Bilateral & Regional Trade

EU Move Could Bring Disaster to the Poor

3 October, 2006
The call to end protectionism at home is likely to lead to some rumblings within Europe, but the announcement really set off alarm bells among those seeking to protect the rights of people in developing countries.

Corporate Conquest: Why the UK and its EU partners must stop forcing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) upon developing countries

3 October, 2006
Friends of the Earth's new report on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)

EU to shift trade laws to erase some hurdles

3 October, 2006
The European Union is planning a broad shift in its trade policy that will no longer focus chiefly on foreign tariffs that drive up the price of EU products, but also seek to remove more subtle obstacles that block European businesses from getting a foothold overseas, particularly in China.

Oxfam warns EU trade deals could sink poor countries

28 September, 2006
Free trade agreements mooted between the European Union (EU) and several African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries could destroy the economies of poor countries, development agency Oxfam has warned.

Oxfam warns EU-ACP free trade deals are unfair - Call for comprehensive review

28 September, 2006
The European Union must urgently change its negotiating position on free trade deals with some of the world

Uruguay: Government speeds up free-trade negotiations even as protests build

25 September, 2006
Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez is stepping up efforts to work out a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the US even as various trade-union groups are stepping up their opposition to such a deal and as the president's political popularity slides.

Slow Going In Trade Talks With S. Korea Disappoints U.S.

10 September, 2006
U.S. trade officials were disappointed at the lack of progress last week in the third round of negotiations toward a U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement,

Japan-RP economic pact brings dubious gain

9 September, 2006
The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) will bring dubious gain to the local economy while severely limiting government’s policy options to develop domestic industries.

For Arroyo, the future of Filipinos is cheap — Migrante-Japan

8 September, 2006
For Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the future of the Filipino people has a very cheap price. So cheap that she has opted to sell it to Japan by further opening up the local economy in exchange for the annual deployment of

Economic partnership with Japan will not benefit Filipinos; JPEPA spells intensified human labor export and liberalization of economy

8 September, 2006
It is contemptible how the Philippine government trades its citizens for export goods that will only push the country to even greater disaster.

Agricultural issues poised to heat up in 3rd FTA talks

3 September, 2006
Despite the expected challenges, Seoul will push for certain exemptions over sensitive agricultural products during the upcoming third round of free trade agreement talks with Washington, the Korean government said.

ASEAN framework deal with US may be disastrous to economy, warns IBON

28 August, 2006
The recently-signed trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) between the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will sooner or later lead to a free trade agreement (FTA), and this will prove disastrous to the vulnerable sectors of the region, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.

President Roh being increasingly critisized for KorUS FTA

22 August, 2006
"Regardless of fierce nation-wide protests, I will dedicate my remaining time in office to realizing the FTA." These words encapsulate the attitude that has seen South Korean President Roh Mu-Hyun and his government become increasingly defensive and isolated in power.

US likely to sign ASEAN trade deal

22 August, 2006
The US is set to conclude an agreement with Southeast Asia this week that is expected to boost free trade and help Americans benefit from a larger East Asian tariff-busting program.

The 3rd Round of Korea-US FTA Talks coming...

22 August, 2006
The third round of talks over the Korea-U.S. FTA will be held in Seattle in the United States -a famous battleground of the WTO protests in 1999-from 6th to 9th September.

U.S. Trade Sanctions Seek to Pressure Latin America

21 August, 2006
The U.S. government

U.S. Turns Tough on Trade

18 August, 2006
Here's the new U.S. strategy for reviving global trade talks: threaten to cut off sweetheart trade deals with big developing nations like India and Brazil to make them more willing to compromise.

US gives Pakistan ‘non-paper’ on BIT

17 August, 2006
The United States has given a “non paper” to Pakistan that shows some flexibility for signing the much-delayed Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between the two countries soon.

Free trade pacts more dangerous than WTO

16 August, 2006
In the wake of the collapse of the Doha talks in the World Trade Organization (WTO), negotiations for the country to enter into an Asia-Pacific free trade agreement (FTA) have become more urgent for industrialized countries. But independent think-tank IBON Foundation warns that entering into an FTA could be even more dangerous than liberalization under the WTO.

Uruguayan Organizations Demonstrated Against FTA with the US

9 August, 2006
500 people demonstrated yesterday in Uruguay against a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.