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Colombia-Canada trade pact needs more thought: Activists
10-Feb-2009    
The signed free trade deal between Canada and Colombia could devastate indigenous communities in the South American country if implemented in its current form, says an official with a national Colombian indigenous group in Ottawa Tuesday to lobby government and opposition MPs to delay implementation of the economic pact.
Spain, Argentina push for restart of Mercosur-EU talks
10-Feb-2009    
Spain and Argentina on Monday asked for a restart of trade talks between the South American Mercosur economic bloc and the European Union.
Trade: Aust, NZ push trade agenda in region
10-Feb-2009     Islands Business
Governments in Australia and New Zealand are keen to assure Pacific nations that relations with the region are marked by ‘shared development goals', but as Maureen Penjueli writes, the islands' ‘big brothers' have been pushing an agenda of their own--especially when it comes to negotiating a regional free trade agreement.
Govt. allows free trade between Iran and Persian Gulf countries
10-Feb-2009     Tehran Times
Iran's cabinet gave the green light for the signing of an agreement for free trade among Iran and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, announced a commerce ministry official here on Sunday.
RP, EU start negotiations on cooperation framework
10-Feb-2009     BusinessWorld
The Philippines and the European Union yesterday started talks in Manila for a general framework on bilateral cooperation that is requisite for a free trade agreement. The talks, which could take as long as two years to complete, will dwell on a wide variety of issues -- from peace, security and human rights, to protection of intellectual property and workers rights.
Seoul hires US lobbyist for FTA ratification
10-Feb-2009     Korea Times
South Korea has signed a contract with a US lobbyist to facilitate congressional ratification of a pending free trade deal amid growing opposition to the pact fueled by the global economic crisis, Yonhap News reported Monday quoting an informed source.
NGO advises govt to be cautious over FTA with Aus, NZ
10-Feb-2009     Jakarta Post
The Indonesian government should act “wiser and more cautious” before signing a new free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia and New Zealand this month, a local non-government economic watchdog insisted during a press conference in Diponegoro, Central Jakarta Monday.
S. Korea, EU agree to conclude FTA talks as soon as possible
10-Feb-2009     Xinhua
Local media say South Korea wants to finalize the FTA talks within the first quarter this year and make it effective early next year.
Nigeria's cocoa processing sector faces collapse
9-Feb-2009     This Day
For failing to assent to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) being proposed by the EU to the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, processed agricultural produce being exported from Nigeria to the EU attracts an extra cost of a minimum of 6 per cent of the total value of products being exported. Similar products being exported from countries such as Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and others who have endorsed the temporary EPA do not attract this extra cost, therefore putting Nigerian products at a major cost disadvantage in the export of processed products to the EU.
Tifa yet not on table: Boucher
8-Feb-2009     Daily Star
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A Boucher today said till now Dhaka and Washington did not have an active negotiation on Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa).