ISDS Case Map
EU
European Union
A group of Indian trade unionists, farmers, fishworkers and intelligentsia have criticised the secret negotiation which are underway between India and the European Union to strike a free trade agreement (FTA). They have demanded a halt to the ongoing negotiations till transparency is achieved in the process.
There is an outcry over the proposed India-EU free trade agreement, the contents of which are being ‘secretly' negotiated by the two governments. Last week, an outfit called Forum on FTAs--a coalition of over 75 organisations including trade unions, farmer and fishermen groups and other civil society organisations--demanded that the talks be halted immediately.
As the December 2007 deadline was approaching, the European Commission realised that it would not get what it badly wanted: to close a deal with all African regions on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) - basically free-trade pacts.
There are growing concerns, regionwide, that the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) project may be in serious danger of not being realised as planned for 2015. It is currently on a slow march.
A member of the European Parliament has told the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) - European Union (EU) joint parliamentary assembly meeting this week in Port Moresby that free trade deals initialled between the EU and Pacific countries must be changed to reflect the development needs of the region.
Cote d'Ivoire became the first country in Africa to sign a 'stepping stone' economic partnership agreement with the European Union this week, prompting fears that the accord will prevent the country from developing closer ties with its neighbours.
Pacific governments have given early indications they will not sign the current Economic Partnership Agreement with European Union without amendments.
Cote d'Ivoire and the European Union have signed an economic partnership agreement to promote bilateral trade, which the European bloc sees as an example for other West African countries to follow.
Concerns have been raised that the European Commission should allow Pacific countries to use export taxes for development purposes and that Economic Partnership Agreements should include adequate protection for infant industries.
Several hundred product lines, mostly in the agricultural, agro-processing and fishing sectors in South Africa, may face increased competition from the European Union.
