• GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND IMPACT ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT
• TRADE FICILITATION AND TRADE FINANCE
• TRADE BARRIERS
• WTO-RELATED NEWS
• REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS
• DID YOU KNOW THAT?
• RECENT PUBLICATIONS ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT

GLOBAL
Global trade to contract in 2009, Dawn , 15 September 2009
ISLAMABAD : The sharp contraction of the global economy, which began in 2008 and accelerated in the first quarter of 2009, has made a deep impact on international trade and investment. A report on ‘G20 Trade and Investment Measures' published on Monday says the volume of world merchandise trade is projected to contract in 2009 by 10 per cent, and foreign direct investment (FDI) flows which fell by 14 per cent in 2008 are projected to plummet even further this year by 30 to 40 per cent. There is no indication of a descent into high-intensity protectionism as a reaction to the crisis, involving widespread resort to trade or investment restriction or retaliation.
Accessed on 15 September
< http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/business/11-global-trade-to-contract-in-2009--il--06 >

ASIA
Most Asia economies reform amid crisis-World Bank , Forbes, 8 September 2009
WASHINGTON, - Three Asia-Pacific economies -- Singapore, New Zealand and Hong Kong -- were ranked by the World Bank on Tuesday as the easiest places to do business over the past year, when most of the region's economies carried out regulatory reforms in the face of a global economic crisis. The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector lending arm, said Indonesia was the most active reformer in East Asia and the Pacific, where 17 of 24 economies pursued regulatory reform. Singapore , New Zealand and Hong Kong held the top three spots in the global ease of doing business rankings in 2009 as well. This year's 15 top-ranked economies also included Thailand at 12, and Japan , at 15, the IFC said.
Accessed on 9 September
< http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/09/08/afx6861116.html

Asia Rebounding Rapidly, Bank Reports Sign in to Recommend, The New York Times , 21 September 2009
HONG KONG — Asian economies slumped steeply when exports plunged during the winter, but most of the region is now rebounding quickly, the Asian Development Bank said in a report released on Tuesday. The multilateral institution, based in Manila , declared that economic growth in China would be 8.2 percent this year, 1.2 percentage points higher than the bank's forecast in March, and 8.9 percent next year.

The bank raised its 2009 growth forecast for India to 6 percent, from 5 percent predicted in March, and for developing Asian countries as a group to 3.9 percent, from 3.4 percent.
Accessed on 22 September
< http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/business/global/22yuan.html >

The G20 summit and Asia's delicate economic balancing act , The Taipei Times , 22 September 2009
The Asian Development Bank forecasts that developing Asia will contribute more than 75 percent to world economic growth this year — an amazing figure. On Thursday, leaders of the G20 economies will meet in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , to reaffirm their commitment to economic stimulation and begin forging a new global financial regulatory framework. This summit is critical. It passes the baton from the frenetic bailout emergency response to avert economic catastrophe to one that must rebuild global confidence in the international financial firmament. It will not only continue to plot a course to a hoped for worldwide recovery, but try to decipher what needs to be done to prevent this happening again.
Accessed on 22 September
< http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2009/09/22/2003454142 >
 
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh : Delayed impact of global recession, energy crisis slow down investment , The Financial Express , 18 September 2009
Investment in the country showed a dismal picture in January-August period as global recession and shortage of electricity and gas discouraged entrepreneurs in taking any decision. Registration of domestic investment proposals dropped significantly to Tk 126 billion involving 971 projects from Tk 154 billion on 1104 projects in January-August of the last year. Foreign direct investment (FDI) also dropped by 9.0 per cent to Tk 42.6 billion from Tk 46.9 billion in the last year's period, according to Board of Investment (BoI) data.
Accessed on 18 September
< http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/09/18/79358.html >

CAMBODIA
Cambodia : IMF lowers GDP forecast to 2.75pc contraction for 2009 , The Phnom Penh Post , 24 September 2009
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its forecast for economic growth this year and warned the Cambodian government that it needs to steer spending from civil service wage growth towards social and infrastructure spending. The fund said it now expected the Cambodian economy to contract 2.75 percent this year, a much more pessimistic forecast than it made in March when it said the economy would contract just 0.5 percent. In December last year, the body predicted a 4.75 percent expansion in the economy for 2009.
Accessed on 24 September
< http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009092428540/Business/imf-lowers-gdp-forecast-to-275pc-contraction-for-2009.html >

HONG KONG
ADB cuts 2009 HK economic growth forecast, citing sluggish trade, Xinhua , 22 September 2009
HONG KONG, The Asian Development Bank on Tuesday cut its growth forecast for the Hong Kong economy in 2009 to a negative growth of 4.0 percent, from its previous projection of 2.0 percent negative growth released in March. Unveiling the bank's flagship Asia Development Outlook 2009 Update in Hong Kong, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Chief Economist Jong-Wha Lee said Asia's trade-dependant economies was hit harder than expected, primarily through the trade channel.
Accessed on 22 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/22/content_12096625.htm >

JAPAN
Japan posts seventh straight monthly trade surplus, Channel News Asia , 24 September 2009
TOKYO: Japan's exports exceeded its imports for a seventh straight month in August, keeping the world's number two economy on a recovery path after its worst recession in decades, data showed Thursday. Japan posted a trade surplus of 185.7 billion yen (US$2.0 billion) last month, compared with a deficit of 314.2 billion yen a year earlier, the finance ministry said. The figure beat market forecasts for a surplus of about 175 billion yen, but was smaller than July's surplus of 377.9 billion yen.
Accessed on 24 September
< http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/1006925/1/.html >

PHILIPPINES
Philippines: Foreign investments predicted to slide, may hurt job generation , The Manila Times, 18 September 2009
The country's investment promotion agencies are expected to post a slight contraction in investment pledges this year, hurting employment generation. In a briefing, Efren Leaño, executive director for Management Services Group of the Board of Investment (BOI), told reporters that it was hard to achieve flat economic growth this year because of the global financial crisis. Data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showed foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of the year declined by 80.9 percent to P4 billion from P20.7 billion during the same period in 2008. This was the biggest drop in investment commitments since the third quarter of 2002.
Accessed on 18 September
<http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/sept/18/yehey/top_stories/20090918top5.html >

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Russia has spent half of $480 billion crisis package, Reuters , 16 September 2009
MOSCOW - Russia has spent more than half of the 15 trillion roubles ($480 billion) it has allocated to fight the economic crisis that hit the country a year ago, according to Reuters calculations based on Kremlin documents. Excluding collateral-free loans and deposits that have already been paid back, the spending to date stands at $240 billion. The vast majority of the state spending, or 6.6 trillion roubles, came in the first six months of the crisis, which saw the rouble weaken by a third and halted production as demand and capital deteriorated.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://www.reuters.com/article/RussiaInvestment09/idUSTRE58F3P920090916 >

VIET NAM
Viet Nam's foreign investment dives in crisis, Asia One , 28 September 2009
Foreign direct investment pledged in the first nine months of the year was worth US$12.54 billion (S$17.78 billion), a mere fifth of the amount recorded in the same period last year. Of this, US$7.67 billion will flow into 583 new projects and the remaining into 168 existing projects, according to the Foreign Investment Agency. The investment in new projects is just 14.3 per cent of the amount during the same period last year, while there has been an increase of 7 per cent in funds flowing into existing projects.
Accessed on 28 September
< http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Business/Story/A1Story20090928-170366.html >

THAILAND
Business publisher Forbes upbeat on Thai economic recovery, TNA , 29 September 2009
The Thai economy is set to definitely recover as a result of the Thai government's determination to cope with the economic challenges facing the country, even as political uncertainties remain a key deterrent to investment confidence, according to a leading business media publisher. Speaking of Thailand 's economic conditions after a press conference held to introduce the Forbes Global CEO Conference in the Malaysian capital, Steve Forbes, chairman and CEO of Forbes Media, said he was confident of the Thai government's competence to bring the country into economic recovery.
Accessed on 29 September < http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=12039&t=1 >

United States of America
World Bank: Warning over US dollar as world reserve , The Age, 28 September 2009
World Bank President Robert Zoellick on Sunday warned that the United States should not "take for granted" the US dollar's role as preeminent global reserve currency. "The United States would be mistaken to take for granted the dollar's place as the world's predominant reserve currency, Zoellick said, in excerpts of a speech to be delivered Monday. "Looking forward, there will increasingly be other options to the dollar," Zoellick said in the address to be given at Washington 's John's Hopkins University . His speech on Monday comes ahead of World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Istanbul , Turkey early next month.
Accessed on 28 September
< http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-business/warning-over-us-dollar-as-world-reserve-20090928-g84r.html >

B. TRADE FACILITATION AND TRADE FINANCE

AUSTRALIA
Australian lower house passes ASEAN trade bill , Forbes , 16 September 2009
CANBERRA , Australia -- Australia 's House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation that would enable the country to join in a free trade agreement with its Southeast Asian neighbors and New Zealand . The government plans to have the Senate vote on the legislation on Thursday to enshrine in law Australia 's participation in a free trade zone including the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus New Zealand . Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said all 12 nations involved were passing similar laws before the free trade area comes into effect on Jan. 1 next year. "The agreement will reduce or eliminate tariffs across a region that is home to 600 million people and a region with a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion," O'Connor told Parliament on Wednesday.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/09/16/business-as-australia-asean-trade_6891165.html >

CHINA
China boosts int'l use of RMB with sovereign bond sale in Hong Kong , Xinhua , 29 September 2009
HONG KONG, The launch of Renminbi sovereign bonds in Hong Kong on Monday shows China 's efforts to boost the international use of the yuan step by step, officials and analysts said. The bond issue, worth only 6 billion yuan (878.5 million U.S. dollars), marked a key milestone in the internationalization of the RMB. Hong Kong was chosen for, and will benefit from, the milestone bond sale thanks to its unique position as the international financial center providing desired cushion against the potential risks when the program was launched, analysts said.
Accessed on 29 September
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/28/content_12123109.htm

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , Ukraine are big trade finance risks – WTO , Reuters , 22 September 2009
GENEVA, The danger of bank defaults in Kazakhstan and Ukraine poses a risk to trade finance markets, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Tuesday. Trade finance liquidity has improved for larger banks for funding of up to one year in some regions, the WTO secretariat said in a report on a meeting of trade finance experts held last week. But liquidity was still lacking in Africa, Central America, key East European countries, some low-income countries in Southeast Asia and in Central Asia , it said. "Participants expressed concern regarding the situation in Kazakhstan and Ukraine , where perceived risk was very high and bank default could have systemic repercussions in trade finance markets," it said.
Accessed on 22 September
< http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLM33562620090922?sp=true >

Malaysia
Malaysia : Trade financing growth to be flat as industry still recovering, The Star , 17 September 2009
PETALING JAYA: Banks are only anticipating modest or flat growth in trade financing this year as the industry is still recovering from the steep slump in trade financing demand in the first quarter.

Demand for trade financing was reported to have dropped by 70% in the first quarter of this year compared with the previous corresponding period. OCBC Bank (M) Bhd head of global trade finance Chuang Boon Kheng said the bank forecast modest growth this year as there were early signs of a moderating contraction pace in global economic activity.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/17/business/4684152&sec=business >

NEPAL
Nepal, Consultations on new trade strategy kicks off , REPUBLICA , 16 September 2009
KATHMANDU, Nepal has initiated consultations with different stakeholders for formulating Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2009, which will ascertain the country´s export capacity and prescribe actions for giving new impetus for exports growth. The new exercise is being undertaken after the government and the private sector converged over a need of a strategy to address changes in condition seen in the global markets over the last five years and more focused plan of action was required for doing away with local supply side constraints. The Strategy will focus on developing supply capacity in competitive sectors by offering export potential, enhancing capacity of the exporters to trade in the key markets and strengthening institutions intended to facilitate the export trade.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=9880 >

SINGAPORE
Singapore government approves multi-billion USD in business loans , Xinhua, 17 September 2009
SINGAPORE , The Singapore government has approved 4.7 billion Singapore dollars (3.3 billion U.S. dollars) to help businesses tide over the economic crunch since January. According to local newspaper the Straits Times' report on Thursday, 10,000 loans had been given out by the end of last month through various government financing schemes introduced from last November. The latest amount far exceeds the 1.7 billion Singapore dollars (1.2 billion U.S. dollars) given out under the previous schemes for the preceding 24 months. Most of the loans went to small-and-medium enterprises, which make up 92 percent of beneficiaries.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/17/content_12067796.htm >

C. TRADE BARRIERS

CHINA
China to continue anti-dumping measures on SBR from Russia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Xinhua, 7 September 2009
BEIJING , China will continue to impose anti-dumping measures on styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) imported from Russia , Japan and Republic of Korea , the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its website Monday. The anti-dumping measures will be effective for five years, starting from Sept. 8, the statement said. The ministry launched a review of anti-dumping measures for SBR from Russia , Japan and the Republic of Korea from Sept. 8 of 2008 on the request of the Chinese SBR industry.
Accessed on 8 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/07/content_12011111.htm >

China : U.S. tariffs on Chinese tires spark concerns over protectionism , Xinhua , 17 September 2009
BEIJING, U.S. President Barack Obama's decision last weekend to impose punitive tariffs on tires imported from China has triggered concerns about the rise of protectionism in the lead-up to the Pittsburgh G20 meeting later this month. Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean described the timing of the decision as "dreadful," saying "it sends the wrong signal, we must be stepping back from measures that invite retaliation." He said the decision would make it more difficult to achieve progress at the G20 toward finalizing the Doha Round trade talks, according to the Sydney-based newspaper the Australian Wednesday. Obama's order raised tariffs for three years on Chinese tires -- by 35 percent in the first year, 30 percent in the second and 25 percent in the third.

Eswar Prasad, professor of trade economics at Cornell University , warned of an escalation of the disagreement. "These protectionist measures, some of which amount to domestic political posturing rather than substantive restraints on trade, could easily ratchet up into a full-blown trade war and inflict serious economic damage on both countries," he said.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/17/content_12070107.htm >

China's Hu Urges End to Trade Barriers to Help Poorest Nations , Bloomberg , 23 September 2009
Chinese President Hu Jintao said the world's industrialized nations should end barriers to imports from the poorest countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America as a way to counter the impact of the financial crisis. “We should take responsible measures to counter the international financial crisis, firmly oppose protectionism and actively work for an early, comprehensive and balanced outcome” of World Trade Organization talks on lowering trade barriers, Hu said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly. “Developed countries should open their markets to developing countries and reduce or exempt tariffs for those countries,” he added.
Accessed on 23 September
< http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aRHyMVjzz8pw >

China plans zero-tariff imports from least developed countries next year, Xinhua , 24 September 2009
BEIJING , China plans to progressively carry out next year a zero-tariff policy on 95 percent of imports from least developed countries, the Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday. The ministry said this move aimed to increase exports to China from these countries. But it did not elaborate which imports would enjoy the favorable policy. The ministry also presented an outline summary of the efforts China has made or is making to assist developing countries in fields such as agriculture, food donations, education, training, clean energy, and loan reductions or exemptions for impoverished nations.
Accessed on 24 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/24/content_12106701.htm >

China launches probe into imports of US chicken , AP, 27 September 2009
BEIJING — China on Sunday started investigating complaints that American chicken products are being dumped in China and are unfairly benefiting from subsidies, adding to a string of trade disputes with Washington . The Commerce Ministry said the probe was launched Sunday on broiler products and chicken products, following requests by Chinese companies to investigate the U.S. imports they say are hurting the domestic industry. The investigation comes at a time of mutual finger pointing Washington and Beijing accusing the other of protectionism, which both say will hurt efforts to end the global economic crisis.
Accessed on 28 September
< http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iB3luIMp9q-tV48upyduAEcBb9owD9AVKEIO0 >

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
U.S. union confirms action to file trade case against China , Indonesia , Xinhua , 25 September 2009
WASHINGTON, The United Steelworkers (USW) union has confirmed it has joined three U.S. companies to file cases for anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties against certain types of coated paper imported from China and Indonesia . he trade union was behind the recent U.S. decision to restrict tire imports from China , a move which has aroused widespread concerns over growing U.S. protectionism when the world is fighting the ongoing financial crisis and economic downturn.
Accessed on 25 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/25/content_12110583.htm >

D. WTO RELATED NEWS

U.S. Greets Russia's Renewed WTO Bid, The Moscow Times, 23 September 2009
WASHINGTON — The United States welcomes Russia 's renewed interest in joining the World Trade Organization, but progress depends on Moscow 's “dedication” to achieving that goal, U.S. trade officials said. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk's office issued the statement after a meeting between Kirk and First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov on Monday. “Ambassador Kirk welcomed the prospect of renewed engagement with Russia on its WTO accession negotiations following a period of uncertainty regarding Russia 's intentions,” the statement said.
Accessed on 23 September
< http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/383925.html >

WTO's Lamy: give Doha negotiators more flexibility, Reuters, 28 September 2009
GENEVA , G20 leaders must give their negotiators more flexibility to ensure they can actually reach a global trade deal and conclude the long-running Doha round, the head of the World Trade Organisation said on Monday. The leaders' renewed pledges at the Pittsburgh summit to reach a deal were not enough, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told the WTO's public forum. "It is now incumbent upon them to 'walk the talk'." Lamy said the G20 leaders had backed an intensive work programme over the next three months to close the remaining gaps and then assess the possibility of wrapping up a deal next year, as targeted. Leaders and ministers have made a string of promises this year to conclude the Doha round in 2010, but negotiators are expressing frustration that their governments are not giving them the flexibility needed to reach a deal.
Accessed on 29 September
< http://www.reuters.com/article/usDollarRpt/idUSLS22184920090928?sp=true >

WTO negotiators draw up working plan, The Hindu , 29 September 2009
Terming the recent preliminary negotiations held at Geneva to re-energise the World Trade Organisation Doha Round talks as ‘substantial', Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Chief Negotiators and the Chairs of Agriculture and NAMA have drawn up a three-month working plan which was a positive indication of the resolve to have a rule based multilateral trading regime in place. “We are looking for some serious talking in November when the Ministerial meeting is scheduled to be held so that the basic gaps on various issues are somewhat reduced or closed. India has taken the lead and the New Delhi inter-ministerial meet gave the necessary push to re-start the entire stalled process.
Accessed on 29 September < http://beta.thehindu.com/business/Economy/article26274.ece >

E. REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

CAMBODIA-THAILAND
Cambodia, Thailand agree to deal on traffic, The Phnom Penh Post , 18 September 2009
Travellers on the Thai-Cambodian border prepare to cross over to Poipet early last month. The two countries have signed an agreement on transshipping, it was announced Thursday in Phnom Penh . Cambodia and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding on the exchange of traffic rights Thursday in an effort to boost trade and tourism links between the two countries. The agreement, which was signed by Cambodia 's Minister of Public Works and Transport Tram Iv Tek and Virachai Virameteekul, a minister attached to the Thai prime minister's office, will allow a daily quota of trucks to cross the border without having to unload cargo and reload to a second truck on the other side.
Accessed on 18 September
< http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009091828457/Business/cambodia-thailand-agree-to-deal-on-traffic.html >

CAMBODIA-VIET NAM
Cambodia, Vietnam sign MOU of rubber investment cooperation , Xinhua, 22 September 2009
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia and Vietnam on Tuesday signed a MOU of rubber investment cooperation to expand area of rubber plantation of Vietnamese companies in Cambodia . The agreement was signed in Phnom Penh by Chan Sarun, Cambodian minister of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, and Cao Duc Phat, visiting Vietnamese minister of rural development and agriculture. According to this bilateral agreement, Vietnamese companies will plant rubber crops in 100,000 hectares of land in Cambodia , Chan Sarun told reporters after the signing ceremony.
Accessed on 23 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/22/content_12098817.htm >

CHINA-TAIWAN
China Ready to Boost Economic, Trade Ties With Taiwan, Bloomberg , 22 September 2009
China said it is willing to pursue stronger economic ties with Taiwan and increase trade, signaling the Dalai Lama's visit to the island won't harm cross-strait relations. The government in Beijing is prepared to sign a financial memorandum of understanding with Taiwan , Wang Yi, head of China 's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a speech. It is also willing to proceed with a trade accord “once both sides are ready,” he said. Taiwan , currently in recession, is seeking a so-called economic cooperation framework agreement that it estimates would create 273,000 jobs and boost exports. China is aiming to cement economic ties with Taiwan to gain leverage and ensure the island's leaders don't seek independence.
Accessed on 22 September
< http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=apPyE52vsOk8 >

CHINA-JAPAN
China, Japan agree to advance bilateral ties, Xinhua , 21 September 2009
NEW YORK, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama agreed to advance their bilateral ties during a meeting Monday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. "I wish and believe that during the tenure of Prime Minister Hatoyama, China-Japan relations will show a new state of more active growth and usher in a greater prospect," Hu said during the meeting. Hatoyama, who agreed with Hu's proposal to advance bilateral ties, said Japan would concentrate on promoting the relationship, which is based on common strategic interests.
Accessed on 22 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/22/content_12094756.htm >

INDIA – BANGLADESH
India, Bangladesh resolve to cooperate on wide-range of bilateral issues, The Hindu , 10 September 2009
India and Bangladesh on Thursday reiterated the resolve of both sides to strengthen bilateral cooperation to deter recurrence of terrorists' incidents and conclude three agreements related to it including mutual legal assistance on criminal matters. Both sides also agreed to finalise pacts on transfer of sentenced persons and to combat international terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug trafficking. These decisions were announced in a joint statement at the conclusion of the four-day visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni here on Thursday.
Accessed on 10 September < http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article17886.ece >

INDIA - JAPAN
Indo-Jap FTA: Data exclusivity threat to generics , DNA , 29 September 2009
Mumbai: Amid fresh talks on the India-Japan free trade agreement (FTA), concerns are being expressed about certain measures that could hamper generic drugs and access to medicines. According to intellectual property (IP) experts keeping close tabs on the FTA, Japan is pressing amongst other thing, for 'data exclusivity', which could increase costs and delay the process of bringing low-cost generic drugs to the market if it is granted.
Accessed on 29 September
< http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_indo-jap-fta-data-exclusivity-threat-to-generics_1293636 >

INDONESIA-ASEAN-CHINA
Indonesia: Industry Ministry firm, still wants possible delays in FTA , The Jakarta Post , 18 September 2009

The Industry Ministry is carrying on with it's initiative to delay the timing of tariff reductions under the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China; while the Trade Ministry says that renegotiation is not the only solution (to protect local industry). The Industry Ministry has been holding meetings with business groupings representing textiles, steel, chemicals and electronics to determine which items in the FTA, planned to become effective next year, should be reviewed as regards the timing of their implementation. The ministry's director general for metal, machinery, textile and miscellaneous industries Ansari Bukhari said the FTA actually allowed a country to “withdraw from or make modifications to the pact” under certain circumstances.
Accessed on 18 September
< http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/18/industry-ministry-firm-still-wants-possible-delays-fta.html >

LAO – CHINA
Laos, China sign eight agreements, The Vientiane Times, 15 September 2009
Laos and China have signed eight cooperative agreements funded by special loans worth 1,462 billion kip and a grant of almost 106 billion kip from the Chinese government to Laos . The agreements were signed by representatives of the two nations' governments during an eight-day working visit to China from September 6-13 by a Lao delegation led by President Choummaly Sayasone. The two nations have agreed to economic and technical cooperation under which the Chinese government will provide a grant of 85 million Chinese yuan (106 billion kip) to Laos , according to the Laos-China Cooperation Commission. A framework agreement under which China will provide a special loan of 385 million yuan (480 billion kip) to Laos for the construction of an electricity load dispatch centre and related facilities was also signed by the two sides during the visit.
Accessed on 15 September < http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Laos.htm >

MALAYSIA – NEW ZEALAND
Malaysia To Sign FTA With New Zealand Next Month , Bernama , 15 September 2009
Malaysia will sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand next month which will come into force in January 2010, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said today. The agreement is in line with the Asean/New Zealand FTA that would also come into effect in January next year, he said. "The agreement will be signed here in Malaysia ," he confirmed this to reporters after officiating a seminar here on "Opportunites from AFTA and Regional FTAs", organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.
Accessed on 15 September
< http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=440503 >

MALAYSIA – USA
Malaysia Hopes To Resume FTA Talks With US, Bernama , 29 September 2009
KUALA LUMPUR , Malaysia hopes to resume the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiation with the US once it gets the signal from Washington . Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said Malaysia would like to resume the talks but needed to get the nod from the US on when to resume them. Muhyiddin said this at the Meeting of Minds session with Steve Forbes, chairman/chief executive officer of Forbes and editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazines at the Ninth Forbes Global CEO Conference here Tuesday.
Accessed on 29 September
< http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=443035 >

PAKISTAN
BEIJING : After completing all procedures for entry into force, China and Pakistan have exchanged diplomatic notes on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on trade in services. The agreement will come into effect on October 10, this year. The FTA on trade in services was signed by Pakistan and China during President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Wuhan in February. The diplomatic notes were exchanged by Secretary Commerce Suleman Ghani and Chinese Assistant Commerce Minister Wang Chao, the diplomatic sources said Saturday. Ghani and Chao co-chaired the opening ceremony of the first meeting of the Trade Commission. They expressed full satisfaction on successful implementation of FTA, which had been operative since July 2007.
Accessed on 13 September
< http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C09%5C13%5Cstory_13-9-2009_pg5_8 >

PAKISTAN – VIET NAM
Pakistan: Bilateral trade with Vietnam to grow, The Daily Times , 10 September 2009
KARACHI : Shahid Kiyani, Pakistan 's Ambassador designate to Vietnam visited Federation House, Karachi on Tuesday to discuss enhancement of bilateral trade between Vietnam and Pakistan . He expressed that his services are exclusively dedicated to promote and improve trade relationship between the two countries. Sultan Ahmad Chawla, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry FPCCI has shown Pakistan 's full interest in expanding trade with Vietnam.
Accessed on 10 September
< http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\09\10\story_10-9-2009_pg5_16 >

SINGAPORE – RUSSIA
Singapore, Russia partner to tap opportunities in world, Xinhua, 29 September 2009
SINGAPORE, With Singapore's strong connections in this region, Russia can make use of Singapore as its springboard to reach out to this dynamic market, a senior Singapore official said on Tuesday. Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong spoke at the 4th Russia-Singapore Business Forum that Singapore-Russia linkages now span a wide spectrum, including trade, business, research and development and tourism. He indicated that there are more areas in which both countries can partner each other to tap into opportunities in emerging Asia . The areas of cooperation include innovation and research and development, international trading and for both countries to jointly explore opportunities in third countries.
Accessed on 29 September
< http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/29/content_12126263.htm >

REPUBLIC OF KOREA - INDIA
Korea : Parliamentary Committee Approves FTA With India, The Korea Times , 29 September 2009
sA National Assembly committee Monday approved a motion to ratify the comprehensive trade agreement with India that would eliminate or cut tariffs on 4,459 Korean products exported to the world's second most populous nation. The Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee approved the motion submitted by the government. The two Asian countries concluded the bilateral trade deal, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in early August to reduce tariffs on such goods as auto parts and electronics.

If ratified in a plenary Assembly session, it will lower tariffs on Korean auto parts by as much as 5 percent, and on refrigerators and color televisions by 50 percent over the next eight years.
sAccessed on 29 September
< http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/09/113_52635.html >

REPUBLIC OF KOREA – USA
Fresh look at US-South Korea FTA, The Straits Times , 15 September 2009
WASHINGTON - THE United States said on Monday it was taking a fresh look at whether South Korea is giving US automakers enough access under a draft free trade agreement, which has been stalled by disputes. The deal, signed in 2007 but awaiting ratification by both nations' legislatures, would phase out South Korea 's eight percent tariff on US auto imports. 'Now because of the turmoil in the auto industry in the US , this is an area where we think we have to look at it again,' Kathleen Stephens, the US ambassador to South Korea , said on a visit to Washington.
Accessed on 15 September
< http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_429864.html >

US farmers push Korea FTA , Fruitnet , 18 September 2009
The American Farm Bureau is pushing the US government to move ahead with the Korea-US FTA.

The long-stalled free trade agreement (FTA) between the US and South Korea is being pushed back into the spotlight by the American Farm Bureau (ABF), which is urging the government to put the deal before a Congress vote. ABF communiqués to the US Trade Representative called on the government to submit the legislation required to implement the FTA to Congress without delay. The body is also pushing for similar treatment of the pending US-Colombia FTA.
Accessed on 18 September
< http://www.fruitnet.com/content.aspx?cid=4416 >

THAILAND - CHINA
Thai-Chinese FTA faces ongoing problems , The Bangkok Post , 13 September 2009
A potential market of 1.3 billion people is a very attractive proposition for any government or company, and that was the main reason why six years ago the Thai government tried every means possible to expedite a trade deal with China . Despite strong criticism of the move, the then government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rushed to sign a historic free trade agreement (FTA) under the larger framework of the Asean-China Free Trade Area, which is expected to be fully activated next year. The FTA covers eight agricultural categories, but since it was signed in June 2003, Thailand has still seen disruption to trade with China .

Problems have occurred in areas ranging from logistics and transport to the imposition of non-tariff barriers by China , resulting in a growing imbalance in the volume of trade between the two countries.
Accessed on 13 September
< http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/23792/thai-chinese-fta-faces-ongoing-problems >

THAILAND- USA
PM: No progress in Thai-US FTA, The Bangkok Post, 23 September 2009
It is still not clear when talks on a free trade agreement with the United States will resume, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in an interview with the media via video conferencing from the US on Wednesday morning. "While the US has yet to send a signal about resuming the talks, we are still looking into reviewing Article 190 of the constitution," said the prime minister. Kiat Sithi-amorn, a Thai trade representative, said in meetings with American businessmen he learned that they were still worried about the Thai customs tariffs on imports. Thailand had set up a committee to review related laws for transparency, he said.
Accessed on 23 September
< http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/155076/pm-no-progress-in-thai-us-fta >

F. DID YOU KNOW THAT?

GLOBAL
Trade Still Alive, but Competition at Risk: WTO, OECD, UNCTAD, ICTSD, 16 September 2009
Despite some ‘slippage', the world's leading economies have largely stuck to pledges to refrain from creating new obstacles to trade and investment amidst the worst financial crisis in decades, the heads of the WTO, the OECD, and UNCTAD said this week. But “growing unemployment due to the crisis will continue to fuel protectionist pressures for the years to come,” they warned, even though there are signs that the sharp drop in global trade and investment flows may be bottoming out.
Accessed on 17 September
< http://ictsd.net/i/news/bridgesweekly/55278/ >

World's poorest countries discuss WTO accession , AFP , 28 September 2009

PHNOM PENH — Some of the world's poorest countries on Monday began a three-day meeting in the Cambodian capital to discuss how to speed up entry to the World Trade Organisation. Trade representatives from 12 of the least developed countries in Asia and Africa met officials from the WTO, World Bank, the European Commission and United Nations agencies in Phnom Penh to discuss accession to the organisation. Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said his country wanted the meeting to help prepare other impoverished nations for the risks involved in negotiations with the global body.
Accessed on 28 September
< http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jn3d137-Rc5P9AYBYZqhKNA7VLaQ >

JAPAN
Japan : Aid offered for India's CO 2 fight , The Japan Times, 27 September 2009
PITTSBURGH , Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on Friday that Japan is ready to offer support to India on climate change, underlining the importance of increasing efforts to counter global warming, Japanese government officials said. Hatoyama, who attended the Group of 20 financial summit in Pittsburgh , also agreed with Singh that Japan and India will strengthen their strategic global partnership, the officials said. Singh expressed hope that Japan will support a proposal for a massive infrastructure project linking Delhi and Mumbai, and called for mutual cooperation in the development of science and technology beneficial to both nations, they said.
Accessed on 28 September < http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090927a5.html >

G. RECENT PUBLICATIONS ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT

	Trade and Development Report 2009 , Available online (PDF, 218 Pages, 2870Kb), UNCTAD The Trade and Development Report 2009, by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) addresses both how to respond to the global economic crisis and the role of climate change mitigation in development. The report suggests innovation in support of climate change mitigation is not fundamentally different from other innovation activities, but since climate change mitigation is increasingly recognized as a public good, innovation also calls for direct government intervention. Accessed on 29 September < http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/tdr2009_en.pdf >
	World Investment Report 2009: Transnational Corporations, Agricultural Production and Development , Available online (PDF, 312 Pages, 6530Kb), UNCTAD The World Investment report focuses on trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide and at the regional and country levels, as well as emerging measures to improve FDI´s contribution to development. Global FDI flows have been severely affected worldwide by the economic and financial crisis. Inflows are expected to fall from $1.7 trillion to below $1.2 trillion in 2009, with a slow recovery in 2010 (to a level up to $1.4 trillion) and gaining momentum in 2011 (approaching $1.8 trillion). Accessed on 29 September < http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/wir2009_en.pdf >
	Report on G20 Trade and Investment Measures, Available online (PDF, 60 Pages, 1557 KB), OECD This September 2009 WTO report states in its press release, "G20 Governments have refrained from extensive use of restrictive trade and investment measures in recent months but have continued, in a limited way, to apply tariffs and non-tariff instruments that have hindered trade flows, the heads of the OECD, UNCTAD and the WTO indicated in a joint report to G-20 leaders meeting in Pittsburgh later this month." Accessed on 29 September < http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/ >

Information is taken mainly from secondary sources and UNESCAP accepts no responsibility for its accuracy. Mention of any companies and their products does not imply endorsement by the United Nations.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.