'Positive' progress on trade pact with India
NZ Herald, 30 November 2009

Talks for a free trade agreement with India have been given a swift kick along after a meeting between Prime Minister John Key and India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Commonwealth summit in Trinidad. More...

Barbados PM says end to FTAA negotiations not good for the region
Caribbean Net News, 30 November 2009

“The abrupt halt to the Free Trade Area of the Americas’ negotiations, represents in many ways a missed opportunity for the countries of the Caribbean, which had invested substantial financial and human resources in the process”. More...

Gordon Brown telephones President Zardari
Dawn, 29 November 2009

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday night and discussed bilateral relations, operation against militants and rehabilitation of IDPs. More...

FTA with the Gulf council on the backburner as talks put off
The Financial Express, 26 November 2009

In a significant setback to India’s ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions between the two sides have been postponed indefinitely. More...

Africa steps up merger of three top trading blocs
Business Daily Africa, 26 November 2009

Eastern and Southern African states have stepped up plans for the establishment of Africa’s biggest economic bloc with the opening of negotiations that may culminate in a Free Trade Area spanning Cape to Cairo by May next year. More...

SAARC on negotiation to relax service market
Institute of International Trade, 25 November 2009

Services market within the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) territory could become more liberal. Trade ministers from SAARC countries are in the move to negotiate on liberalizing the services market within the region.  More...

Turkey, Costa Rica eye better trade, political ties
Xinhua, 25 November 2009

Turkish and Costa Rican leaders said Wednesday the two countries intend to sign a free trade agreement to boost bilateral economic relations and also enhance political ties, Turkish media reported.. More...

Taiwan, US to resume trade talks next year: envoy
AFP, 25 November 2009

Taiwan and the United States are expected to resume their dialogue on a key trade and investment pact in the new year, a US envoy was quoted as saying Wednesday. More...

EU FTA toward smooth passage: minister
Korea Herald, 25 November 2009

The comprehensive free trade agreement finalized between Korea and the European Union in July 2009 will be the EU's key to "securing a strong foothold" on Asia, Seoul's chief trade policymaker said yesterday. More...

India open to free trade agreement with US
NDTV Profit, 24 November 2009

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India is open to discussions on a free trade pact with the US on the lines of the agreement New Delhi already has with the 10-nation South East Asian bloc. More...

SAARC biz ask for more
Daily Mirror Business, 23 November 2009

As their economies struggle with post-recession rejuvenation, over 300 business leaders from the region converged at the third South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SARRC) Conclave which began yesterday in Colombo, calling for more holistic ties to expand regional trade relations. More...

Free zones to benefit from UAE free trade deals
Emirates Business 24-7, 22 November 2009

Free zones in the UAE will soon benefit from duty free trade with GCC states and other countries with whom the country has free trade agreements, Emirates Business has learnt. More...

Korea Should Not Send Wrong Signal to US
The Korea Times, 22 November 2009

The future of the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has taken a new twist since last week's summit between President Lee Myung-bak and his American counterpart Barack Obama. More...

Certain issues' hinder Indo-Asean agreement
Business Standard, 20 November 2009

Despite India pushing for an early conclusion of negotiations of the proposed regional trade agreement in services and investment with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), certain issues regarding investments could hinder the rapid conclusion of the accord, representatives of two Asean member-states have indicated. More...

Syria Stalls on Signing Trade Deal with EU
WSJ, 19 November 2009

After years of pursuing a free-trade pact with the European Union, Syria is balking at signing a deal, as local businesses express worry about competition from European goods. More...

President pushes for ECFA
ETaiwan News, 19 November 2009

President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated Thursday that Taiwan's seeking of the signing of a partial free-trade agreement, known as an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China, is aimed at protecting its future economic development, not simply bolstering ties with China. More...

Barack Obama holds talks on trade with Chinese prime minister
Guardian, 18 November 2009

Barack Obama met the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, in the capital today, in talks that were expected to focus on trade and other economic disagreements. More...

S.Korea, Columbia to launch FTA negotiations
China Daily, 18 November 2009

South Korea and Columbia agreed to launch formal negotiations to seal a free trade agreement (FTA) as a result of the bilateral summit where their leaders agreed on the need for the deal, Seoul’s trade ministry said Wednesday. More...

Malaysia to decide on free trade formats
People’s Daily Online, 18 November 2009

The Malaysian government would decide whether to pursue its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with the United States or engage in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, a Malaysian official said in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. More...

RP bizmen urging government to start bilateral talks with EU for FTA
Business Mirror, 17 November 2009

Filipino businessmen are asking the government to take the initiative in starting the bilateral talks between the Philippines and the European Union (EU) for a free-trade agreement (FTA) after a study made by a think tank showed that the country will benefit immensely from it. More...

S Korea awaits Obama's visit for FTA, DPRK issues
Xinhua, 17 November 2009

As South Koreans wait for U.S. President Barack Obama's first visit to Seoul, so do major thorny issues between the two nations, such as the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s denuclearization. More...

India And Canada Sign Energy, Trade Deals
RTT News, 17 November 2009

India and Canada agreed to facilitate cooperation in energy security and to set up a joint study group for reaching a bilateral free trade agreement.  More...

Comesa in plans increase trade threefold
The East African,16 November 2009

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has announced a number of measures to increase intra-regional trade threefold. According to the bloc, it will step up efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers, address communication and transport problems, improve Customs procedures and charges, and improve access to market information. More...

India seeks to reach pact in services with ASEAN by Aug 2010
The Economic Times, 15 November 2009

India and the ASEAN bloc have set August 2010 as the deadline for reaching an agreement for opening the services trade as has been done for goods. "Already two rounds of talks have been completed, next round of negotiations will take place soon...we have set August 2010 as the target," a Commerce Ministry official said.  More...

APEC summit ends with trade agreement, no climate deal
The Vancouver Sun, 15 November 2009

Leaders of Pacific Rim nations agreed Sunday on "a new growth paradigm" which included a rejection of "all forms of protectionism" and a commitment to slash the cost of doing business in the region by 25 per cent by 2015. More...

Qatar, India sign MoU on investment
Qatar Tribune, 15 November 2009

Qatar and India on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding on investment. High-level delegations from both sides also discussed and agreed to cooperate in economic and trade fields. More...

Saarc to negotiate on liberalisation of services market
The Times of India, 14 November 2009

Services market within the Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region could be liberalized. Trade ministers from Saarc countries have agreed to negotiate on liberalising the services market within the region.  More...

Free-trade deal with Hong Kong announced
NZ Herald, 13 November 2009

New Zealand has negotiated yet another free-trade agreement with an Asian economy, the latest being with Hong Kong.  More...

APEC agrees to go slow on trade deal
Business World Online, 13 November 2009

The Philippines and other APEC members yesterday agreed not to rush into an Asia-Pacific-wide free trade agreement (FTA) despite a clamor by businessmen to start talks as soon as possible.  More...

Obama says has strategy to boost U.S. exports to Asia
Reuters, 12 November 2009

President Barack Obama said on Thursday he planned to discuss a strategy with Asia Pacific leaders calling on their countries to import more U.S. goods and the world to rely less on exporting to the United States. More...

U.S., China Vie for Dominance in Southeast Asia Obama's Summit, Including a Possible Meeting with Myanmar's Premier, Comes as Beijing Expands Its Ties to the Region
WSJ, 12 November 2009

President Barack Obama will hold a first-ever summit with the leaders of Southeast Asia next week as the U.S. tries to regain its dominance in a region that plays a crucial role in global trade but has rapidly expanded ties with China in recent years. More...

Peru president says near trade deal with South Korea
Reuters, 11 November 2009

Resource-rich Peru is close to sealing a free trade agreement with South Korea that will expand their $1.6 billion a year bilateral trade, Peru's President Alan Garcia said on Thursday. More...

China, Malaysia ties to usher in more exciting phase
China Daily, 11 November 2009

Sino-Malaysian relations will enter a "more exciting" phase, with expanded trade links and more coordination between the nations in regional and international affairs, the countries' leaders said on Wednesday. More...

Vietnam seeks more Indian investment
Business Standard, 11 November 2009

Vietnam, which recorded a growth of 6.23 percent in 2008 despite global recession, has called for more investment in that country. More...

U.S. Remains Committed to Trade, Top Official Says
WSJ, 11 November 2009

The U.S. remains committed to expanding trade in Asia but will insist that China and other countries “play by the rules” as it contemplates future trade agreements, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Tuesday. More...

Lee, Obama to focus on N.Korea, FTA
Korea Herald, 11 November 2009

The leaders of South Korea and the United States will focus their summit next week on coordinating a package with North Korea and a pending bilateral free trade agreement, officials said.  More...

Canadian PM’s visit next week to herald FTA work
Economic Times, 10 November 2009

India and Canada are expected to formally start work on a free trade agreement (FTA) when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits New Delhi next week.  More...

Trade and investment liberalisation tops agenda for ABAC
Channel News Asia, 09 November 2009

The business council advising APEC leaders is pushing for commitments to a deadline to develop the framework for a proposed Free Trade Area for Asia-Pacific by next year.  More...

Jordan, Turkey move on free-trade measure
UPI, 09 November 2009

The prime ministers of Jordan and Turkey agreed to remove obstacles to a free-trade agreement, putting the measure on track for approval by the end of the year. More...

Labour pangs likely to hold up India-EU free-trade agreement
Economic Times, 07 November 2009

The fate of the India-EU trade and investment agreement – which seeks to further open up bilateral markets for goods, investments and services – may hang in balance as India and the EU lock horns over including labour standards in the pact. More...

India agreement approved, U.S. FTA still pending
JoongAng Daily, 07 November 2009

Korea should “level the playing field” by removing barriers to U.S. auto sales in order to clear the way for a pending free-trade agreement, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said. More...

South Korea OK's India free trade agreement
Associated Press, 06 November 2009

South Korea on Friday ratified a free trade deal with India that promises to slash tariffs on goods and services between two of Asia's biggest economies. The agreement was passed in a vote by lawmakers in the National Assembly, said two officials in the body's secretariat. More...

Non-trade issues not on India agenda in FTA talks with EU
The Financial Express, 06 November 2009

India on Thursday told European Union that it would not like to discuss non-trade issues such as human rights or child labour while negotiating the free trade agreement (FTA) involving duty-free trade of goods services and liberalised investment norms.   More...

Trade pact, climate change to top India-EU summit agenda
Earth Times, 05 November 2009

India and the European Union on Friday are to hold their 10th summit, which could see both sides provide a fresh impetus to a proposed trade pact and narrow differences over climate change.   More...

European FTAs with Asian countries may harm Bangladesh
The Daily Star, 05 November 2009

The European Union's bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with India, Southeast Asian nations and South Korea may be a potential threat to Bangladesh, officials of the European Commission said yesterday.  More...

NZ/Middle East FTA nears completion
National Business Review, 02 November 2009

New Zealand exporters looking for new markets in the Middle East will benefit from a new free trade agreement successfully negotiated between New Zealand and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).  More...

China-Australia free trade talks progress
Dynamic Export, 02 November 2009

Free trade negotiations between Australia and China are expected to progress smoothly after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and China’s Executive Vice Premier Li Keqiang met in Canberra last week.  More...

EU agrees to talk on FTA in Feb
Daily Times, 01 November 2009

The European Union has finally agreed to initiate talks on Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan and the first round of negotiations would be held in February 2010.   More...