:: 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

United Nations children's committee warns about FTA threats

7-Jun-2005 IP-health

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in recommendations made public this week warned that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) may negatively affect access to affordable medicines and social services for the poor.

Declaración de Dili: 10 años de OMC son suficientes! Por la defensa de la soberanía y la expulsión de la OMC

2-Jun-2005

Estamos afrontando varios impactos negativos tanto de la OMC como de los TLC. Por ejemplo, Tailandia, conocida como el país con mayor exportación de arroz; sus campesinos están sufriendo muchísimo y están perdiendo la tierra así como las semillas locales.

Dili Declaration: Ten years of WTO is enough! Defense sovereignty and expelling WTO

2-Jun-2005

We are facing severe negative impact of both WTO and FTA. For instance, Thailand known as the biggest rice exporting country but Thai peasant has been suffering in huge amount of debt and losing the land as well as the local seeds.

The changing landscape of regional trade agreements

19-May-2005 WTO

This new WTO discussion paper looks at main trends and characteristics of regional trade agreements, in force and under negotiation. It also examines their effects on third parties and on the multilateral trading system.

New US trade czar faces tests at home and abroad

11-May-2005 IPS

US Trade Representative Rob Portman, now in his second week on the job, faces numerous challenges as he seeks to build support at home and abroad for an ambitious US trade agenda, observers say.

It's make or break time for free trade, says Supachai

6-May-2005

World Trade Organisation chief Supachai Panitchpakdi has described this month as a crucial period that could make or break the highly-anticipated WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December.

Senate confirms Portman as US Trade Representative

1-May-2005 DTN

The US Senate has confirmed President Bush's nomination of Representative Rob Portman to be trade representative. In a statement, Portman said "Congressional approval of the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, China trade issues, the enforcement of existing agreements, keeping on pace the Doha talks to lower trade barriers, and our ongoing regional and bilateral trade negotiations, are all front and center issues for me."

Proliferation of bilateral FTAs will not undermine WTO process

26-Apr-2005 Bernama

The proliferation of bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) will not undermine the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) process but instead may smoothen it, Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said.

USTR 2005 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers

31-Mar-2005 USTR

Office of the US Trade Representative has released its 2005 report on country-by-country barriers to US global trade interests.

Losing out in Asia: The perils of principle

28-Mar-2005 Newsweek

Europe is on the high road to big business losses. As the US races to make trade deals with nations across the world, Europe has held back, on lofty principle. That, in any event, is the message European businesses in Singapore will deliver to EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson when he arrives in the city-state in April.

:: 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