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Thai-Japan FTA an important test
12-Dec-2006     Nation
This week, the Thai Foreign Ministry is expected to ask the Cabinet to consider whether to approve the draft Thai-Japanese free trade agreement (FTA). Inevitably, questions will crop up regarding the legitimacy of an interim government and a non-elected people's assembly to pass an international trade agreement.
US advises developing country FTA partners not to follow WHO IP plan
12-Dec-2006     IP Watch
Developing countries that have free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States received an email in the form of a “démarche” from the US government before the 4-8 December 2006 meeting of the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights saying that it had become apparent that the WHO was trying to go beyond its competency and address issues which could have impact on the scope and effect of FTAs.
Ecuador rejects US free trade pact
11-Dec-2006     BusinessWeek
Ecuador's President-elect Rafael Correa said Sunday that he will not sign a free trade agreement with the United States. "We don't have a national currency, we have the dollar," he told Radioprogramas. "If as a result of the agreement, Peru and Colombia have a problem in the external sector, they reduce the currency's value and correct the imbalance. Ecuador can't do that and the consequences could be incalculable."
RP to pursue free-trade accord with US
11-Dec-2006     Manila Times
The Philippines and the United States have agreed to pursue talks for a comprehensive free-trade agreement (FTA) despite next year's end to President Bush's authority to fast track negotiations for any trade-related accord. "We don't want to make the same issues like the JPEPA [Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement] so we are after an extensive and comprehensive consultation with all sectors,” Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila said.
Farmers demand EU deal
11-Dec-2006     The Standard
Flower exporters have asked the Kenyan government to ensure that it signs an agreement with the European Union (EU) before the General Elections next year.
China, EU striving to map out new pact
11-Dec-2006     Xinhua
China and the European Union are making efforts to map out a new agreement, aimed at nailing down their strategic partnership into legal framework amid ever stronger political and economic relations.
Ecuador's president-elect rules out signing trade pact with US
11-Dec-2006     IHT
Ecuador's President-elect Rafael Correa said Sunday that he will not sign a free trade agreement with the United States but will seek extended trade preferences under an anti-drug agreement.
Now oil-rich Libya to join Comesa FTA
11-Dec-2006     East African
Libya is to become the second North African country after Egypt to join the Free Trade Area of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa). The implication is that exports from this oil-rich country will now have duty-free access to 13 other Comesa member-states that have so far signed on to the Free Trade Area arrangement.
Free-trade bondage in Jordan
9-Dec-2006     Middle East Online
The Jordan-United States free-trade agreement was supposed to be a labor-rights model. It has been a disaster -- 'globalization' at its worst.
ASEAN economic ministers rush signing of 6 accords
9-Dec-2006     Manila Bulletin
Economic Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rushed on Friday night the signing of six agreements including two protocols to the ASEAN-China FTA. The agreement on trade and services with China was left unsigned.