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  1. Negotiations

Asia & Pacific


Bilateral deal-making involving governments of Asia and the Pacific region.

AEC set to miss deadline for free-trade bloc
21-Nov-2015     The Bangkok Post
The Asean Economic Community was scheduled to set up a free-trade bloc by the end of 2015 but legislative foot-dragging and obstructive border practices have effectively prevented the free movement of goods, services and workers.
APEC endorses regionwide pact
20-Nov-2015     Nikkei Asian Review
Leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific economies agreed to push forward with a wider free trade agreement, even as U.S. and China form their own free trade blocs to gain greater influence in the region.
Behind pomp of APEC summit, crushing poverty endures
20-Nov-2015     Charlotte Observer
Opponents argue the APEC agenda of liberalizing trade further strengthens wealthy nations at the expense of developing countries, who largely can only compete in low wage industries such as garment manufacturing.
Roundup: Civil society groups demand to be heard in building ASEAN
20-Nov-2015     Global Post
Civil society organizations are complaining that they are being shut out of the official process during a pivotal stage of ASEAN's development, as it seeks to develop the ASEAN Economic Community
APEC ministers welcome progress in creating new trade zone
18-Nov-2015     ABS-CBN
Ministers of 21 Asia-Pacific economies on Tuesday welcomed progress in efforts to establish a region-wide free trade zone as they wrapped up a two-day meeting in Manila.
Protests continue as Obama praises TPP at APEC summit
18-Nov-2015     Tele Sur
APEC has been overshadowed by South China Sea tensions and terrorism, but still as leaders discuss free trade, protesters slam them for worsening poverty.
‘Political will’ may no longer be the bane of AEC
14-Oct-2015     The Establishment Post
With less than three months before AEC is launched, the business community is still not convinced that the governments in Asean are politically committed towards AEC. Many feel the countries in the region are not pulling up their socks to remove non-tariff barriers
PH climate change official tells APEC: No trade without addressing disaster risk issues
23-Sep-2015     InterAksyon.com
There can be no trade agreement without addressing disaster risk and climate change issues in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippine government says.
China elbowing US out of Pacific tuna trade
21-Sep-2015     Nikkei Asian Review
A political battle is brewing in the Pacific over tuna as rising competition from Chinese vessels sours long-standing fishing arrangements between the US and Pacific island nations.
TIFA meeting to be held in October
17-Sep-2015     China Post
The next round of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks between Taiwan and the U.S. will be held in October in Taipei at the earliest. Besides food safety, Taiwan is expected to raise issues relating to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and bilateral investment agreement (BIA) in the meeting.