:: 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

EU, Latam to talk trade, boycott threat looms

17-May-2010 Reuters

The European Union will seek to conclude trade agreements with several Latin American countries and revive stalled negotiations with others when 60 European and Latin America countries meet this week in Madrid.

Facts are stubborn things when it comes to trade

10-May-2010 The Hill

We're all entitled to our own opinion about NAFTA-style trade pacts, but we're not entitled to our own facts. The most peculiar claim is that the US has trade surpluses with its FTA partners, when in fact the data show we have a deficit.

EU balks at action on Japan economic pact

29-Apr-2010 Financial Times

The European Union on Wednesday agreed to launch a "joint examination" of its trade and investment ties with Japan, but waved aside Tokyo's call for preparations for an "economic integration agreement" that supporters say would benefit both sides by billions of euros a year.

Hoyer says trade deal vote this year doubtful

23-Apr-2010

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Thursday it was doubtful that the House this year will take up pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

Memo to US: only fools rush in

22-Mar-2010 Guardian

If negotiators aren't careful, a US-China investment treaty could prove as explosive as currency manipulation or climate change

Obama trip may alter US misperception of Asean, Ministers say

1-Mar-2010 Bloomberg

Southeast Asian countries are split on Obama’s top trade initiative, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he aims to turn into a platform for economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

Obama export plan includes trade deals - Geithner

4-Feb-2010 Reuters

President Barack Obama's plan to double US exports over five years includes passing free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea that have been delayed for years, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Wednesday.

Obama urged to move on Latin FTAs

29-Jan-2010 LBC

Latin America business leaders and experts are urging President Barack Obama to ask Congress to ratify pending free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama after his State of the Union speech Wednesday pledged to strengthen ties with those countries.

A brief Q&A with the US trade representative

12-Dec-2009 LA Times

Ron Kirk offers a status report on pending trade agreements and an overview of the administration's trade strategy

US senators urge renegotiation of US trade deals

1-Dec-2009 Reuters

A group of US senators urged President Barack Obama on Monday to back legislation requiring the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and a long list of other trade pacts they blame for millions of lost US manufacturing jobs.

:: 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