ISDS Case Map
China
The free trade agreement between China and 10 Southeast Asian Nations taking effect this month poses considerable challenges to Korea. The China-ASEAN FTA, or CAFTA, will form the world's third-largest trading bloc, following NAFTA and the EU.
A gradual reduction in tariffs on manufactured goods between China and ASEAN as their free trade pact goes into effect on July 1 spells trouble for Korean exports.
Workers' rights and the environment are being sacrificed in the rush to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, a public interest group says.
The Thailand-China relations have been developed in a positive and constructive way since the diplomatic ties between the two countries were established 30 years ago, and now it is time to push it to a higher plane, said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra before his departure to China on the occasion of 30th anniversary of bilateral relations.
Rob Portman, the new US trade representative, discusses the US trade deficit with China and the controversial Central America Free Trade Agreement.
With China-ASEAN free trade already under way, other free-trade agreements that are in the works include China-Australia, China-New Zealand, China-India, China-Pakistan and China-Chile as well as recent initiatives with Iceland, Japan, Korea and Thailand. However, this focus is likely to change, shifting slowly but steadily toward India.
The third round of negotiations between China and New Zealand to establish a free trade area (FTA) did not result in a major breakthrough. But a breakthrough may be achieved in the not-too-distant future.
Trade between Thailand and China has shot up to 24 billion baht ($60 million) over the first 20 months of the enforcement of the bilateral free trade area (FTA) agreement, with Thailand holding the balance of trade by over 11 billion baht ($27.5 million), according to the Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Rachane Potjanasuntorn.
Trade Minister Mark Vaile says the Government will not "sell out" human rights issues to get a better deal on a free trade agreement with China.
AUSTRALIANS should not expect too much from a China-Australia free trade agreement, the Howard Government's lead negotiator for the deal warned yesterday.
