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Experts positive on India-UK FTA deal
The India-UK free trade deal, which has missed the Diwali deadline, is likely to get the much-needed impetus with Rishi Sunak taking over as Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister as experts see political stability in the UK giving momentum to negotiations.
EU States start exiting the Energy Charter Treaty whilst African signatories increase
African countries are increasingly becoming signatories to the ECT potentially tying the hands of government to freely design their climate policies.
Belgian environment minister supports withdrawal from Energy Charter Treaty
Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development, and Green Deal Minister Zakia Khattabi reiterated her support for Belgium’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty during the EU’s Environmental Council meeting.
Slovenia ‘very likely’ to withdraw from Energy Charter Treaty
Slovenia will follow the lead of countries such as the Netherlands, Spain and France and very likely withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, Infrastructure Minister Bojan Kumer announced.
European exodus from Energy Charter Treaty raises climate questions
France, Germany and Spain plan to leave the controversial investment pact, putting a whole system of dirty energy protections into play.
EU says ‘fully committed’ to Mercosur deal as region comes into focus
The EU is ‘fully committed’ to moving ahead with the stalling Mercosur free-trade deal with the South American bloc and should do so before “other actors intervene,” EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said.
Romania loses arbitration versus investors in solar power
A tribunal operating under the World Bank has ruled in favor of ten companies that initiated arbitration with the argument that Romania violated the Energy Charter Treaty by lowering incentives for their solar power plants.
Chip giant Taiwan appeals for EU trade deal, sees ’enormous potential’
Taiwan’s government officials touted its leading position in the chip sector on Tuesday while appealing to the European Union to start talks for a trade deal, which Taipei has long sought.
India-UK free trade talks to gather pace after a brief lull
The briefly interrupted last-mile negotiations for the ambitious India-UK FTA may restart with the Rishi Sunak become PM, but the unprecedented economic crisis gripping the island country could still slow the process and delay a deal beyond 2022, according to officials and trade analysts.
UAE trade deal talks may finish 2023
Formal talks on the Cambodia-United Arab Emirates (UAE) CEPA will likely be completed by 2023, according to a senior commerce ministry official.
Barbados seeking to forge strong ties with Algeria
Possible areas of cooperation between the two countries include a double taxation agreement and a bilateral investment treaty.
Kenya to expand trade ties with UAE
The two nations have agreed to fast-track trade agreements and set up a joint panel to explore investment partnerships in oil and gas, technology transfer, agriculture, healthcare as well as development of Special Economic Zones.
EFTA and Malaysia met for 13th round of FTA-negotiations
Malaysia and member states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) met for a 13th round of negotiations on an Economic Partnership Agreement.
France becomes latest country to leave controversial energy charter treaty
Quitting the ECT, which protects fossil fuel investors from policy changes that might threaten their profits, was ‘coherent’ with Paris climate deal, Macron said.
Cambodia, UAE launch CEPA talks Oct 24
Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are slated to sign a declaration of the launch of formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on October 24, paving the way for a boost in bilateral trade and investment.
FTA benefits debated at nat’l forum
While government officials have said that FTAs are important to attract investors to the country, some civil society organisations voiced concerns at the forum that the deals did not appear to be of any benefit to smallholder farmers.
S Korea, Arab nations to hold new round of FTA talks next week
South Korea and a group of Arab countries will hold another round of negotiations for their free trade deal next week, Seoul’s trade ministry said. South Korea and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will begin the sixth round of official talks for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in Seoul.
PH seen ratifying economic treaty end-2022
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is yet to make a decision on the ratification of the RCEP as he wants to ensure the trade agreement will not be detrimental to local industries.
CSOs warn Nigeria against acceding to the Energy Charter Treaty
Signing the ECT would give the transnational companies in the energy sector a weapon to re-colonise Nigeria, as it would also be incompatible with Nigeria’s economic diversification aspirations.
India, UK unlikely to finalise FTA before ’23
India and the UK are unlikely to finalise a trade deal before 2023, largely because of the political turmoil in Britain and differences within the outgoing Liz Truss government on issues such as mobility of professionals and immigration.