ISDS Case Map
EU
European Union
Malaysia can have a free trade pact with the European Union (EU), EU ambassador Vincent Piket said, the second in Asean after Singapore.
Speculation is rife within trade circles that the EU's free trade agreement with South Korea could be in for a rough time from newly-empowered MEPs who strongly oppose aspects of the deal.
"We want it to start as soon as possible, even next month or in two months' time if possible," Sean Doyle, ambassador and head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam, said
It is imperative for the Southern African Customs Union to move towards aligning its internal activities faster before conclusion of a final Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, says Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Jabulile Mashwama.
"The Philippines has not so far signaled its readiness to engage in this way," EU Ambassador Alistair MacDonald said, referring to plans to forge bilateral trade pacts after attempts to broker a broader agreement with the 10-member ASEAN hit a roadblock early last year.
SA is likely to focus on stimulating targeted sectors of the economy and firming up trade relations with key partners in Africa, Europe and the east this year, as growing global trade flows are expected to reflect a world emerging from recession.
The Philippines might lose an opportunity to get first crack at negotiating a bilateral trade deal with the European Union as three Southeast Asian neighbors are already in line.
Indian and European negotiators will focus on whittling down differences over market access and intellectual property rights when they meet next week to push for a bilateral trade pact, a European diplomat said on Monday.
A senior European Union official on Monday stressed the 27-nation bloc's commitment to signing a free trade agreement with Central American nations.
Canadian and European Union representatives are to meet this week in Brussels for a second round of free trade negotiations, Canada's top trade official said Monday.
