IPS Inter Press Service - Free Trade Area of the AmericasIPS, civil society's leading news agency, is an independent voice from the South and for development, delving into globalisation for the stories underneath.EL SALVADOR: Benefits of Free Trade Deal Still Remote- (Found July 2, 2008 ) SAN SALVADOR, Jan 31 (IPS) - The Salvadoran government had proclaimed that from the moment of its entry into force, the free trade agreement with the United States would boost the local economy, creating thousands of jobs, so that even street vendors would be exporting their typical snacks. But nearly two years later, the economic paradise has yet to arrive.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41019 COSTA RICA: Activists Pledge to Keep Up Fight Against U.S. Trade Deal- (Found July 2, 2008 ) SAN JOSE, Jan 26 (IPS) - Trade unions and civil society groups say they will continue to fight the free trade agreement between Costa Rica and the United States, which calls for liberalisation of Costa Rica's state-run telecommunications and insurance monopolies.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=22152 TRADE-BRAZIL: Agribusiness Frets Over Prospect of Weak FTAA- (Found July 2, 2008 ) RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 16 (IPS) - Brazil's powerful agribusiness industry is not pleased with the prospect of a weak Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) or the possible failure to reach the January 2005 deadline for completion of the talks.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=22432 ECONOMY: Caribbean, EU Vow to Gear Trade to Development- (Found July 2, 2008 ) PORT OF SPAIN, Apr 21 (IPS) - Caribbean experts say a new trade accord with the European Union (EU) will give the two sides another chance to put trade at the service of development, unlike former and current agreements with the region's second largest trading partner.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=23414 TRADE-U.S.: Opponents Predict Defeat for Central American Deal- (Found July 2, 2008 ) WASHINGTON, May 27 (IPS) - The Bush administration will sign the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with five developing nations Friday, but opposition Democrats and civil society groups predict the deal will fail in Congress.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=23936 TRADE: North American Leaders 'Micro-Managing' Environment Deal- (Found July 2, 2008 ) MONTREAL, Jun 17 (IPS) - The North American environment would be better off if governments agreed to set aside a section of the continent's free trade deal that lets them pursue one another for not enforcing their laws, says a review of the deal's "green" accord.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=24239 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: In the U.S., Polls and Bullets Blot Out Upcoming Summit- (Found July 2, 2008 ) NEW YORK, Jan 12 (IPS) - Activists from the United States are heading to Brazil for the upcoming World Social Forum, determined to refute the widespread belief that their country has "gone Republican". Theyre also in search of fresh inspiration for the fight against the exploitation of people, and natural resources.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=27008 POLITICS-LATIN AMERICA: Democracy, Hemispheric Ties Faltering- (Found July 2, 2008 ) WASHINGTON, Jul 14 (IPS) - While Latin America has been enjoying its best economic performance in years, its democratic institutions and ties to the United States are faltering, according to a new report by the Inter-American Dialogue (IAD), a Washington-based think tank.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=29502 CARIBBEAN: Trade Winds Gusting as Region Faces WTO Meet- (Found July 2, 2008 ) KINGSTON, Aug 17 (IPS) - Recent developments in international trade highlight the difficulties facing the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) as it prepares for a key World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Hong Kong this December.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=29930 TRADE: Business Groups Lobby to Resurrect FTAA- (Found July 2, 2008 ) WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (IPS) - Dozens of business groups from throughout the Americas are urging regional governments to adopt economic and trade reforms to give a boost to upcoming World Trade Organisation talks and a stalled regional free trade agreement.http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=30863 |