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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

The two faces of free trade
8-Mar-2024     Project Syndicate
Whereas free trade was once the central cause of progressive reformers seeking to combat entrenched interests on behalf of ordinary people, now it is the bête noire of both right-wing nationalists and the mainstream left. To understand why attitudes changed so radically, one must follow the money.
Explainer: Free trade zones and free trade agreements
24-Nov-2023     bilaterals.org
Free trade agreements, free trade zones and special economic zones are all designed to promote business-friendly regulations and encourage economic liberalisation, but they are different in nature.
The bare truths about FTAs
2-Dec-2022     The Hindu BusinessLine
That much of world trade happens through free trade agreements and these help boost exports are among myths that need to be busted.
Physical space in a digital world
20-Jun-2022     Font
Community radio spaces like CKUT have worked to deepen and reorient the mainstream political conversation in profound ways, slowly shifting the focus toward voices calling for transformative social change and justice.
Carlos Vicente: A “man-tree”
25-Mar-2022    
GRAIN and bilaterals.org are heartbroken to announce the passing of our brother, comrade and colleague, Carlos Vicente.
FTAs need a cautious approach
7-Sep-2021     BusinessLine
The findings of the US Congress-commissioned report, The Economic Impact of Trade Agreements, provide insights for countries currently negotiating more than a hundred FTAs.
Blockading global Green New Deals
19-Aug-2021     The Ecologist
Tackling trade and investment agreements must be an essential step in achieving justice-oriented action on climate change, health inequities and economic injustice.
Pathways to just, equitable and sustainable trade and investment regimes
6-Aug-2021     SSRN
The paper suggests ten principles that fair trade movements could use when they think about their approach to international trade and investments.
In honour of Aziz Choudry
2-Jun-2021     bilaterals.org
The teams at GRAIN and bilaterals.org are extremely sad to share the news that we have lost a great comrade and friend, Aziz Choudry.
D-8 nations should sign PTAs
6-Apr-2021     The Daily Star
Nations of the D-8 should sign a much-needed preferential trade agreement to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers, ministers and entrepreneurs of the trade bloc said.