Bumpy road ahead for India-EU FTA
Economic Times, 31 October 2009

Ahead of the India-EU summit next month, the European Commission has said that the tough part of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations was still ahead and that non-trade issues were an important part of the talks.  More...

Turkey, Iran seek increased cooperation in energy, security
Hurriyet Daily News, 29 October 2009

They have a long history as worthy adversaries but this week Turkey and Iran took economic steps toward tightening ties on energy, security and transportation fronts. The move is in line with the Turkish government’s efforts toward ‘zero problems with neighbors’ but do not signify a shift toward an Iran-oriented foreign policy.  More...

SAARC Ministers promise to cut negative list, free services sector
Economic Times, 29 October 2009

Trade ministers from Saarc countries have decided to fast-track negotiations on liberalising the services market within the region, a move that will enable freer movement of people within the region and give a boost to investments in areas like tourism, financial services and telecom.   More...

China-Taiwan trade overtures questioned
Australian Network News, 29 October 2009

As China and Taiwan inch towards a free trade agreement, questions are being raised about how much of a role politics will play in the deal. Relations between the two countries have been warming since Taiwan's election of President Ma Ying-jeou last year.  More...

Zimbabwe sign trade agreement with Namibia
The Zimbabwe Telegraph, 28 October 2009

Zimbabwe and Namibia on Wednesday signed three agreements at the close of the fifth session of the Joint Permanent Commission meant to strengthen trade, investment and ties between the two countries. More...

India, Nepal renew trade treaties
Financial Express, 28 October 2009

India and Nepal updated two treaties on Tuesday, including a 60-year-old trade agreement that would provide the Himalayan nation duty-free access to more products and allow Nepalese exporters to sell Indian goods to a third country.   More...

Qatar, UK sign agreement to boost trade ties
Gulf Times, 28 October 2009

HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation and Acting Minister of Business and Trade Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, yesterday signed an agreement to protect investments between Qatar and the United Kingdom.    More...

India, U.S. to conclude three trade pacts
The Hindu, 26 October 2009

India and the U.S. on Monday agreed to fast-track and conclude within a given timeframe agreements on enhancing and deepening trade and investment engagement, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cooperation agreement and an agreement for putting in place traditional knowledge digital library.   More...

India, Nepal renew trade treaties
Financial Express, 28 October 2009

India and Nepal updated two treaties on Tuesday, including a 60-year-old trade agreement that would provide the Himalayan nation duty-free access to more products and allow Nepalese exporters to sell Indian goods to a third country.   More...

Qatar, UK sign agreement to boost trade ties
Gulf Times, 28 October 2009

HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation and Acting Minister of Business and Trade Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, yesterday signed an agreement to protect investments between Qatar and the United Kingdom.    More...

India, U.S. to conclude three trade pacts
The Hindu, 26 October 2009

India and the U.S. on Monday agreed to fast-track and conclude within a given timeframe agreements on enhancing and deepening trade and investment engagement, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) cooperation agreement and an agreement for putting in place traditional knowledge digital library.   More...

Korea, Vietnam Pledge Greater Cooperation
The Chosun IIbo, 22 October 2009

President Lee Myung-bak and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet on Wednesday agreed to study the feasibility of a bilateral free trade agreement.   More...

More aid requested to offset FTA impacts
Bangkok Post, 22 October 2009

The government is being urged to evaluate its free trade area agreements and to allocate more funds as compensation for affected members of the public and businesses.  More...

PM looks to fast-track Asean talks
The Economic Times, 22 October 2009

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to ask the ten-member Asean grouping to speed up bilateral negotiations on opening up markets in services and investments during the East-Asia Summit and the India-Asean Summit in Bangkok this week, a government official has said.   More...

Giant new Asian trade deal on agenda
Stuff – National, 21 October 2009

Prime Minister John Key will discuss a new Asia-wide trade agreement in Thailand this weekend. Leaders of 16 countries, including those of Southeast Asia, China, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand, will meet for a fourth time at the East Asia Summit to talk trade, climate change and regional security.  More...

Lanka may lose preferential access to EU markets
Business Standard, 20 October 2009

In a move that will be closely watched by the Indian side of the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union (EU), Sri Lanka is set to lose up to $150 million of trade preferences granted to it by the EU. More...

US suggests Bangladesh seek duty cut on products
Daily Times, 16 October 2009

Bangladesh should continue dialogue for duty reduction and preference programme rather than demanding duty-free access for Bangladeshi products to US market, said Assistant US Trade Representative for South Asia Michael J Delaney on Tuesday.  More...

India, Indonesia to sign Free Trade Agreement
2point6billion, 20 October 2009

After signing the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, Jakarta and New Delhi are now set to launch negotiations for a similar bilateral deal to open trade in goods and services between their respective countries.  More...

Chile Asks for Revision of FTA
Chosun IIbo, 20 October 2009

Chile has asked for a revision of the Korea-Chile free trade agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Sunday. Chile wants Korea to open its agricultural market wider.  More...

US, Canada and Mexico reps hold NAFTA meeting
Dallas News, 19 October 2009

Key U.S., Mexican and Canadian trade officials say they plan to talk out their differences. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said at a Monday meeting over the North American Free Trade Agreement that he wants to work out a deal over a ban on Mexican trucks traveling beyond the border region. More...

Pakistan, Turkey agree to expedite FTA process
Daily Times, 16 October 2009

Pakistan and Turkey here on Thursday agreed in principle to initiate the process for finalising Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the two countries are eying $2 billion bilateral trade by the end of 2012.  More...

Smith pushes for free trade with India
ABC News, 16 October 2009

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is pushing for stronger ties, including a possible free trade agreement, with India. Mr. Smith is in India largely to repair Australia’s reputation among Indian students after a series of well-publicised assaults. More...

Europe and South Korea Sign Trade Pact
New York Times, 15 October 2009

The European Union and South Korea took a major step Thursday toward a free trade agreement aimed at generating billions of euros in new commerce. More...

U.S. Wants Free Trade Pact with Japan, Ambassador Tells Nikkei
Bloomberg, 15 October 2009

President Barack Obama wants to sign a free trade pact with Japan, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos told the Nikkei English News in an interview yesterday. More...

Pakistan-EU FTA talks on 20th
The News, 15 October 2009

Pakistan and the European Union, a 27-nation bloc, have planned to hold dialogue on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two sides on Oct 20 in Brussels. More...

No world trade deal without services agreement: US
AFP, 14 October 2009

The United States has said it would not endorse any new global trade accord unless it contained a "solid" deal on services, urging Asian nations in particular to liberalize the lucrative sector. More...

Chile aims to sign free trade deal with GCC
MENAFN, 13 October 2009

The government of Chile wants to sign a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council within three years, and expects as early as January to launch a feasibility study for such a pact. More...

EU for linking climate change, social disparity with India FTA
Business Standard, 13 October 2009

With increasing pressure on European Union to stick to its rigid stand on linking climate change and social disparity with trade, the conclusion of talks on India-EU Free Trade Agreement is set to get delayed.  More...

FTA Ready Between Colombia and Guatemala
Poder 360, 13 October 2009

The presidents of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe, and Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, exchanged Tues. notes for the initiation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both countries. This agreement is expected to start in mid-Nov. and will allow 55% of Colombian products exported to this nation to be the first to benefit from tariff-free trade. More...

Investment, services top talks with Asean team
Economic Times, 13 October 2009

Officials from India and Asean, a 10-member regional grouping of southeast Asian countries, on Monday kicked off a fresh round of talks on liberalising markets in service and investment to complement the bilateral free trade agreement on goods signed recently between both sides. More...

Korea, China, Japan agree to start joint study on FTA
Korea Herald, 13 October 2009

Korea, China and Japan have agreed to start a joint feasibility study for a trilateral free-trade agreement, a high-ranking official from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said yesterday.  More...

UAE ranked top trading partner of India
Steel Guru, 12 October 2009

Khaleej Times reported that the UAE was India’s top trading partner in 2008 to 2009 with 2 way trade for non oil products valued at USD 44.5 billion. The UAE was also India’s top export destination with exports amounting to USD 24 billion.  More...

Korea, China, Japan Inching Closer to Free Trade Pact
The Chosun, 12 October 2009

The governments of South Korea, China and Japan are expected to hold talks on a free trade agreement after their summit in Beijing last Saturday. A tripartite FTA has been under study by private think tanks.  More...

Australia seeks free trade pact with Gulf states council
ThaIndian. 11 October 2009

Australia is seeking a free trade agreement with the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), WAM news agency reported Sunday.  More...

US eyes free trade pact with ASEAN
AFP, 10 October 2009

The United States is beginning to lay the initial groundwork for talks to forge a free trade agreement with Southeast Asia, ahead of President Barack Obama's maiden trip to the region.  More...

[East Asia Summit] Economic Cooperation to Be the Focus
AJNews, 09 October 2009

Leaders of South Korea, China and Japan will hold a summit in China's capital city of Beijing on October 10 with economic cooperation including the free trade agreement (FTA) among the three nations at the top on the agenda.  More...

Korea, EU initial free trade accord
The Korea Herald, 09 October 2009

Korea and the European Union initialled their free trade agreement in Brussels yesterday, Seoul’s Trade Ministry said, bringing the two sides closer to realizing the historic trade accord. “Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon and his EU counterpart Catherine Ashton initialled the bilateral trade deal in Brussels yesterday,” the Trade Ministry said in a statement.   More...

Germany urges Namibia to sign EPA
Newera, 08 October 2009

Germany this week urged Namibia to sign the contentious Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EPA) as the deadline for the controversial trade agreement draws closer.  More...

Indo-Thai FTA to cover services too
Economic Times, 08 October 2009

India and Thailand are planning to expand their limited free-trade agreement (FTA), which includes just 82 items, to services and investments, Thailand’s deputy PM Korbsak Sabhavafu has said.   More...

Japan favours Australian inclusion in East Asia community
The Australian, 08 October 2009

AUSTRALIA should belong to the "East Asia community" envisaged by the new Japanese government, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said yesterday. Whether or not the Hatoyama government's East Asian ideal encompasses Australia has been a matter of confusion in the administration's early weeks and still, "many people have many different ideas", Mr Okada said.  More...

Strategic Implications of Chinese Aid and Investment in Latin America
Jamestown Foundation, 07 October 2009

Since 2008, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has moved forward with a series of large aid and investment deals, indicating that the PRC is raising its stake in Latin America to a new level.  More...

FTA concerns will be addressed: PM
Economic Times, 06 October 2009

Miffed over the UPA’s signing of free trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Kerala’s farmers on Monday reached out to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who promised them that the state “will not be let down”.  More...

Canada PM to visit in Nov; free trade deal likely
Rediff News, 05 October 2009

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit India next month to discuss with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a bilateral free trade agreement and other steps to lower trade barriers, as he prepares to boost his international standing ahead of key summits next year. More...

SA wants African Growth and Opportunity Act extended – Davies
Engineering News, 05 October 2009

South Africa has proposed that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) between the US and African countries be extended for a longer period of time to allow for investment in capacity building that would allow more countries and industries to take advantage of the benefits of the Act, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies said on Monday.  More...

Malaysia plans to start FTA talks with GCC countries
Business Times, 05 October 2009

Malaysia is hopeful of starting negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries this week. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said so far Malaysia has engaged discussions with the Saudi Arabian officials but no decisions have been made to date.  More...

E.Africa traders seek ways to boost exports to Europe
Business Daily, 05 October 2009

Players in the services industry from across the East Africa Community region are working on a raft of reforms that could unlock potential ahead of the signing of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Commission.  More...

Russia, Kazakhstan deals elusive
Asia Times, 01 October 2009

Russia and Kazakhstan's leadership have reiterated pledges to boost their bilateral economic and energy partnership. However, they remain divided over some divergent interests, notably in gas processing and oil transit. During a meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Kazakh counterpart, Nursultan Nazarbayev, at a conference on regional economic cooperation held in Orenburg on September 11, Medvedev and Nazarbayev agreed to develop their bilateral energy partnership. Medvedev announced that both sides aimed to create a joint company to develop civilian nuclear power projects.  More...