ISDS Case Map
Japan
The Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which is scheduled to be signed by the two countries` heads of governemnts on August 20 is expected to begin to be implemented in November, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said on Friday.
Instead of addressing the longstanding issues of health workers such as inadequate
pay, poor working conditions and lack of opportunities in the Philippines, the JPEPA
will only give another reason for the government to push with its labor export policy
as a measure to boost the economy through strong remittance flows.
JPEPA is undoubtedly beneficial -- for big Japanese corporations and elite corporate interests in the Philippines, not for the Filipino people.
The Chilean legislature late Tuesday approved a free trade agreement with Japan that will likely be signed into law when President Michelle Bachelet's visits Tokyo in September.
Independent think-tank group IBON Foundation scoffed at President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's call for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to conclude a regional free-trade agreement with Japan despite strong protests against the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
The Japanese Liberal Democratic Party has suffered huge election losses in rural areas, where the proposed free trade deal with Australia is highly unpopular.
The conclusion of negotiations for the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement may take longer than expected as Malaysia cannot agree to Australia's requests which go beyond the World Trade Organisation agenda, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said Monday.
Southeast Asia must ratify free trade deals with China and South Korea and make progress on a similar accord with Japan, as the region prepares its own free-trade zone, the Philippine government said Monday.
Ono Kazuoki, veteran of Japanese and Asian farmer movements, comments on the projected Australia-Japan FTA.
A multi-sectoral group has renewed its opposition to a bilateral trade agreement between the Philippines and Japan by calling on the Philippine Senate not to ratify the deal when it opens session on Monday.
