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Eyeing a deal by December, India & UAE to start FTA talks today
23-Sep-2021 Times of India
India and the UAE announced the launch of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which New Delhi is seeking to prioritise talks for a free trade agreement.
China wants to join the trade pact once designed to counter it
22-Sep-2021 Foreign Policy
CPTPP members will have a robust discussion on China’s application. It’s hard to argue that Beijing’s trade regime will be in line anytime soon with CPTPP disciplines on state-owned enterprises, labor, digital trade, and intellectual property protection, among other concerns.
Senate approves draft laws on RCEP, bilateral FTA with China
22-Sep-2021 Phnom Penh Post
The senate on September 20 unanimously passed (38-0) two draft laws authorising the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the bilateral Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA).
Fighting for food sovereignty in Kenya and Uganda
20-Sep-2021 Water Savvy Solutions
Special podcast about the implications of free trade for African women, especially from a food sovereignty perspective.
Thailand plans to sign free trade deals with more Chinese provinces
20-Sep-2021 Pattaya Mail
The government aims to sign mini-Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other provinces in China following strengthened partnerships from the first FTA with Hainan province in late August.
China’s entry to CPTPP trade pact is closer than you think
20-Sep-2021 Nikkei Asia
China’s entry to the CPTPP trade pact will not be easy, requiring the agreement of all existing members, including countries experiencing strained ties with Beijing such as Canada and Australia.
Malacanang ratifies RCEP, Senate for concurrence
20-Sep-2021 Manila Bulletin
Malacanang has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (RCEP), a mega free trade deal seeking to grant zero duty on goods traded among 15 countries that account for 29 percent of global gross domestic product.
RCEP edges closer to ratification in an Indonesia battered by COVID-19
20-Sep-2021 The Diplomat
Despite some obstacles, the country is slated to become the third Southeast Asian nation to ratify the mega trade pact. While there is still a chance that RCEP’s enabling legislation could get stuck in the DPR’s slow machinations.
European Parliament voices support for EU-Taiwan investment agreement
20-Sep-2021 Focus Taiwan
The European Parliament adopted a resolution during a plenary session on Thursday in which it urged the European Union to negotiate a bilateral investment agreement (BIA) with Taiwan.
Multinational corporations and COVID-19: Intellectual property rights vs. human rights
20-Sep-2021 Socialist Project
Transnational companies today rely more than ever on IPR to structure their global value chains, writes Peter Rossman
The UK has committed to making Africa’s landmark trade agreement successful
17-Sep-2021 Quartz Africa
James Duddridge, the UK’s minister for Africa, signed a memorandum of understanding with Wamkele Mene, the secretary-general of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) secretariat.
China applies to join Asian trade deal US abandoned
17-Sep-2021 Bloomberg
Beijing has applied to join an Asia-Pacific trade pact once pushed by the U.S. as a way to isolate China and solidify American dominance in the region.
WTO plurilateral investment facilitation draft consolidated revised Easter text
16-Sep-2021
Some WTO Members are negotiating rules on facilitating investment. This is the draft consolidated text as of 23 July 2021 ("revised Easter text"). It updates the Easter text available at https://www.bilaterals.org/?wto-plurilateral-investment-45012.
New ISDS case map launched (sticky note)
16-Sep-2021
Bangladesh, Australia sign trade, investment agreement
15-Sep-2021 The Business Standard
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and his counterpart Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Dan Tehan signed a framework on trade and investment between Bangladesh and Australia on Wednesday.
S. Korea to expand FTAs with more emerging countries in S.E. Asia, Latin America
15-Sep-2021 The Korea Herald
South Korea said it plans to implement or launch negotiations for a set of new FTAs with trading counterparts from Southeast Asia and Latin America this year, as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on major economies.
China and ASEAN push for timely RCEP start as Jan. 1 looms
15-Sep-2021 Nikkei Asia
Countries that have signed on to the East Asia-spanning RCEP trade deal are going full speed ahead with plans to implement it on Jan. 1, 2022, despite foot-dragging by a majority, with China and ASEAN especially keen, for their own reasons, on seeing the pact come into force soon.
Kingdom-EAEU team to push for FTA
13-Sep-2021 Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia is reportedly keen to set up a new joint team with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to conduct a more detailed examination of the possibility of formally launching free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the bloc soon, and add impetus to underwhelming bilateral trade ties.
Piyush Goyal, Liz Truss talks to decide next steps for UK-India trade deal
13-Sep-2021 The Economic Times
International Trade Secretary Liz truss will speak with Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to discuss timelines and next steps to launching negotiations for a UK-India trade deal.
S. Korea proposes digital trade pact with ASEAN
13-Sep-2021 The Korea Herald
South Korea on Monday proposed a new pact on digital trade with Southeast Asia to cope with the changing global business environment and forge deeper economic ties with the region.