News from the movements


Behind the ‘inclusive’ window dressing, the NZ-UK free trade deal disappoints politically and economically
The free trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom demonstrates the intransigence of political leaders and their official advisers in the face of concerted demands to rethink the country’s trade policy paradigm.
Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) reform: Why it has failed to deliver on the EU’s own objectives
From a climate perspective, the expected reform outcome is a failure. No Contracting Party will end investment protection for fossil fuels in a timeline that is necessary to align with the Paris Agreement.
Guatemalan water defenders celebrate 10 years of resistance
An attempted assassination, criminalization, and violent eviction in 2014 didn't stop the Peaceful Resistance of La Puya in Guatemala, which won legal action suspending harmful mining activities.
Understanding the agricultural biotechnology provisions in the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement
While industry lobbyists succeeded in convincing trade negotiators to include agricultural biotechnology provisions in the USMCA, they now misstate the scope of the text that was agreed to by Canada, Mexico and the US.
Civil society position on the East African Community (EAC)-European Union (EU) economic partnership agreement (EPA)
We the members of the East African Trade Network (EATN) call upon the Government of Tanzania and the East African Community (EAC) not to waver and be stampeded into signing the EPA.
A sea of trouble: Seabed mining and international arbitration in Mexico
In the Gulf of Ulloa, a US treasure-hunting company turned seabed mining outfit poses a dire risk to the environment.
Corporate courts can be beaten. It’s essential for climate justice
It is perfectly possible to withdraw from trade deals containing corporate courts, as former South African trade minister Rob Davies explains.
NZ UK FTA “inclusive trade” agenda does nothing to redress failed free trade model
Professor Kelsey repeated the calls for a comprehensive rethink of this model of free trade agreements to confront the social, environmental and economic challenges of the 21st century.
Briefers on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) vs Women’s Human Rights
APWLD is launching new Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) vs Women’s Human Rights briefers which elaborate on how ISDS is incompatible with human rights principles.
The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement: A critical analysis and an alternative
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement leads to the destruction of nature, violation of land rights of farmers and Indigenous people and loss of industrial jobs in the Mercosur countries.