:: 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

Weaving webs of influence: The United States, free trade agreements and dispute resolution

16-Apr-2007 Australia National University

Peter Drahos looks at the issue of dispute settlement in the gowing web of US bilateral free trade agreements, how this relates to the WTO's dispute settlement system and the implications for developing countries.

US trade winds no longer prevail

6-Apr-2007 IRC Americas Program

Lately, the US government's ability to use free trade agreements and trade preference bills as instruments of foreign and economic policy is dwindling.

US 2007 National Trade Estimate report on foreign trade barriers

3-Apr-2007 USTR

The 2007 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the twenty-first in an annual series that surveys significant foreign barriers to US exports.

GOP may have to swallow tough labor terms for trade deals

28-Mar-2007

As the Bush administration this week pursues a breakthrough with Democratic leaders aimed at gaining congressional approval for new trade agreements, the fate of the deals appears to hinge on whether Republicans are willing to accept tough labor conditions that they assert could boost the power of unions in the United States.

Break seen in logjam over trade

28-Mar-2007

Prospects for Congressional approval of several pending trade pacts received a surprising lift on Tuesday when Democrats in the House proposed a series of revisions that won guarded praise from both organized labor and the Bush administration.

Rangel and Levin unveil new trade policy for America

28-Mar-2007 House and Ways Committee

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI), today unveiled “A New Trade Policy for America,” to improve pending free trade agreements and allow for bipartisan support in the House.

Trade: Support builds for labour, environment standards

22-Mar-2007 IPS

Strong majorities in both developing and developed countries believe that international trade agreements should require governments to abide by minimum labour and environmental standards, according to a new survey of public opinion in 10 countries.

Activists seek alternative model to ‘neo-liberal' trade pacts

20-Mar-2007 New Standard

With two controversial trade deals awaiting ratification, Congress is taking stock of the White House's free-trade agenda, and activists are seizing the moment to call for policies that respond to the social needs of all countries involved.

UNCTAD meeting warns of effects of bilateral, regional FTAs

20-Mar-2007 TWN

An expert meeting was held in Geneva last week on the interface between the multilateral trading system and regional trade arrangements, organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Lawmaker rejects USTR proposal on trade pacts

6-Mar-2007

A Bush administration proposal aimed at winning Democratic party support for free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama falls short of what is needed to strengthen the labor provisions of those pacts, a Democratic lawmaker said on Monday.

:: 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