ISDS Case Map
EU
European Union
The EU is considering boosting trade with Georgia in an attempt to neutralise Russia's sanctions against its neighbour, a move that Moscow is likely to view as a direct challenge to its interests. But according to one EU trade official such a deal would have an adverse impact on the Georgian economy, leaving it open to a flood of EU products and decimating local firms.
The European relations with the Arab World can be regarded as a model that the US should follow. The evidence lies in the welcome of free trade agreements between the EU and Arab countries, and in the doubts about free trade agreements with the US.
South Korea wants to open free trade talks with the European Union and China as soon as next year, President Roh Moo-Hyun said.
The absence of development content and the severe effects of rapid
trade liberalization were among key problems highlighted by policymakers
and NGO participants at a workshop held here on the Economic
Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group.
The drive to create a free trade area in the Western Balkans ended more or less successfully on October 20, after negotiations closed on extending the Central European Free Trade Area, CEFTA. Trade integration is nothing new for the Western Balkans, where countries have signed at least 32 bilateral agreements freeing the movement of goods and services. “CEFTA will turn the spaghetti bowl into a lasagne,” said an EC official.
The European Parliament has reaffirmed that Syria must respect democratic values and human rights before the Council of 25 EU member states could approve the EU-Syria Association Agreement that has been on ice for two years.
Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare said that after much negotiation, the European Commission had conceded that not all Pacific ACPs would need to sign up to a single, comprehensive EPA.
India needs to strive toward becoming the second or third largest partner for European Union and increase its contribution in EU trade from the present 1.5 per cent to five per cent by 2011, industry body CII said Sunday.
Gareth Thomas, international development minister, and Ian McCartney, minister of state for trade, are calling for the European commission to be more flexible in its approach and consider alternative agreements, should developing countries choose not to enter an EPA.
When European and Caribbean Ministers meet in Brussels in November, there will be an urgent need to reach an understanding on what is achievable.
