Yukio Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) have finally taken up the reins of power after their stunning election victory Aug. 30. The promise of their manifesto is change. With politicians on top and bureaucrats on tap, Japan is to develop a proactive autonomous foreign policy that establishes a more balanced Japan-U.S. alliance, strengthens Japan's trade relations and promotes measures to prevent global warming. Interestingly, this agenda is echoed in Brussels.
Signs of community concern over Chinese influence on Australian living standards are shaping up as a key domestic issue for the Rudd government as it struggles to mend its already strained relations with China.
Tea planters have sought financial support from the government to counter cheaper imports under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that India has signed with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean).
Many fishermen and farmers' organizations in Mangalore have taken umbrage at a move by the Union government to sign a free-trade agreement with Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
A subtle change in attitude by the Ministry of Economic Affairs last week over the speed with which the government has sought to sign an economic pact with China highlights the fact that the public retain the right to change government policy priorities — a reality that Typhoon Morakot brought to light.
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is having very painful discussions at the moment in Swaziland on its very future, said Minister in the Presidency for National Planning, Trevor Manuel.
CARICOM Agriculture Ministers have begun their latest meeting in Georgetown, Guyana and are seemingly no closer to removing stubborn obstacles to the free trade of produce.
The Industry Ministry is carrying on with it’s initiative to delay the timing of tariff reductions under the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China; while the Trade Ministry says that renegotiation is not the only solution (to protect local industry).
In the latest twist of events, South Africa is reported to have ‘changed tunes’ and has decided to let Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (BLS) ratify their interim Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU).
Business people in the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago are being urged to aggressively identify and pursue opportunities in each other’s market as the global environment becomes more challenging.
Free trade agreements (FTAs) in Asia, particularly by South Korea and India, pose a threat to U.S. manufactured exports that will continue to be subject to relatively high tariffs, according to a new study by the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI.
The United States Trade Representative Office has received more than 500 public comments on the pending free trade agreements with South Korea and Colombia, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Tuesday.
