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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

United States to resume bilateral investment treaty negotiations on the basis of a revised model treaty
18-May-2012     Mondaq
The United States appears poised to begin or resume the negotiation of bilateral investment treaties with a number of countries, including the so-called "BRIC" countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China).
Business calls for US-Brazil trade treaty
11-Apr-2012     Tax News
On the occasion of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's visit to the United States on April 9, the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) President and CEO Thomas Donohue called on the two countries to begin discussions on a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Noda, Monti agree to aim for early launch of Japan-EU FTA talks
29-Mar-2012     Mainichi
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his Italian counterpart Mario Monti on Wednesday agreed to aim for the early launch of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Japan and the European Union.
US in talks with India on bilateral investment treaty
5-Mar-2012     Times of India
The United States says it is developing a new model bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and had intensified its engagement with potential partners like India and China to conclude such a treaty with them.
Keeping SOPA measures out of trade agreements ACTA, TPP
17-Feb-2012     Huffington Post
As protests against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) sweep across Europe, two conclusions are possible: the era of closed-door IP policy is over; and the content industry's insatiable quest for more power and control is no longer irresistible.
Bilateral trade deals, Doha in the spotlight at Davos
1-Feb-2012     ICTSD
The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, held in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, came to a close on Saturday 28 January, with many policymakers making a push for bilateral and regional trade pacts - including an EU-US agreement - in the absence of progress in the Doha Round.
Need to assess costs and benefits of FTAs
28-Nov-2011    
Free trade agreements designed in a different era can prevent or hinder the policy measures developing countries need to address the growing global economic crisis, and deserve to be reviewed.
Free-trade backers eye trans-Pacific
14-Oct-2011     Washington Times
Now that US Congress approved free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, trade experts want lawmakers to harness the momentum and turn their attention to other potential deals in what is seen as a way to boost the economy and create jobs: sealing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, getting Russia to join the WTO, and creating FTAs with the EU and Brazil.
Colombian, Korean and Panamanian activists condemn White House support for new "free trade" deals
13-Oct-2011     Democracy Now!
Organizers held a teach-in at Occupy Wall Street on Monday about "free trade agreements" with Colombia, Panama and South Korea now pending in Congress that will expand the market for national corporations and financial corporations from the United States.
Biggest US free trade legislation since 1994 eases protectionist concern
13-Oct-2011     Bloomberg
The U.S. Congress approved free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, bringing an end to years of stalemate and offering what supporters said was the biggest opportunity for exporters in decades.