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International trade tribunals seen trumping state laws
3-Dec-2007     Boston Globe
States around the US are growing increasingly worried about the threats posed to their laws and regulations by the secret tribunals that resolve disputes in international trade. "Free trade agreements are to state sovereignty and economic development what global climate change is to the environment and natural resources," said state Sen. Virginia Lyons, D-Chittenden.
Key parties pledge to review all FTAs
2-Dec-2007    
Key political parties yesterday pledged to review free trade agreements (FTA) with Japan and other countries. Representatives of the Democrat and Matchimathipataya parties agreed that the FTA with Japan, formally the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), should be reviewed.
Delhi shifts aim to bigger ball
1-Dec-2007     Bangkok Post
The much-hyped free trade area (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and India seem to be stalling, as the latter's focus has shifted toward the much-bigger Asean-India FTA, a leading Thai negotiator says
East Africa: EPA signed to ''protect'' small farmers
1-Dec-2007     IPS
The East African Community signed a framework agreement with the European Union to ensure continued access to EU markets for African small farmers, says Juma Mwapachu, secretary general of the East African regional body.
Solomons agrees to negotiate interim agreement
1-Dec-2007     Solomon Times
Solomon Islands will not sign an interim Agreement if Pacific-ACP countries fail to complete negotiations of the European Partnership Agreement by the end of December. "We should not be rushed or influenced by either regional solidarity or integration to sign any agreement that may prove disadvantageous to our development," Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Patteson Oti stated.
Sierra Leone to press ahead with EU trade deal
1-Dec-2007     AFP
Sierra Leone will press ahead to sign accords to liberalise trade with the European Union that have been heavily criticised by anti-poverty lobby groups, a minister said on Friday.
NGO hits trade official, proposes conditionalities on JPEPA
30-Nov-2007     NGO hits trade official, proposes conditionalities on JPEPA
The multisectoral Fair Trade Alliance (FairTrade) hits Ambassador Manuel Teehankee when he revealed that he's “guessing too much” on the projected gains that the country will be getting on the JPEPA during a Senate hearing presided by Sen. Mar Roxas on Friday.
India-EU FTA may be delayed
30-Nov-2007     http://www.financialexpress.com/news/IndiaEU-FTA-may-be-delayed/244855/0
Sharp differences on modalities for the proposed India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) have begun surfacing. It seems unlikely that the proposed FTA would be finalised by 2008, the deadline set by India.
European treaty may revive debate over power to conclude investment agreements
30-Nov-2007     ITN
The debate over who in the European Union (EU) holds the legal authority to conclude international investment agreements (IIAs) with non-European countries -- the European Community or individual Member States -- is set to intensify as the EU Reform Treaty throws dust into an already hazy situation.
CALABARZON workers and the imminent danger posed by JPEPA
29-Nov-2007    
On September 10, 2006, the governments of Japan and the Philippines signed the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) in the Asia-Europe Meeting in Helsinki, Finland. JPEPA, the Philippines' first full-fledged bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), was signed despite protests from the Filipino people even at its proposal stage in 2002.