bilateralism & multilateralism

how bilateral, multilateral, regional, unilateral and plurilateral approaches relate (e.g. FTAs vis-à-vis WTO)

Trade links can fight terrorists
More open trade links between Australia and the Asia-Pacific can play a major role in fighting terrorism throughout the region, Treasurer Peter Costello said today.
Gloomy trade outlook
Economic considerations are well down the list of reasons why bilateral trade agreements get negotiated
Japan to sign FTA with Switzerland
An FTA with Switzerland, to be reached by April, would allow Japan to strengthen its position to fight back pressure to open up its agricultural market.
Peter Mandelson speech on 'Strengthening the Lisbon Strategy'
"The hoped-for success of Doha should be complemented by bilateral or regional initiatives, such as Regional Trade Agreements with Mercosur and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which allow the pursuit of a wider agenda."
WTO wrong to abandon core values
Free trade agreements are popping up everywhere. In its first term the Bush administration pushed four through Congress and started another three. China is negotiating FTAs with Chile and New Zealand. And Australia has negotiated three with Washington, Singapore and Thailand, and is in the process of dealing with Beijing. Not everyone thinks they are good.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka sign free trade pact
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have exchanged diplomatic notes to formalize the annextures in bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a view to its operationalization between the two countries.
The rush to regionalism
This paper aims to set out the issues of importance in addressing the links between sustainable development and the rush to regionalism (FTAs).
Stop the mad pursuit of bilateral free trade and economic partnership agreements!
We - farmers, fisherfolks, rural women, workers from the formal and informal sectors, and NGOs belonging to the Stop the New Round! Coalition - express our strong opposition to the Philippines government's mad pursuit of bilateral free trade agreements particularly with Japan, China and the USA.
Europe: support for change carries agendas
As 2005 proceeds, some Caribbean nations may find themselves faced with an unusually specific strategic choice: Europe may suggest the need to consider the relative weight they intend to give to the development of sectors such as tourism in preference to the role presently afforded to traditional agriculture.
Divide and conquer: The FTAA, US trade strategy and public services in the Americas
Documents the progress of “competitive liberalization,” a strategy advanced by the United States Trade Representative to establish a network of bilateral international trade agreements as steps toward the multilateral GATS agreement.