Tag: FTA

There has been much fanfare over the US “pivot to Asia” and the idea has caused consternation in China, and Europe. A pivot back to Europe would have a beneficial effect not only on the transatlantic economy but on the rest of the world, but only if President Barack Obama seizes the historic moment and makes it his legacy, writes Frederick Kempe.

The high-level working group on growth and jobs, set up at the last EU-US summit in November 2011, will give the go-ahead to launch negotiations for a transatlantic trade agreement, said Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

The European Parliament yesterday (23 October) cleared the way for the EU executive to open negotiations with the United States to move towards a transatlantic free trade agreement, but not at any price.

The European Union should go ahead with talks on a potentially groundbreaking free-trade deal with Japan despite opposition from carmakers, the European Commission will say on Wednesday (18 July), in an effort to revive Europe's stagnant economy.

Meeting in New Delhi on Friday (10 February), EU and Indian leaders said they took a “significant step forward” to speed up negotiations to reach a free-trade pact by the end of the year, which would double trade between the 27-country bloc and the Asian partner.

The Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between India and the EU must be accompanied by a clear commitment to respect international social and environmental standards, said Graham Watson MEP, head of the European Parliament's delegation for EU-India relations, which has a say on trade deals.

Indian pharmaceutical industry representatives and NGOs have voiced opposition to an imminent EU-India free trade agreement (FTA) which they claim would limit the emerging nation's ability to produce generic drugs.