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US-M’sia FTA may take some time
19-Feb-2005
The US-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks are unlikely to begin this year as the two countries have only begun formal discussions on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) earlier this month.
Trade traps
19-Feb-2005
ActionAid’s new report on EPAs
Turkey, Jordan full speed ahead on FTA
19-Feb-2005 Turkish Daily News
State Minister Kürşad Tüzmen, on the third day of a visit to Jordan, said that Turkey had presented the draft text of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Turkey and Jordan to Jordanian Prime Minister Faysal Fayez, reported the Anatolia news agency.
TIFA to undermine political authority
18-Feb-2005
The proposed trade and investment framework agreement between Dhaka and Washington aims to establish a joint council on trade and investment by passing the political process and entrusting the fate of trade negotiations with bureaucrats.
De Venecia proposes Phil-Korean trade partnership accord
18-Feb-2005 Manila Bulletin
Philippine Speaker Jose de Venecia has proposed to South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae Chan and Speaker of Parliament Kim Won Ki the opening of negotiations for a Philippine-Korean Economic Partnership Agreement that would lead to large-scale investments, trade, and technology transfer to the country.
Tifa draft finalised
16-Feb-2005
Dhaka and Washington through a two-day negotiation ending yesterday finalised the draft of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa) paving the way further for creating a platform to talk bilateral trade issues.
Peter Mandelson speech on ’Strengthening the Lisbon Strategy’
16-Feb-2005 European Commission
"The hoped-for success of Doha should be complemented by bilateral or regional initiatives, such as Regional Trade Agreements with Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which allow the pursuit of a wider agenda."
Oman ’targets July FTA deal’
16-Feb-2005 Gulf Daily News
Oman will sign a free trade agreement with the US in July, its Trade and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali said yesterday.
US cites progress in Andean talks but agriculture remains sticking point
16-Feb-2005 BNA
Negotiators working on a free trade agreement between the United States and the three Andean countries of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru made "strong advances" in the latest round of talks in a number of areas — including market access and dispute settlement — but still have much work to do on agriculture, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Americas Regina Vargo said.
Prosper-thy-neighbour in South Asia
15-Feb-2005
The postponement of the Dhaka Summit of Saarc, twice over the past two months, is a setback for the fledgling process of economic integration in South Asia. But that should not prevent India from taking unilateral initiatives for promoting industry and supply capacities in its neighbours, especially Bangladesh.
Dhaka softens on graft, transparency in TIFA: Draft agreement almost ready
15-Feb-2005
Bangladesh and US trade officials are close to finalising a draft for a trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA), as Dhaka softened its positions on key debated issues.
WTO wrong to abandon core values
15-Feb-2005
Free trade agreements are popping up everywhere. In its first term the Bush administration pushed four through Congress and started another three. China is negotiating FTAs with Chile and New Zealand. And Australia has negotiated three with Washington, Singapore and Thailand, and is in the process of dealing with Beijing. Not everyone thinks they are good.
The case for a China trade deal
15-Feb-2005
The Howard Government is moving inevitably towards a free trade agreement with China. That is no bad thing. In the absence of any meaningful progress at the World Trade Organisation, a medium-sized economy such as Australia has few options but to pursue bilateral pacts with powerhouse economies such as China.
Maqbool cites reasons for move to begin free-trade pact talks with US
15-Feb-2005
Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, minister of commerce and industry, yesterday cited two reasons for the Sultanate’s decision to begin negotiations for a free-trade agreement with the US. He was addressing Omani businessmen, private sector officials and representatives of the companies operating in the Sultanate during a meeting at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Paraguayan FTA safe: government
15-Feb-2005
Government officials yesterday dismissed a report that the proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and its diplomatic ally Paraguay is in jeopardy, due to pressure from other members of Mercosur, a South American trade bloc of which Paraguay is a member.
TIFA talks start today
15-Feb-2005 New Age
Dhaka is likely to soften its position on inclusion of a clause related to bribery and corruption as it enters into the third round of talks with Washington today on a trade and investment framework agreement, sources in the commerce ministry have told New Age.
Pakistan proposes preferential trade pact with Afghanistan
15-Feb-2005 Asia Pulse
Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has proposed signing of a preferential trade agreement (PTA) leading to a free trade agreement (FTA) with Afghanistan in the near future to increase the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries.
Japan may accept more workers from Thailand
14-Feb-2005 Japan Times
The Japanese government is considering allowing in more Thai workers by relaxing employment conditions for cooks, masseurs and caregivers under a proposed free-trade agreement.
Germany’s Fraport flexes muscle
13-Feb-2005 Philippine Star
Fraport AG of Germany has decided to flex its diplomatic muscle in pressing for immediate compensation from the Philippine government for their investment in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Passenger Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) project, under the 1997 Philippine-German bilateral investment treaty.
FTA unbundling factor means negative impact - Colombia
13-Feb-2005 BNamericas
The soon to be signed Andean region free trade agreement (FTA) with the US will have a negative impact on the present and future development of Colombia’s telecoms market if approved under the current state of negotiations.