EU-CARIFORUM agreement too vague on development dimension
Jamaica Gleaner, February 29, 2008

Of all the aspects of the recently initialled economic partnership agreement (EPA) between Caribbean countries and the EU, the development dimension remains the least defined one. The agreement contains no guarantees about how trade liberalisation will benefit Caribbean society, nor does it detail when and how governments and the private sector are to receive the support to help them enhance their global competitiveness. Instead, the text proposes only general measures that aim to develop the region's productive capacity, encourage competitiveness and generally foster economic growth. <<More>>

Mandelson in Southern Africa to deepen trade and development ties
European Commission, February 29, 2008

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has joined talks on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Southern African countries and the Doha Round negotiations. Talking about the interim EPA signed between the EU and Southern African countries in 2007, Mandelson spoke of the first of a new generation of trade and development agreements, putting the EU's relationship with Africa on a strong economic footing, and strengthening regional integration in Africa. In both the EPAs and the Doha Round, the EU's goal in Africa remains using trade to promote economic development, build regional markets and help lift people out of poverty. <<More>>

EU 'afraid of losing foothold in Africa'
Mail and Guardian, February 26, 2008

The European Union is concerned about competing with China for access to resources and markets in Africa, which partly explains its drive to hook African states into the trade deals called economic partnership agreements (EPAs). According to Rob Davies, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, the EU is afraid that it will lose its foothold on the African continent and wants to prevent this at all cost. <<More>>

Korea and NZ to meet over free-trade deal
New Zealand Herald, February 25, 2008

A proposed free-trade agreement with Korea has cleared an early hurdle, a joint study concluding that it would bring substantial benefits to both countries. The executive director of the International Business Forum, Stephen Jacobi, said Korea had become something of a poster boy for trade liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific region. <<More>>

Guyana and the wider world
Stabroek News, February 24, 2008

Outside of a small trade circle, very little notice is being taken of these Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations which are running parallel to the WTO's Doha Development Round.  <<More>>

Asia’s trade disparities ‘need to be equalised’
Viet Nam News, February 23, 2008

Viet Nam is well aware of the need to equalise trade disparities in Southeast Asia for the good of the region, said Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Cam Tu. The Deputy Minister was speaking the third Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ARIA) symposium titled "Towards East Asian Economic Integration," which was co-organised by the Japan External Trade Organisation (ERIA Secretariat) and the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM – Viet Nam’s official representative in ERIA). <<More>>

Canada and Jordan start free trade talks
Manitoba Co-operator, February 20, 2008

Canada and Jordan have launched negotiations towards a free trade agreement. The deal aims to cover a wide range of issues, including trade in goods, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade facilitation, monopolies and state enterprises, dispute settlement and institutional provisions. The trade volume between the two countries increased significantly between 2000 and 2004. Canada hopes for a better business position vis-à-vis competitors, such as the United States and European Union, which already have FTAs with Jordan. <<More>>

Bangladesh government official skeptical about FTA with India
The New Nation, February 19, 2008

In what he said was his personal view, a senior government official from Bangladesh, speaking on a seminar on free trade agreements, has warned against any FTA with India which might make Bangladesh a "captive market" of the neighbour. While other economic experts suggested more tariff liberalisation for better international trade, business leaders said the country was loosing the race in the global trade due to too much liberalisation without protecting local interests. <<More>>

The African Development Bank: Achievements and Challenges
Sponsor Wire , February 18, 2008

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has been a major force in private and public sector infrastructure development in Africa through the provision of financial and technical resources to create an enabling environment, financing systems and trade promotion. However, the continent still lacks adequate social and economic infrastructure to facilitate sustainable development and trade regionally and globally. Assessing the gaps and strategies to ensure the efficient use of resources remains among the institution's most challenging tasks. <<More>>

EU economic partnership agreement damages regional cooperation in Southern Africa
Inter Press Service, February 15, 2008

Trade experts are skeptical about an engagement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union. According to Paul Kalenga, senior trade policy adviser at the SADC Secretariat, an EPA could destroy longstanding regional integration efforts of SADC, which is still behind with its regional harmonisation, while at the same time having to negotiate complicated trade deals with the EU. <<More>>

India to explore options for investment promotion treaty with US
The Economic Times, February 15, 2008

Representatives of the Indian and the US government have started exploratory talks on an agreement to promote bilateral investment. The treaty is likely to be on the lines of the bilateral investment promotion agreements (Bipa) India has with a number of other trading partners, including Australia, the UK, France, Germany and Russia. While the US is mainly looking for a pre-investment national treatment for its investors, India is reluctant to give the same pre-investment regulations to US investors as to Indian investors. <<More>>

416 items in EU's negative list for FTA
Business Standard, February 10, 2008

The European Union has presented an initial negative list of 416 tradeable items on which it does not intend to provide duty cuts as part of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India. The items on the list include chemicals and plastics, rubber, textiles and related items, raw hides, precious stones and metals, computers and electrical machinery, and some classes of vehicles. The EU is India's largest trading partner, with overall trade estimated at $68 billion during 2007-08. The intended FTA is expected to lead to enhanced trade in goods and services. <<More>>

10th African Union summit keeps dream of unity alive
AllAfrica.com, February 07, 2008

The African Union (AU) has agreed on accelerated plans for unification, but the views on the timing and model of governance vary considerably. While mostly west African states and Libya favour an immediate transformation to a United States of Africa, eastern and southern Africa advocates strengthening regional economic cooperations to lay the foundation for the continent's unity. Other issues addressed include peace resolutions and security, climate change, and the role of the youth in African development. <<More>>

Differences stall India-EU trade agreement
The Economic Times, February 07, 2008

India's eager wait for a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union could get a little longer as differences have cropped up over the items which would be kept off the pact. The government is yet to submit its list of items it wants to retain in the negative list. The EU negative list includes 226 items, mostly petrochemicals, chemicals, plastics, ceramic and glassware, which will not get customs duty concessions under the free trade agreement (FTA). <<More>>

Connecting Mekong region with India through infrastructure linkages
Financial Express, February 05, 2008

Mekong countries have undertaken programmes to strengthen their economic linkages with India while fostering peace, facilitating sustainable growth, and improving living standards in the process. In particular, the Mekong region is working towards improving connectivity through strengthening linkages in transport, energy and telecommunication. <<More>>

African countries need to be more informed and involved
Business Day, February 05, 2008

With the termination of the development-supporting Cotonou Agreement, economic relationships between Europe and Africa have been incorporated into Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which concentrate on free trade models and do not build integrated regional economies. In order not to jeopardise the significant economic relationships within Africa, an overall satisfactory and harmonised agreement must be a priority issue for any negotiation on EU-African economic relationships. <<More>>

US to join negotiations with 4 Asia-Pacific countries on investment, financial services
Xinhua, China, February 05, 2008

The United States will join negotiations on investment and financial services with Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Brunei. According to U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab, the negotiations with the so-called "P-4" group of countries presented an opportunity to deepen U.S. engagement with countries committed to high-standard trade agreements. The initiative will also provide an opportunity for the United States to participate in the regional trade architecture that is emerging in the Asia-Pacific region.  <<More>>
 

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