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Japanese envoy says signing of new TPP sends message to China on trade rules
7-Mar-2018     National Post
As Canada, Japan and nine other countries prepare to sign the rebooted Trans-Pacific Partnership this week in Chile, some see it as a way to set the stage for closer relations with China.
Palm oil issue must be resolved ahead of Asean-EU FTA, says Mah
7-Mar-2018     The Edge Markets
Palm oil would be at the top of Malaysia’s agenda on its free trade talks under the Asean with the European Union (EU).
Senate approves PH deal with European Free Trade Association states
7-Mar-2018     Rapper
Voting 19-0, the Senate on Monday, March 5, concurred in the ratification of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states, composed of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Delay in trade pact talks questions involvement
7-Mar-2018     The Fiji Times online
Negotiations to establish a massive Asian trade pact appear to be going backwards with some now questioning whether New Zealand should pull out.
NZ told PACER Plus deal could be destructive for the Pacific
6-Mar-2018     Radio NZ
An analyst says New Zealand's planned trade deal with the Pacific Island nations could be extremely damaging to their economies.
Turkey seeks free trade agreement with ECOWAS
6-Mar-2018     Leadership
Turkish Economy Minister has suggested that a free trade agreement will be a key step to boost business ties between Ankara and the Economic Community of West African States.
The arbitration clause in the Agreement between the Netherlands and Slovakia on the protection of investments is not compatible with EU law
6-Mar-2018     Court of Justice of the European Union
That clause removes from the mechanism of judicial review of EU law disputes which may relate to the application or interpretation of that law.
US says time running short for NAFTA talks, floats bilateral deals
6-Mar-2018     The Globe and Mail
"We are prepared to move on a bilateral basis," Lighthizer said. Trump added that tariffs on steel and aluminum will only come off if "fair NAFTA agreement is signed."
The post-TPP future of digital trade in Asia
6-Mar-2018     Electronic Frontier Foundation
On March 8, trade representatives from eleven Pacific rim countries including Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Australia are expected to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership, now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement has been slimmed down both in its content—22 items in the text have been suspended, including the bulk of the intellectual property chapter—and also in its membership, with the exclusion of the United States which had been the driver of those suspended provisions.
India, China step up engagement
6-Mar-2018     The Hindu
India and China are seeking to step up the pace in improving ties, with two high-level ministerial meetings this month leading to a summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and a slew of engagements through the year, officials in Delhi and Beijing confirmed to The Hindu .