:: 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

Colombian, Korean and Panamanian activists condemn White House support for new "free trade" deals

13-Oct-2011 Democracy Now!

Organizers held a teach-in at Occupy Wall Street on Monday about "free trade agreements" with Colombia, Panama and South Korea now pending in Congress that will expand the market for national corporations and financial corporations from the United States.

Biggest US free trade legislation since 1994 eases protectionist concern

13-Oct-2011 Bloomberg

The U.S. Congress approved free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, bringing an end to years of stalemate and offering what supporters said was the biggest opportunity for exporters in decades.

Senate Committee trade vote interrupted by protests

12-Oct-2011 WSJ

Protesters on Tuesday interrupted a U.S. Senate Finance Committee vote on free-trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama, forcing the committee to briefly delay the committee meeting.

ACP Open Day to highlight climate change and economic development

10-Oct-2011 ACP

The Second Open Day of the Sustainable Economic Development and Trade Department (SEDT) is scheduled for Tuesday 11 October at the ACP House in Brussels. The one-day event aims to bring together African, Caribbean and Pacific embassies and regional organizations, along with leaders of various Programme Management Units and facilities to exchange information on ways to improve access to these facilities, including funding opportunities.

Trade pacts set for heated fight

4-Oct-2011 WSJ

The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor federation, opposes all three agreements and will hold a Capitol Hill demonstration Tuesday to protest them. But the short timeline mapped out for passage gives opponents little time to block the deals.

Obama sends Korea, Colombia, Panama Trade pacts to Congress, ending wait

4-Oct-2011 Bloomberg

President Barack Obama sent Congress legislation for free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, ending a wait for business supporters that spanned more than four years and two presidencies.

"Trade deals hurt the middle class"

3-Oct-2011 Politico

"We strongly oppose the proposed trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. They will not help put Americans back to work, only further hasten the decline of our middle class," declares Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO

Obama urged to seek power for free-trade deals by ally Daschle

19-Sep-2011 Bloomberg

President Barack Obama should seek more power from Congress to negotiate free-trade agreements, according to a panel that included former Senator Tom Daschle, an adviser to Obama’s 2008 campaign.

A critical look at pending free trade agreements

9-Sep-2011 WBEZ

We sift through the facts and myths of free trade agreements with Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas Program of the Center for International Policy and a columnist for Foreign Policy in Focus.

Africa still the odd one out

8-Sep-2011 IPS

While globally trade agreements are more and more about linking production chains between countries and continents, Africa remains locked in a struggle to overcome the colonial legacy of fragmentation, trade experts say.

:: 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