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US and France clash over cheap Aids drugs
The US and France clashed on Tuesday over allegations by President Jacques Chirac that Washington was seeking to use bilateral trade agreements to reduce developing countries' access to cheap medicines for diseases such as HIV/Aids.
UN human rights expert urges Peru, US to protect health in any trade deal
As the United States and Peru negotiate a bilateral trade pact, a United Nations human rights expert has urged them to ensure any agreement includes public health safeguards so that essential drugs do not become unaffordable for millions of Peruvians.
Cheap HIV Drugs: Scepticism over Thaksin's pledge
Critics voiced doubt yesterday over Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's promise to provide equitable access to life-saving drugs for all people with HIV/Aids in Thailand, saying it was a pipe dream while disputes over patented drugs remain unresolved.
US-Thailand FTA opponents plan rally
A leading senator and civic groups are planning to hold a demonstration today against what they call the government's rush to conclude free-trade negotiations, which they say would have great ramifications on many people in the agricultural sector.
CKUT Radio: From Thailand to Chile Resisting Capitalist Globalization
Radio documentary on bilateral free trade and investment agreements
Round 3 of Japan-Philippines FTA talks end in stalemate
The negotiations for the signing of the country's first free-trade agreement ended up in a stalemate again after Japan has yet to act on the request of the Philippines to allow entry to Filipino nurses, health workers and lawyers.
Thailand's free trade tactics under fire
Thailand's free-trade agreement (FTA) tactics are under fire for being opaque and shrouded in secrecy. Critics worry such methods are handing Thailand a poor deal, perhaps working to serve minority vested interests, and may even be undermining the informal social safety net provided by the country's agriculture.
China agrees to a new GCC deal
China is to sign a trade and economic cooperation pact with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Taiwan-Paraguay: MOEA set to negotiate FTA with Paraguay
A Taiwanese official delegation will visit Paraguay later this month to negotiate groundwork for the two nations' Free Trade Agreement (FTA) while Argentina acknowledged it had teamed up with Brazil to try and force Paraguay into switching its diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.
Peru: Legislation to protect biodiversity restricts patents
The Peruvian Congress has passed legislation to protect the country's biodiversity by restricting patents on biological resources.