:: 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

Rough trade: the new corporate power grab

1-Mar-2014 Red Pepper

Trade and investment agreements currently being negotiated will mean the biggest corporate power grab in a decade. We need a new global movement to confront them, writes Nick Dearden

American-European trade pact could dwarf TPPA if it becomes a reality

21-Feb-2014 Bernama

Economies like Malaysia would have to adhere to the tariff levels agreed to between both the EU and the US if they want to export to these markets and those of other potential members such as Japan and South Korea.

Spying by NSA ally entangled US law firm

17-Feb-2014 New York Times

The Obama administration often emphasizes the NSA’s role in fighting terrorism and cyberattacks, but disclosures in recent months from the documents leaked by Mr. Snowden show the agency routinely spies on trade negotiations.

TPP would 'upgrade' US trade pacts, says US Commerce chief

5-Feb-2014 WSJ

The TPP is designed "to create a high-standard global trade agreement that addresses a bunch of issues that have not been addressed before in our trade agreements," US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said, adding, "And frankly, if we don't do it, someone else is going to set the standard."

Not a hacker or whistleblower? Here's how you can still liberate secret documents

3-Feb-2014 Waging Nonviolence

When there are documents that the public has a right to know about, we have a right to go take them, writes Daniel Hunter

Harry Reid deals body blow to Obama on trade

30-Jan-2014 WSJ

US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid broke publicly with the White House Wednesday on trade policy, instantly imperiling two major international trade deals and punching a hole in one piece of the economic agenda the president outlined in his State of the Union address a day earlier.

US trade debate prompts fears of delay in talks

20-Jan-2014 FT

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mexico’s economy minister said governments in the TPP talks were unlikely to offer any significant concessions until they were sure Mr Obama had fast-track authority. A senior EU official said officials in Brussels were bracing for a TPA debate that could last through this year and inevitably affect TTIP negotiations.

US lawmakers propose fast-track bill for trade agreements

10-Jan-2014 Reuters

US lawmakers on Thursday proposed a bill to give the White House power to fast-track international trade agreements as the United States gears up for a hectic year of trade negotiations.

Business groups back Obama on trade amid historic debate

6-Jan-2014 Bloomberg

Some of the largest US business groups are lining up behind President Barack Obama to pressure Congress to clear the way for a pair of trade deals that could set rules for more than half the world’s economy.

TPP, TTIP could alter US textile & apparel trade

5-Jan-2014 Fibre2fashion

From the view of the textiles and apparel industries, all eyes will be on whether a yarn-forward provision has been included or not in the final documents.

:: 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