or securities sectors.