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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

Democrats to focus trade policy on US jobs and workers
18-Nov-2006     The Mercury News
The American worker, not Corporate America, will be the central focus of US trade policy as far as the new Democratic majority of Congress is concerned.
Slow track: Democratic gains raise roadblocks to free-trade push
12-Nov-2006     Wall Street Journal
The Democrats' sweep of Congress is set to deliver a blow to President Bush's free-trade ambitions and could hamper impending trade deals both big and small.
Bush's trade agenda in doubt after Democratic win
9-Nov-2006     Channel News Asia
The Democrats' triumphant return to power in the House of Representatives could spell trouble for US President George W Bush's campaign to dismantle global trade barriers. But analysts said legislative gridlock and a focus on the 2008 presidential race would limit the influence of Democratic isolationists.
The end of so-called "free trade" has arrived
9-Nov-2006     Huffington Post
All across the US, opposition to corporate trade agreements played a role in the economic messages put forth by electoral candidates.
US vote could leave free trade in trouble
1-Nov-2006     AFP
President George W Bush's agenda to tear down global trade barriers appears headed for trouble whoever wins US elections next week, analysts believe.
Kenyan Minister warns against bilateral trade deals
20-Oct-2006    
The Kenyan Trade Minister, Mukhisha Kituyi, today spoke up against the danger of countries running to negotiate bilateral and regional trade deals with the impasse of the Doha negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.
Bush's trade authority renewal: dead on arrival?
19-Oct-2006     Reuters
If Democrats win control of Congress in November elections, the Bush administration is highly unlikely to win renewal of trade negotiating powers that expire in 2007, congressional aides and former lawmakers said on Wednesday.
WTO's Lamy warns about bilateral deals
18-Oct-2006     Houston Chronicle
Poor nations will lose out if major global trade players opt for bilateral deals instead of working toward a global trade pact, WTO director general Pascal Lamy said Tuesday.
Overview of bilateral free trade and investment agreements
13-Oct-2006    
A general overview of free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties that have been signed or are being negotiated all over the world. Organised by region, it provides a snapshot of the many processes currently under way, some of the controversies they raise and opposition movements against these agreements.
Children of the WTO
28-Sep-2006    
World Trade Organization talks collapsed in July 2006 over strong internal disagreements on agricultural policy. While social activists throughout the world cheered, policy-makers in the U.S. and Canada started aggressively pursuing bilateral trade accords or Free Trade Agreements [FTAs].