:: 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

The European Union’s free trade agreements threaten MDG progress

30-Sep-2010

People living with HIV call out EU hypocrisy on Millennium Development Goals as it forces its trade agreements on developing countries, seizes generic drugs and negotiates ACTA

Cargill says South Korea, Colombia trade agreements would create US jobs

22-Sep-2010

“Cargill absolutely supports the free-trade agreements,” Devry Boughner, director of international business relations for Cargill, said today in a telephone interview.

‘Call to action’ issued on trade accords

17-Sep-2010 WSJ

“There are 600 trade agreements being worked on right now around the world, and I think the US is focused on single digits–which gives you an idea of the market share we’re losing," says Jim McNerney, CEO of Boeing

Report: Free trade deals don’t increase exports

17-Sep-2010 AFL-CIO Now

A new report shows that the US has had better luck getting "Made in the USA" goods into countries other than its 17 FTA partners

Progressive groups to hold anti-G20 forum, protests

14-Sep-2010 Korea Herald

Korea’s progressive activist groups are preparing massive anti-G20 rallies with international organizations, before and during the G20 summit slated for Nov. 11-12.

Brussels moves on negotiating trade treaties

12-Jul-2010 FT

The European Commission wants to replace a thicket of about 1,200 bilateral investment treaties signed by the EU’s 27 member states over five decades with far fewer treaties binding the entire bloc.

D-8 Commission establishes Preferential Trade Agreement --report

6-Jul-2010 WSJ

The Developing Eight, a group of developing countries, on Monday established a Preferential Trade Agreement to facilitate investment and economic cooperation among member states.

G20 leaders drop Doha target, see smaller deals

29-Jun-2010 Reuters

World leaders dropped a commitment on Saturday to complete the troubled Doha trade round this year and vowed to push forward on bilateral and regional trade talks until a global deal could be done.

WTO DG Pascal Lamy describes FTAs as "politically convenient" instruments

25-Jun-2010

Asean has been interested in using Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) as instruments for promoting trade in the globalised economy.

EU seals trade deals with Central America, Peru, Colombia - summary

20-May-2010 dpa

The European Union on Wednesday signed agreements liberalizing trade with Central America, Peru and Colombia, while some Latin American leaders criticized such deals as only favouring rich countries.

:: Across the board ::

Referenced sites

21st Century Trade Agreements: Implications for Long-Run Development Policy

#A18DoA - Global day of action to defeat free trade and investment treaties

Alianza Social Continental

ICC

Movimientos.org

Pambazuka

People over profit

Peoples Global Action

Regional/Multilateral Integration Agreements

SOMO

South Centre

Stop fast track!

ISDS Case Map