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Central bank chief wants FTA openness
17-Jan-2006
Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula said he felt the mounting opposition to a free trade area (FTA) was due to the lack of an explanation to the public in a concrete manner.
Sacrificing lives for patents under FTA
17-Jan-2006 Bangkok Post
On the last day of the sixth round of Thai-US Free Trade Area talks, several academics and non-governmental bodies were invited to discuss their concerns with US negotiators on aspects of intellectual property rights, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical and life form patents. For a number of reasons, only one academic showed up.
EU proposals to Iran (summary 2005)
17-Jan-2006 IranMania
On 5 August 2005, the E3/EU passed to Iran a "Framework for a Long-term Agreement". Under it, the E3/EU would work for an early conclusion of negotiations on a draft EU/Iran Trade & Co-operation Agreement.
India, EU should sign free trade deal: UK
16-Jan-2006 The Hindu
The United Kingdom has proposed that India and the European Union enter into a Free Trade Agreement. The suggestion was made by the visiting UK Trade Minister, Ian Pearson, to Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, who said India would be "open" to the idea.
US trade meeting planned
16-Jan-2006
Business leaders have been invited to a top-level meeting which could help push New Zealand’s case for a free trade deal with the United States.
Islamabad may stay out of South Asian Free Trade Area treaty
16-Jan-2006
Pakistan is likely to stay away from the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) to avoid its political fallout on the country’s principled stand on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Colombia says NO to US free trade
16-Jan-2006
The Colombian government declared Friday, based on a Cundinamarca Administration Court decision, it will not sign the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
South Asia: Burying quarrels for regional free trade
16-Jan-2006 IPS
Will the seven countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) be able to sink some of their deep differences over political issues to enhance trade relations?
Panama, US FTA talks postponed
16-Jan-2006 Prensa Latina
The ninth round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks between Panamanian government officials and the US wound up without a final accord, amid domestic pressures forcing to act cautiously.
Thai side floundering in FTA talks
16-Jan-2006 IHT ThaiDay
More than anything, this week’s trade talks and the howls of opposition they’ve provoked have spotlighted the starkly different approaches taken by Thai and US negotiators.
Oman: Signing of free-trade accord with US on Thursday
16-Jan-2006 Times of Oman
A free-trade agreement between the Sultanate and the United States will be signed next Thursday, said Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan, commerce and industry minister, yesterday.
Wake-up alarm over FTA delays
16-Jan-2006 Gulf Daily News
The sticking point for the US-Bahrain FTA to come into effect is intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation, which must be passed by Bahrain’s Parliament first
Thai FTA in trouble: US could abandon talks after six rounds
15-Jan-2006 Bahrain Tribune
The United States could abandon free trade talks with Thailand unless Bangkok agrees to redouble efforts to reach an agreement in the next few months, a US trade negotiator Barbara Weisel said. In a telephone call with US reporters, Weisel said it was uncertain the two sides would have another round.
Japan-Malaysia EPA (2005)
15-Jan-2006
FTA Watch: Movement ‘is gaining strength’
15-Jan-2006 The Nation
The fiery protest that disrupted free-trade talks between Thailand and the United States in Chiang Mai last week was just the first victory for a movement that is gaining strength, says a key organiser of FTA Watch.
US expects smooth talk with Malaysia on future FTA
15-Jan-2006 Bernama
Malaysia and United States will start preliminary discussions on free trade area (FTA) agreement in Kuala Lumpur next week with US chief negotiator expressing confident it will take place in smooth and protest-free environment.
China, Mali sign economic cooperation agreement
15-Jan-2006 CRI
China will take further steps to encourage investments in Mali, while Mali will strive to increase the direct export of cotton and other products to China.
Thailand and US equally tough on insurance talks in FTA
13-Jan-2006
Talks to open up market access for the insurance sector within the framework of the Thai-US Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement ended here today with the only agreement - that each side would scrutinise the other’s list of demand for further consultations.
Tough going on services, agriculture in Thai-US free talks
13-Jan-2006
Thai and United States negotiators have failed to make any headway towards a pact on liberalising trade in services under the broader Thai-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, according to Thai industry observers.
Overdrive: FTA debacle reveals PM’s declining fortunes
13-Jan-2006
Like the stalled privatisation of Egat Plc, the Thai-US Free-Trade Agreement talks look like dead meat. It all boils down to the waning credibility of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.