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India, EU to resume formal FTA talks in May
14-Apr-2021 Financial Express
After a gap of about eight years, India and the EU will resume formal negotiations for a trade and investment agreement on May 8, with both sides aiming to expedite a deal to aid economic growth in the post-pandemic era.
State rushes to complete studies on CPTPP pact
14-Apr-2021 Bangkok Post
The Finance Ministry is speeding up its study on the pros and cons of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as working on protective measures to cushion against the impact of the pact if Thailand decides to join.
ATPC embarks on first ever environmental assessment of the AfCFTA to usher in green-friendly trade on the continent
14-Apr-2021 UNECA
The African Trade Policy Centre is preparing the first ever Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the AfCFTA to guide on how environmental considerations can be effectively incorporated into the agreement.
It is not trade, it is imperialism: why Kenya must reject the US Free Trade Agreement
13-Apr-2021 Ukombozi Review
A FTA with the USA will be lopsided and threaten cottage industries in the country as well as informal jobs, which will negatively impact the lives of millions of working class Kenyans. Our markets will be swamped into oblivion by highly subsidized American goods.
UK concerns over lower food standards in CPTPP trading bloc
13-Apr-2021 Farming UK
But UK farm leaders have warned that existing group members do not have the same high rules on standards and welfare as those in force in the UK.
Kenya, Pakistan to review trade agreements
13-Apr-2021 The Standard
The governments of Kenya and Pakistan are in high-level discussion to review the bilateral trade agreement of 1983 to harmonise business levels between the two states.
What’s next? Kenya-UK Economic Partnership Agreement
13-Apr-2021 Econews Africa
The story of Econews Africa’s engagement with Kenyan parliamentarians and their advocacy efforts through media sensitisation and public interest litigation around the Kenya-UK EPA.
Zelensky: Ukraine, Turkey to conduct audit of controversial issues to sign FTA
13-Apr-2021 Ukrinform
Ukraine and Turkey are ready for the further development of bilateral relations and have agreed to conduct a substantive audit of all controversial issues in order to find a mutual compromise.
Japan not keen on joint FTA study
13-Apr-2021 The Financial Express
Japan has shown its reluctance to take forward a proposal by Bangladesh for conducting a joint feasibility study on the possibility to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
India considers reviving FTA talks with Gulf Cooperation Council
12-Apr-2021 The Economic Times
India is reconsidering a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council after the United Arab Emirates, the country’s biggest trading member in the bloc, approached it to revive talks that got stalled in 2008.
Rehabilitating protection and resituating trade agreements
12-Apr-2021 The Hill
Recent calls for the US to launch a trade dispute over Mexico’s proposed decree to ban glyphosate and the planting and importation of GM corn mischaracterize the science on glyphosate, the decree and the role of US trade policy.
Arbitration case: Cairn Energy offers to invest $1.2 bn if India relents
12-Apr-2021 Business Standard
Cairn Energy has offered to invest the entire award money in India, which includes the principal amount of $1.2 billion and interest of $500 million if the government agrees to enforce the award.
UK ‘close’ to trade deal with New Zealand that could lead to cheaper wine and meat
12-Apr-2021 Inews
UK and New Zealand will enter the final round of talks this week.
House approves Indonesia-EFTA trade deal
12-Apr-2021 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia is one short step away from having its first trade agreement with European countries after legislators approved a bill over a deal between Indonesia and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Singapore ratifies mega free trade agreement RCEP
12-Apr-2021 Hellenic Shipping News
Singapore ratified the RCEP agreement on Friday, becoming the first participating country to do so in a multi-nation trade pact that brings together the 10 ASEAN economies as well as Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
ACTU condemns Morrison Government for pressing ahead with new trade agreement with military regime in Myanmar
11-Apr-2021 Mirage News
The ACTU has condemned the Federal Government at an inquiry hearing into Myanmar today for pressing ahead with ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement which includes trade with Myanmar.
Europe’s China gambit
10-Apr-2021 Project Syndicate
Trade and investment agreements cannot transform China into a Western-style market economy or turn it into a democracy.
Does new EU-ACP deal really ’decolonise’ aid?
9-Apr-2021 EU Observer
Based on what we have seen in nearly final drafts of the text, the EU seems poised to again fail to promote a real shift in power relations due to imbalances that remain written into the new deal.
Why we need to talk about the African free trade area
9-Apr-2021 Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung
The AfCFTA will give the African Union the chance to become a strong, independent player in the world economy – at least that is the optimistic forecast. But there are good reasons to cast doubt on the high hopes pinned on the African free trade area.
Rethinking investment law from the ground up: extractivism, human rights, and investment treaties
9-Apr-2021 IISD
For many people affected by resource extraction, it is the prevailing legal regime that dis-embeds and disintegrates, because investment treaties can protect ventures that upend their lives with little scope for voice or redress.