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EU plans two-track approach for FTA
15-Sep-2008     Bangkok Post
The European Union (EU) under the French presidency will focus on bilateral approaches in parallel with a bloc-to-bloc discussions with Asean on a free trade agreement, according to the French ambassador to Thailand.
Uruguay favors more trade accords, with or without Mercosur
15-Sep-2008     MercoPress
Uruguay formally proposed its Mercosur partners to begin a round of negotiations geared to reach trade agreements with the European Union, United States, South Korea and Canada.
RI eyes benefits from India pact
15-Sep-2008     Jakarta Post
Indonesia may see robust growth in exports to India following the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between India and members of ASEAN, mainly crude palm oil.
Fonterra caught in China milk powder scandal
15-Sep-2008     Epoch Times
New Zealand's dairy giant Fonterra is caught up in the latest food scandal in China as the contaminated milk powder crisis reveals weeks of delay before the public was informed. NZ Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said “We signed up for a free trade agreement with no rules around environment or health, and so we are exposing ourselves and our companies to these types of scandals.”
EU to sign Asean amity, cooperation treaty
14-Sep-2008     The Nation
Despite Thailand's political uncertainty the European Union remains keen to negotiate a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) with the Kingdom as a way to facilitate progress on a wider Asean-EU FTA.
New Delhi plans to join Investment Disputes Convention
13-Sep-2008     Economic Times
New Delhi is considering a proposal to join the World Bank convention, International Convention on Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Open letter from the Caribbean Conference of Churches
13-Sep-2008     Caribbean Net News
While it has been asserted that failure to conclude the agreement within the timeframe dictated by the E.C. would threaten Caribbean exports to Europe, we feel that our leaders should not be constrained to pursue a course of action which could prove to be adverse to our people in the long run.
Costa Rica court strikes down CAFTA bill for overlooking indigenous
12-Sep-2008     Tico Times
Costa Rica could miss its Oct. 1 deadline to pass law reforms needed to enter the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) because of a legal snag in the final bill on intellectual property: Nobody thought to ask the country's indigenous people.
Costa Rica top court blocks US trade pact approval
12-Sep-2008     AP
Costa Rica's highest court on Thursday overturned an intellectual property law demanded by the US prior to the enactment of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. The Constitutional Court ruled that lawmakers improperly passed the bill -- which included provisions on biodiversity -- without consulting Indian groups.
India-EU trade agreement unlikely this year
12-Sep-2008     Business Standard
Negotiations for an ambitious free trade agreement between India and the European Union are on track but are unlikely to be completed by end of 2008, EC Ambassador to India said today.