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Thai-US FTA talks: Deadlock looks set to be broken
5-Jan-2006     The Nation
Thai finance officials will for the first time make an offer to open up the country's financial services, which should make or break the proposed Thai-US free-trade agreement (FTA) during talks next week, says a Thai finance source.
Japan urges Philippines to restart EPA talks
5-Jan-2006     Asia Times
Japan has urged the Philippines to restart talks on the stalled negotiations of the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) so they can conclude all negotiations within the month. The Philippines has remained non-committal until a case filed by civic groups with the Supreme Court, seeking a temporary restraining order to bar the Philippine government from concluding the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan, is resolved.
Senate confirms Richard Crowder as USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator
5-Jan-2006     Seed Today
Crowder has been president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association since 2002. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, International, of DEKALB Genetics Corporation -- now part of Monsanto -- a worldwide leader in agricultural genetics and seed biotechnology.
Vaile to fight US on sugar
5-Jan-2006     The Australian
Australia will urge the US to prise open its lucrative sugar markets as part of a fresh push to improve access for farmers under the free trade deal. The Howard Government's renewed attempt to secure a better deal from the free trade agreement came as Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile defended lopsided results from the first year of the pact.
United States the FTA winner one year on
4-Jan-2006    
The government has blamed a stronger currency and increased competition from Asia for a disappointing first year in Australia's new trade pact with the United States.
Exports plummet in post-FTA trade
4-Jan-2006     ABC
Government figures show Australian exports to the US have fallen since the US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) came into force a year ago. In the 12 months to October last year, Australian exports to the United States fell by 4.7 per cent while US imports rose by 5.7 per cent.
Drug companies pressure Govt to review FTA
4-Jan-2006     ABC
The debate over the cost of medicines in Australia took a new twist today, with Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile declaring the Government will have a second look at provisions within the Free Trade Agreement with the United States. They're provisions that were specifically designed to keep the cost of pharmaceuticals down.
NFF backs FTA despite export figures
4-Jan-2006     ABC
The National Farmers Federation (NFF) is still backing the Australia-US free trade agreement, despite poor terms of trade in its first year of operation.
Denounce chaos in prices
4-Jan-2006     Dominican Today
National Merchants and Entrepreneurs Federation president Antonio Cruz assured today that there is generalized disarray throughout the Dominican Republic with initial implementation of the tax reform, and requested the government to reconsider enforcing it as of next July when CAFTA comes into effect.
Guatemala to strengthen Mercosur ties
4-Jan-2006     AP
Guatemala's government - annoyed by the delay in CAFTA's implementation and the U.S. House of Representative's approval of a wall to keep out illegal immigrants - announced Tuesday it would seek to strengthen its relations with the Mercosur trading bloc.