free trade agreements

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Right Before UK's Final Split From EU, 'the Deal Is Done'

Britain, European Union come to post-Brexit trade agreement, though how this will play out is unclear

(Newser) - After months of talks and at almost the last minute, Britain and the European Union struck a provisional free-trade agreement Thursday that should avert New Year chaos for cross-border traders and bring a measure of certainty for businesses after years of Brexit turmoil. With just over a week until the...

New NAFTA Deal Forged Just Before US Deadline

Canada will be part of 'USMCA'

(Newser) - Canada and the United States reached a deal Sunday night for Canada to stay in a free trade pact with the US and Mexico. In a joint statement late Sunday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said the agreement "will strengthen the middle...

US Demands Big Changes as NAFTA Talks Begin

'We believe NAFTA has fundamentally failed many, many Americans'

(Newser) - The United States won't settle for cosmetic changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the top US trade negotiator said as negotiations to rework terms of the pact began Wednesday. President Trump has called the 23-year-old trade pact the "worst" in history and vowed to fix it—...

Bannon 'Comeback' Involves Steel, Canada, Dairy 'Disgrace'

Nationalist views on trade win out over globalist ones—or so it seems for now

(Newser) - President Trump has been pushing hard to bring his "Buy American, Hire American" mantra to fruition, including with an executive order meant to prevent "foreign cheaters" from taking US jobs and infringing on our steel production, a senior administration official said Monday, per Politico . The New York Times ...

After Belgium's Tantrum, EU, Canada Sign Trade Pact

Wallona region, Trudeau's plane problems added to 'bedeviled' CETA's woes

(Newser) - The European Union and Canada signed Sunday a landmark trade pact, reports the AP , ending days of drama after a small Belgian region refused to endorse the agreement and deeply embarrassed the EU. The long-delayed Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement was bedeviled by yet another hold up overnight when Canadian...

France: No Trade Talks With Spying US

Calls on EU to suspend free-trade zone talks until US offers more details on surveillance

(Newser) - France is apparently still pretty pissed about all this NSA-spying-on-EU business , and is pushing to suspend trade talks between the EU and US until the White House offers up more details on its surveillance activities. "We don't want to abandon negotiations on the free trade agreement with the...

US, EU Start Shopping for Massive Free Trade Deal

Hope to start talks by June, but big issues could loom

(Newser) - The United States has 20 free trade pacts ranging from big neighbors to tiny allies, but today Washington set its sights on a far grander prize: the entire European Union, reports Reuters . The two powers announced that they hoped to start talks on a free trade deal by the end...

US-South Korea Free Trade Opens to Cheers, Jeers

Korean left vows to change, repeal, if they win looming elections

(Newser) - The US-South Korea free trade agreement takes affect today, despite plenty of opposition in both countries, reports Reuters . As South Korea is the fourth-largest economy in Asia, US officials touted the deal as a major win for the American economy. "Starting today, Korea's doors are wide open for...

South Korea's Lee Visits White House

State visit coincides with new free trade agreement

(Newser) - President Obama welcomed Lee Myung-bak to the White House with all the requisite pomp and circumstance today, touting the newly-minted free trade agreement between South Korea and the US. “With our landmark trade agreement, we will bring our nations even closer, creating new jobs for both our people and...

Congress Passes 3 Free-Trade Pacts

Obama scores win with S. Korea, Colombia, Panama deals

(Newser) - President Obama scored a victory with the passage of a trio of free-trade pacts yesterday, marking America's biggest trade expansion in nearly 20 years. The House and Senate both approved the pacts with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. While the Latin American pacts may have little impact, the South...

Free Trade Under Fire as Protectionism Surges

November's G-20 agreement is abandoned as nations erect commerce barriers

(Newser) - The global recession has protectionism making a comeback, the New York Times reports, dimming hopes that leaders can create lasting solutions to the crisis at April’s Group of 20 economic summit in London. The last G-20 meeting, held in November, yielded an agreement to promote free trade that was...

Senate Dilutes 'Buy American' Plan

Amendment calls for stimulus plan to honor existing trade agreements

(Newser) - The Senate has voted to water down the "Buy American" clause in the economic stimulus package amid fears it could trigger a trade war, Reuters reports. The requirement that stimulus-funded projects use American-made iron, steel and manufactured goods now includes the proviso that it only be applied in a...

S. Korean Lawmakers Brawl Over Trade Bill

(Newser) - A melee erupted in South Korea’s parliament today as opposition MPs attempted to break into a closed committee chamber, the BBC reports. Members of the ruling party had barricaded the door as they began the process of ratifying a controversial free trade agreement with the US. Opposition lawmakers used...

Global Trade Talks Collapse
 Global Trade Talks Collapse

Global Trade Talks Collapse

Breakdown halts seven years of progress to hammer out deal

(Newser) - World Trade Organization talks to forge a new global trade pact collapsed yesterday after seven years of negotiations. An EU spokesman called the breakdown a "massive blow to the confidence in the global economy." The talks fell apart as China and India demanded the authortity to impose "...

Obama Will Plunge US Into Recession
Obama Will Plunge US Into Recession
OPINION

Obama Will Plunge US Into Recession

Dem's plans would spell disaster, says wonk for first Bush

(Newser) - Barack Obama’s campaign promises on the economy—particularly on taxes and trade—would be a disaster for Americans at all income levels, an adviser to the first President Bush writes in the Wall Street Journal. On “tax, spending, energy, regulatory, and trade policy, if the proposals espoused by...

Pelosi, Dems Hijack Colombia Free-Trade Deal

They change House rules to avoid a vote, angering Bush

(Newser) - Congressional Democrats thumbed their noses today at Bush's renewed efforts to pass a free-trade pact with Colombia. Bush sent the bill over Monday, mandating Congress to vote yea or nay within 90 days. Or so he thought. Nancy Pelosi is changing the House rules and won't allow a vote until...

Bush State of Union to Focus on Economy

Will stress need for recession-buster measures

(Newser) - During his final State of the Union address tonight, President Bush isn't expected to announce any dramatic new policy initiatives—but will emphasize the need for government action to ward off a recession. The speech, entitled “Trust and Empower,” will call on Congress to permanently extend his $1....

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