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Free-trade fight reflects broader battle
12-Oct-2007     Washington Post
The vote was barely 24 hours away when President Bush's aides held an emergency conference call at 10:45 p.m. last Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid had sent a letter that could sink a US-led free trade agreement up for referendum in Costa Rica. The Bush team decided to put out its own statement to save it. The trade pact went on to pass narrowly Sunday, but the last-minute drama capped a furious few weeks in which the White House and Congress fought a proxy war in the tiny Central American nation.
Protest US intervention and dirty campaign in Costa Rican CAFTA Referendum
12-Oct-2007     Upside Down World
Take action from October 15-20 to demand that the Costa Rica referendum results NOT be certified by the OAS
Interview: Argentina seeks diplomatic exit from ICSID suits
12-Oct-2007     Dow Jones
Facing a flood of unfavorable arbitration rulings, Argentina is shifting from a legal strategy to a diplomatic one in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in foreign investor claims arising from its 2002 financial crisis.
Teamsters challenge Bush on free trade arguments: Hoffa responds to Bush
12-Oct-2007     PR Newswire
"When President Bush says the economy benefits from trade deals, he must mean the part of the economy he cares about -- the top one percent," Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said. "It's not competition we're afraid of, but the global capitalists who rig the system against the American worker."
Bush tries to build support for Latam trade deals
12-Oct-2007     Reuters
Bush urged Congress on Friday to approve free-trade agreements with Peru, Panama and Colombia "as soon as possible," saying failure to do so would diminish US leadership in the hemisphere.
China sets up new harbor area for planned free trade zone with ASEAN
12-Oct-2007     AHN
China has started construction of a bonded harbor area that will form part of a future free trade zone with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Thai food exports to reach Bt600 billion
12-Oct-2007     MCOT
Thailand's food exports are expected to increase by 7.8 per cent from last year to Bt600 billion this year and to further rise by 10 per cent next year due to the free trade area (FTA) agreements and an increased demand for products as a result of global warming, according to industry executives.
Caribbean may sue to reinstate EU sugar deal
12-Oct-2007     IPS
Caribbean Community leaders may try to reinstate the EU sugar protocol through an international court.
NLA nod 'not needed for JTEPA'
12-Oct-2007     Bangkok Post
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram insisted the Thailand-Japan free trade agreement, signed by the Surayud administration, is in line with the 2007 constitution and it is not necessary for it to be endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Taiwan, Nicaragua ratify free-trade agreement
12-Oct-2007     Monsters and Critics
Taiwan and Nicaragua ratified their free-trade agreement in Taiwan Thursday, further liberalizing trade.