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  1. Negotiations

Asia & Pacific


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

Iran mulling FTA with PGCC
19-Jun-2007    
Iran is planning to sign a free or preferential trade agreement with the member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council.
India, Mercosur, SACU agreement to enhance trade
4-Jun-2007    
Government today said a trilateral agreement with trade bloc Mercosur and South Africa Customs Union (SACU) is under consideration to widen the scope of South-South Cooperation.
Asian FTAs provide few benefits
26-May-2007     Bangkok Post
While most Asian countries are negotiating free trade agreements, very few of those deals have resulted in any real benefits, a World Bank study shows.
Arroyo: Stalled Doha talks drive East Asia integration
25-May-2007     PDI
The stalled Doha round of talks of the World Trade Organization is what is driving the process of integration in East Asia, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday.
Dealing with domestic conflicts in FTA negotiations: Lessons from the Korea-Chile FTA and NAFTA
22-May-2007     PECC
The most significant constraint in FTA negotiations is not international negotiation between two governments, but domestic negotiation with various domestic constituencies, such as organized farmers and labor, the national assembly, NGOs, etc. This paper analyzes the domestic conflicts that arise in FTA negotiations in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly focusing on the US, Japan, China and Korea.
Asian bloc hopes new deal with Canada could lead to free trade pact
17-May-2007     Embassy Magazine
Vietnam's assistant foreign affairs minister says Canada and members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are "optimistic" about a free trade agreement, but doesn't want to speculate as to when such a deal would come to fruition.
Important challenges face Asian FTAs
17-May-2007     Ohmynews
Asian economic regionalism, driven by active FTAs, reached a decisive point recently as China, South Korea, Japan and ASEAN countries compromised on the plan for financial reserves to put the possible financial crisis under control.
US holds talks with Philippines, Brunei to improve market access
11-May-2007     The Raw Story
The United States held separate talks with the Philippines and Brunei this week on steps to enhance market access for a range of products. The talks were held under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA) between the United States and the two Southeast Asian nations.
Trade policy in Asia: where next with a crippled WTO and weak FTAs?
10-May-2007     ECIPE
Trade policy in Asia is dangerously unbalanced. It rests on a shaky leg of discriminatory bilateral and regional FTAs. Its other WTO leg has gone to sleep: most Asian countries have neglected the WTO in favour of FTAs. Its regional-cooperation arm is limp: grand visions for regional economic integration are mostly empty conference chatter.
Brunei, US officials study ways to expand bilateral trade
8-May-2007    
The United States trade representatives and Brunei government officials yesterday discussed how trade relations can be further expanded as well as what the US can do to support the sultanate's efforts to diversify its economy.