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EU trade talks ramp up ahead of Ardern’s Europe visit
Trade talks between New Zealand and the European Union have entered a “rolling process” of negotiations, with hopes the long-running discussions can be wrapped up before Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visits the region this year.
Taiwan passes CPTPP-compliant intellectual property amendments
The new legal framework for intellectual property rights will meet the standards set out in the CPTPP free trade agreement, and is expected to help in the country’s negotiations to join the 11-member trade bloc.
UK will not offer Indians more visas in post-Brexit trade talks
The government will not allow more Indians to come to the UK through new visa routes in any UK-India free trade deal.
Barbados and Rwanda strengthening ties
Barbados and Rwanda move to strengthen ties, Prime Minister Mia Mottley believes such a partnership can pay dividends in the fight against COVID-19.
Canada, Indonesia agree to boost economic cooperation
Canada and Indonesia recently agreed to intensify economic cooperation, especially on trade, investment and energy transition. Indonesian foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi and Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly signed the Indonesia-Canada Plan of Action for 2022-2025 during the latter’s visit to Indonesia to take ahead the cooperation initiatives.
Govt eyes FTAs with seven countries, two blocs
The government is considering seven countries and two regional blocs as potential partners for signing free trade agreements to retain duty-free market access of Bangladeshi products after the graduation from the least developed country to a developing one in 2026.
S. Korea decides to join CPTPP trade agreement
South Korea decided to join a mega free trade agreement involving 11 Asia-Pacific nations as the country seeks to diversify its export portfolio amid heightened economic uncertainty.
Thailand mulls more FTAs to expand export markets
Thailand is scheduled to study free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America by the second half of this year, a move to expand new export markets.
Sweden opposes Council appeal on Western Sahara court ruling
In a move that surprised no one, the EU Council has appealed the recent EU Court of Justice stopping EU trade and fisheries in occupied Western Sahara.
Policy brief on digital trade
The “digital trade agenda” would see the ability of governments to regulate big tech in the public interest severely curtailed.
Ousted Pakistani leader as challenging investment treaties that give corporations excessive power
Mexico and many other countries are facing anti-democratic corporate lawsuits like the case that pushed Khan to withdraw from international investment agreements.
India-UAE trade pact to be reviewed next year, more items may be included
The India-United Arab Emirates’ free trade agreement will be reviewed in a year to consider including certain items that are currently on the exclusion list, said Emirati Foreign Trade Minister.
Cambodia, Nepal look to deepen economic ties
Cambodia and Nepal are committed to further strengthening and expanding bilateral ties and cooperation in the fields of economics, commerce, agriculture, energy and investment to further boost bilateral trade.
What is IPEF, and will it help the US counter China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific?
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework seeks to establish trade rules and is widely seen as an effort by the US to counter China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Wamkele Mene: AfCFTA must set agenda on intellectual property and subsidies
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the world’s newest and most ambitious trade bloc, after the World Trade Organisation, its biggest, covering 1.2bn consumers in 55 countries that together generate annual GDP in excess of $3 trillion.
Imran Khan’s Reko Diq Deal is malicious for Balochistan
Several aspects of Reko Diq deal with Barrick Gold are still concealed and Balochistan is not aware of the details of the agreement, say civil society members and politicians from the region.
Biden’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework is at a crossroads
Unless the Biden administration chooses the right path, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework will be more or less forgotten by the end of the year.
Thailand ups trade ties with Telangana
Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding to form deeper trade partnerships through a so-called mini free trade agreement (mini-FTA) with Telangana state in southern India.
EU wakes up, moves on FTA with India
India’s successful free-trade agreements with the UAE and Australia have encouraged the country and the EU to plan three rounds of talks, all within this year to conceptualise a basic frameworks under which the partners will negotiate a comprehensive deal to raise bilateral trade.