bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Latest

Development coherence in trade governance: Key to the rebuilding of the global economy
7-Sep-2009    
The global crisis has one positive and liberating aspect—policymakers and even once-arrogant neoliberal economists are now openly questioning the wisdom of untrammeled liberalization. The present global recession has abundantly shown that liberalizing the financial and other economic sectors wholesale sans rules is a formula for disaster, be it applied in a developed market economy like the United States or in a small developing economy like Haiti.
Learning from ALBA and the Bank of the South: Challenges and Possibilities
7-Sep-2009     Monthly Review
Although the crisis is indeed delegitimizing capitalism as an engine of “progress,” the weakening global economy is greatly complicating, if not weakening, efforts to advance ALBA as well as the Bank of the South.
EPAs: Digging our own Grave
6-Sep-2009    
It is saddening that Zimbabwe is going ahead in signing the interim and full Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU) at the expense of its citizens, small-scale farmers and industries. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Professor Welshman Ncube stated that cabinet had agreed to sign the interim EPAs that will run until December 2010 adding that full EPAs would be signed by end of December 2010.
EU seeks to settle trade row with India amicably
6-Sep-2009    
The European Union on Friday said it would prefer to resolve two commercial disputes with India without engaging in a legal battle at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The first dispute involves seizure of Indian generic drugs in transit at some EU-based ports, including Amsterdam, which were bound for certain third world countries, on the grounds of patents infringement.
Free trade deals to push up cost of medicines
6-Sep-2009    
The bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) India is negotiating with Japan and the European Union (EU) can lead to a sharp rise in the cost of medicines, a network of civil society groups has warned.
Potato fight
5-Sep-2009     Al-Ahram Weekly
A couple of weeks ago, following the discovery of some cases of brown rot, the EU decided to impose a ban on Egyptian potato exports. The Egyptian government believes that the reason behind the move is to protect local European produce from competition.
Will new trade agreements reduce dependence on US?
4-Sep-2009     Final Call
Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Felipe Calderón of Mexico agreed recently to explore the possibility of a free trade agreement as part of a strategy to reduce their dependence on the industrialized world.
Jordan, Iraq sign free-trade agreement
4-Sep-2009     Earth Times
Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi made a whirlwind visit Thursday to Baghdad, signing a free-trade agreement that Jordan hoped would serve as a catalyst for boosting trade with neighbouring Iraq
Asian trade: The noodle bowl
4-Sep-2009     The Economist
Why trade agreements are all the rage in Asia
Trade agreements: Doing Doha down
4-Sep-2009     The Economist
Regional trade deals are no substitute for a Doha agreement. Indeed, they are its enemy, writes The Economist