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Pakistan says expects free-trade talks with Gulf countries by June
24-Feb-2021     Arab News
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has reached out to Pakistani authorities to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) by June this year, a top Pakistani diplomat in Riyadh said.
UK-Japan trade deal settled nerves for Japanese firms, Honda executive says
24-Feb-2021     Reuters
Britain’s trade deal with Japan settled the nerves of a lot of Japanese businesses in the United Kingdom and gives them confidence about their future prospects there, a senior Honda executive said.
World Bank body dismisses Agility's claims against Iraq
24-Feb-2021     Reuters
Kuwaiti logistics company Agility’s claim to recover more than $380 million it said it lost in Iraq has been rejected by an international tribunal.
Kerala: Farmers demand that Centre withdraws from ASEAN agreement
24-Feb-2021     Newsclick
Farmers from Kerala marched to the regional office of the Rubber Board, demanding that the Centre withdraw from the ASEAN free trade agreement.
Japan cabinet endorses RCEP free trade deal
24-Feb-2021     Nippon
The Japanese government adopted at a cabinet meeting Wednesday a plan to approve a deal to forge the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which was agreed on by Japan and 14 other nations in November last year.
Mustaqeem de Gama, South African Mission in Geneva: “It is a bad idea for any African country to consider signing the Energy Charter Treaty”
23-Feb-2021     Investigate Europe
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty is not in the public interest, according to South Africa’s government. It has also cancelled other agreements that allowed foreign investors to sue their state. This has not stopped investors from coming, says Mustaqeem de Gama.
How Energy Treaty 'shadow' courts prolong EU's fossil age
23-Feb-2021     EU Observer
The treaty enables companies to claim billions in compensation from states in front of international arbitration tribunals, if they feel unfairly treated by the states' energy or climate policies.
India, Mauritius sign economic partnership deal
23-Feb-2021     The Telegraph (India)
The trade deal would provide a gateway to the markets of the African continent as Mauritius has several pacts with them
Are the sustainability criteria in the Swiss trade deal with Indonesia toothless?
23-Feb-2021     Swiss Info
A free trade agreement with Indonesia has sparked backlash and Switzerland’s first national referendum on palm oil imports. On the eve of the vote to take place March 7, SWI swissinfo.ch fact checks claims on sustainability.
Two steps forward, one step back for Vietnam's labor rights
22-Feb-2021     DW
Several EU statements still refer to EVFTA as helping to create "trade unions" in Vietnam, but WROs are different in many ways. They are only allowed to collectively bargain and organize strikes at the individual enterprise level, meaning they are restricted to individual companies.