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Turkey, Syria sign free trade agreement
23-Dec-2004     Tehran Times
Turkey and Syria signed a free trade agreement on Wednesday and discussed how to keep Iraq united and stable despite the violence sweeping their neighbor.
Japan adopts FTA policy focusing on partners in Asia
22-Dec-2004     Japan Times
The government on Tuesday approved a basic plan to promote free-trade agreements, prioritizing accords with Asian trading partners to help build an East Asian community. It also adopted a set of 12 criteria to choose potential FTA partners, envisioning future negotiations with trading partners outside East Asia.
Rules of origin: US, Thai FTA's 'most restrictive'
22-Dec-2004     News.com.au
An Australian Productivity Commission report into trade and assistance reviews found conditions attached to the free trade agreements signed with the United States and Thailand would be more restrictive than similar deals.
US trade tactic splits Arab states
22-Dec-2004     IPS
A free trade deal between the United States and the tiny Persian Gulf Kingdom of Bahrain is causing friction with other Arab states, which say the pact could weaken their economic bloc ahead of future trade talks with Washington.
Critique of the proposed Chile-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership (P3 with Singapore)
21-Dec-2004     ARENA
The New Zealand, Chile and Singapore governments are promoting a P-3 whose primary - and arguably only - beneficiaries are the transnational companies that straddle two of the three countries, including opportunists who locate there to take advantage of the deal. The greatest potential beneficiaries are the agribusiness interests of Fonterra and Nestle as they promote their shared strategy to dominate Latin America's dairy industry.
Arena launches sign-on letter to oppose the P-3
21-Dec-2004     Scoop
ARENA today stepped up its campaign against the proposed Chile/New Zealand free trade agreement, which forms part of the Pacific 3 (P-3) with Singapore, by launching a sign-on letter to the Prime Minister calling on her to end the negotiations.
Release of NZ-Thai CEP agreement texts
21-Dec-2004     Scoop
The New Zealand government today published the text of the Closer Economic Partnership agreement between New Zealand and Thailand.
Japan panel urges steps to speed free trade accords
20-Dec-2004     Reuters
Japan needs to work on loosening restrictions in domestic agriculture and labour and to work effectively to more swiftly forge free trade agreements (FTAs), the government's top advisory panel said on Monday.
The benefits and dangers of bilateral FTAs for Indonesia
20-Dec-2004     Jakarta Post
It might be that the best path of all for the Indonesian government to reassess its commitment to pursue free trade. Bilateral FTAs are nothing more than hidden tools used to secure the privileges and the wealth of multinational corporations and to advance the interests of powerful governments.
Malaysian PM calls for FTA with India
20-Dec-2004     Times of India
Malaysian PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmed Badawi on Monday underlined the need to strengthen India-Malaysia economic and trade co-operation through a free-trade agreement (FTA).