Across the board

This section contains news and analysis of sweeping developments that affect the overall push and pull towards FTAs and bilateral investment treaties. This means major trends relating to bilateralism, often with global consequences, and other cross-cutting issues. New developments arising from US politics, the WTO or South-South alliance-building, for instance, are often reported here as they tend to have systemic impacts.

last update: May 2012

We must rethink globalization, or Trumpism will prevail

17-Nov-2016 The Guardian

Rising inequality is largely to blame for this electoral upset. Continuing with business as usual is not an option.

Data flow in trade agreements

16-Nov-2016 French Government

The French Government calls on the European Commission to adopt an open and innovation-friendly data flow system while preserving European interests in trade agreements

Primer on RCEP and TPPA

28-Oct-2016 People Over Profit

FTAs operate as extensions of the WTO resulting in decentralized and yet intensifying attacks against workers and peasants across the different global regions.

What do trade agreements do for open access—and what don't they do?

27-Oct-2016 Electronic Frontier Foundation

The absence of support for open access in trade agreements comes as no surprise when considering that there are no representatives from the education sector, nor any library or archive representatives, in the relevant closed-door trade advisory committees

Do free trade deals pose a threat to higher education?

26-Oct-2016 University World News

The awareness of the threat posed to the public realm by international ‘free trade’ agreements has been heightened by the publication of new leaks and criticism from leading intellectuals.

Trade for the people, not for corporate elites!

6-Oct-2016 People Over Profit

People Over Profit is a new global network of people’s movements and NGOs campaigning against FTAs and corporate plunder. Sign the call and join the action.