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Companies weigh in ahead of talks on free trade agreement
30-May-2013     Irish Independent
Lobbying by EU and US companies is accelerating as the two continents prepare to negotiate on an agreement that will form the world's largest free trade union.
Colombia, Panama work toward free trade agreement
30-May-2013     AFP
Colombia and Panama started the seventh round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on May 28 and talks will last for four days, according to Panama’s Trade and Industry Ministry.
Food culture clash: EU, US conflicting concepts for GIs; both covet Asian market
30-May-2013     IP Watch
A US trade association is raising concerns about the US and EU imposing their own approaches to GIs through FTAs, partiuclarly in Asia
EU-Cameroon trade deal a threat to central African development
30-May-2013     Euractiv
Citing concerns over development and integration in Central Africa, GUE/NGL MEPs today voted against the ratification of an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Cameroon in Brussels.
China-Norway free trade talks nearing agreement
28-May-2013     SCMP
China and Norway are close to the "final stage" of negotiations for a free-trade agreement, after talks were suspended for about two years following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to dissident Liu Xiaobo.
South American Silver lands international arbitration funding agreement
28-May-2013     Mining Weekly
Vancouver-based South American Silver (SAS), which early in May filed for arbitration against the Bolivian government over the cancellation of mineral tenements in 2012, has entered into a privileged arbitration funding agreement with an international investment fund specialising in such proceedings.
Ministry hails 'remarkable' gains from FTA with Switzerland
28-May-2013     China Daily
Up to 99.7 percent of Chinese exports to Switzerland will receive zero tariffs after the FTA becomes effective, Assistant Minister of Commerce Yu Jianhua said
Coup d’etat to trade seen in billionaire toxic lead fight
28-May-2013     Bloomberg
Most of La Oroya’s children suffer elevated lead levels, according to the Peruvian government. Parents say some have symptoms -- consistent with lead poisoning -- that include anemia, convulsions, stunted growth, mental retardation.
Regional consolidation, cross-regional tie-ups, or multilateralization of East Asian FTAs?
27-May-2013     Vox EU
So far, research on the impacts of free trade agreements in east Asia assume the full utilisation of preferences. This column argues that newer evidence suggests that this assumption is made in error: estimated uptake is particularly low in east Asia. If we assume a more realistic utilisation rate in estimating impacts, results suggest that actual utilisation rates significantly diminish the benefits from preferential liberalisation, but in a non-linear way. In the absence of Doha, the multilateralisation of preferences, even without reciprocity, is the practical route that is most likely to deliver the greatest benefits to WTO members.
LA social movements map solidarity with ALBA alliance
27-May-2013     GLW
An important summit of global significance, held in Brazil May 16-20, has largely passed below the radar of most media outlets, including many left and progressive sources.