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  1. Negotiations

:: Across the board ::


This section contains news and analysis of sweeping developments that affect the overall push and pull towards FTAs and bilateral investment treaties. This means major trends relating to bilateralism, often with global consequences, and other cross-cutting issues. New developments arising from US politics, the WTO or South-South alliance-building, for instance, are often reported here as they tend to have systemic impacts.

last update: May 2012

Did Trump steal our agenda? Why fighting free trade isn't enough anymore
21-Oct-2025     TNI
As the European Trade Justice Coalition marks 25 years, this reflection asks an unsettling question: how did the right appropriate the language of anti-globalization? It calls on activists to rethink trade, the state, and strategy for a new cycle of struggle.
EU to start talks with trans-Pacific economies to cooperate over free trade
20-Oct-2025     The Mainichi
The European Union will soon enter talks in earnest with Japan and other countries that make up a trans-Pacific partnership to explore cooperation in safeguarding free trade, Japanese and EU officials said.
The global race for free trade agreements since Trump's return
2-Oct-2025     Reuters
US President Donald Trump's tariffs have unleashed an unprecedented burst of free trade agreements and negotiations towards them by partners seeking to offset potential lost exports to the United States.
Asean-CPTPP dialogue in November to explore collaboration opportunities, says Zafrul
25-Sep-2025     The Edge Malaysia
There will be a formal dialogue on Nov 20 to explore potential areas of collaboration between Asean and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership pact members.
The BRICS are the new defenders of free trade, the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank
19-Sep-2025     CADTM
China, supported by other members, is multiplying free trade agreements and promoting capitalist globalisation based on free trade, even as the former powers of the North are now turning towards protectionism.
10 September 2025 – The international day of action against WTO and FTAs
19-Aug-2025     La Via Campesina
The 10th of September is commemorated by La Via Campesina and its allies worldwide as the International Day of Action Against the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
EU, CPTPP explore digital trade pact amid Trump policy shift
1-Aug-2025     Borderlex
European and Asia-Pacific leaders are eyeing a possible pan-continental agreement on digital trade as part of a rapprochement between the EU and the 12-nation Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Now that countries have capitulated on tariffs, Trump will be back for more
29-Jul-2025     Al Jazeera
Governments should stop handing Trump unnecessary victories and stand up to him. This is the only way to defeat him.
Nigeria at risk as US threatens extra 10% tariff on BRICS nations, slams 25% on Japan, S’Korea
8-Jul-2025     The Guardian
United States President, Donald Trump, has warned that countries supporting BRICS policies that clash with U.S. interests will face an additional 10 per cent tariff.
D-8 preferential trade agreement targets $500 billion in intra-trade by 2030
18-Jun-2025     21st century chronicle
Amb. Isiaka Imam, Secretary-General, D-8, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, says the organisation is focusing on achieving a target of 500 billion dollars in intra-trade among member countries by 2030.