bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Latest

Taiwan asks US to use security law as model for FTA
7-Feb-2007     Channel News Asia
Taiwan has asked the United States to use a special law that commits American defence to Taipei as a framework for forging a free trade agreement between the two economies.
Colombian president asks congress to fast track FTA with US
7-Feb-2007     Dow Jones
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Tuesday asked Congress to fast track a free trade agreement with the US, saying prompt approval is a "necessity" because the US is Colombia's main trading partner.
W. Africa accepts year-end EU trade deal deadline
7-Feb-2007     Reuters
West African countries said on Tuesday they had agreed to conclude a new trade deal with the European Union by the end of this year and drop demands for a two-year delay.
Joseph Stiglitz defends public ownership
7-Feb-2007     Periódico 26
The Nobel prizewinner said he believes neither Colombia nor the United States needs a Free Trade Agreement. “It's not necessary. One of the problems is that within these treaties there isn't really much commerce. They are mainly about protection of investments and intellectual property that will make it harder for Colombians to acquire medicines that can save their lives,” Stiglitz said.
Intellectual property, bilateral agreements and sustainable development: The challenges of implementation
6-Feb-2007     CIEL
What appears to be the experience of countries that have negotiated FTAs is that the process of negotiations does not conclude with the signing of the agreement. The implementation process is a complex and tedious one. In addition, once this implementation phase has been concluded, a subsequent and difficult phase begins with the monitoring of this implementation.
Korea, Canada make progress on farm issues in FTA talks
6-Feb-2007     Korea Times
Korea and Canada have made progress on agricultural issues in their latest free trade talks, brightening the prospect for a formal agreement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest said Tuesday in Seoul.
Pros and cons waging ad war on FTA
6-Feb-2007     Korea Times
Proponents and opponents of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States are waging a war through advertisements to win the hearts and minds of the Korean public.
Malaysia Attorney-General defends generic medicines before UN rights body
6-Feb-2007     3D
Malaysia's Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani has publicly stated his country's stand "that generic drugs should not be restricted in any manner". Implying that a US-Malaysia FTA could result in more expensive drugs, he said that Malaysia is not going to negotiate on this issue, and added “we are providing the drugs for free.”
Canada nears European trade treaty
5-Feb-2007     Globe and Mail
Canada is quietly entering the latter stages of free-trade talks with Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. If concluded, this would be the first free-trade deal Canada has endorsed in nearly six years and the first sign that Ottawa is serious about catching up in the global race to sew up preferential commercial partners.
Mexicans protest sharp hike of tortillas, other food staples
5-Feb-2007     AFP
Thousands of people marched in Mexico City to protest the sharp hike of basic food products, including tortillas, and to demand the government exclude food staples from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "No corn, no country," the protesters shouted in the first major demonstration to confront conservative President Felipe Calderon since he took office December 1.