Tensions over trade deals exposed at Mercosur summit
December 7, 2022 GMTMONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — A summit of the four Mercosur nations exposed tensions Tuesday as Uruguay's eagerness to seek out foreign markets collided with opposition from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
Longtime Arizona GOP Rep. Jim Kolbe dies at 80
December 4, 2022 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Jim Kolbe, a Republican congressman who represented a heavily Democratic region of Arizona for more than two decades and was a proponent of gay rights, has died. He was 80.
Finnish PM warns Russian win would empower aggressors
December 2, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin warned an Australian audience Friday that a Russian victory over Ukraine would empower other aggressors and urged democracies against forming “critical dependencies” on authoritarian states such as China.
Australia ratifies free trade deals with India and Britain
November 22, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Parliament passed bilateral free trade agreements with India and Britain on Tuesday, leaving those partner nations to bring the deals into force.
The deals are crucial for Australia to diversify its exports from the troubled Chinese market to India and to Britain’s need to forge new bilateral trade relations since it left the European Union.
Britain’s Truss doesn’t expect UK-US trade deal anytime soon
September 20, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Prime Minister Liz Truss has kicked off her first visit to the United States as Britain’s leader with an admission that a U.K-U.S. free trade deal is not going to happen for years.
Truss said a trans-Atlantic deal is not one of her priorities — a sharp contrast with the stance of her immediate predecessors as Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson and Theresa May.
UK minister vows wide-ranging support for Australian subs
September 2, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The British international trade secretary on Friday promised wide-ranging support to Australia in developing and maintaining a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan was speaking in the Australian city of Adelaide at the end of a nine-day tour of Britain’s two new free trade partners, New Zealand and Australia.
Developing nations seek to overcome energy, currency crises
July 26, 2022 GMTDHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Business leaders and officials from eight developing nations meeting in Bangladesh on Tuesday said more cooperation was needed among them to overcome dwindling foreign currency reserves, a growing energy crisis and supply chain disruptions.
US files another labor complaint against Mexico
July 22, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The United States on Thursday filed its fifth labor complaint about alleged violations of union organizing rights in Mexico.
The complaint was filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact, which requires that Mexico enforce a law that says employees are allowed to freely choose the union that represents them.
EXPLAINER: US energy sector dispute with Mexico
July 21, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. government has forced Mexico into negotiations over what Washington considers unfair practices that are effectively excluding U.S. and other foreign companies from the Mexican energy sector in violation of the free trade agreement they signed with Canada.
Serbia, Egypt agree to boost cooperation amid war in Ukraine
July 20, 2022 GMTBELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Egypt and Serbia on Wednesday agreed to boost political, economic and other cooperation as the two countries look for ways to deal with the global impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
US, Japan vow joint efforts on Ukraine, trade, food crisis
July 12, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Japan’s finance minister agreed Tuesday to cooperate in dealing with challenges from the war in Ukraine and promoting free trade, sustainable energy and food security.
New Zealand leader makes 1st trip to UK since trade deal
July 1, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday made her first visit to the U.K. since both countries signed a free trade agreement, meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to boost bilateral ties and discuss Russia's war in Ukraine.
UK’s Johnson to host New Zealand’s Ardern in London
June 30, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in London on Friday for talks on security and boosting bilateral ties.
The meeting comes after both leaders attended the NATO summit in Madrid this week.
EU, New Zealand strike free trade deal after 4 years’ talks
June 30, 2022 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union and New Zealand said Thursday they have concluded a free trade deal after four years of negotiations and sealed a partnership to reinforce their cooperation against organized crime and terror groups.
Leftist’s election to test Colombia’s alliance with US
June 21, 2022 GMTBOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — It’s one of the United States’ few enduring alliances in an often-turbulent Latin America, one built around a decades-long partnership combating the nation’s drug cartels.
But Gustavo Petro’s election as Colombia’s first leftist president is likely to test the U.S.’ special relationship with a major non-NATO ally like never before.
WTO holds big meeting to tackle vaccines, food shortages
June 12, 2022 GMTGENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Trade Organization predicted a “bumpy and rocky" road as it opened its highest-level meeting in 4-1/2 years on Sunday, with issues like pandemic preparedness, food insecurity and overfishing of the world’s seas on the agenda.
US files 4th labor complaint on Mexican workers’ rights
June 6, 2022 GMTThe United States on Monday filed its fourth labor complaint about purourted violations of union organizing rights in Mexico.
The complaint was filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact, which requires that Mexico enforce a law that says employees are allowed to freely choose the union that represents them.
Mexico agrees to review US workers’ rights complaint
June 1, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government said Tuesday it has agreed to review a labor complaint filed by the United States under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact.
The complaint filed earlier this month said workers’ rights to freely choose their union may have been violated at a Panasonic Automotive Systems factory in Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas.
Israel, UAE sign free trade deal, first with an Arab country
May 31, 2022 GMTJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed a free trade agreement on Tuesday, the first of its kind that Israel has concluded with an Arab country.
The UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel in a U.S.-brokered deal in 2020, the first of the so-called Abraham Accords that Israel eventually concluded with four Arab nations.
Union at Mexico GM plant says deal reached on new contract
May 11, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The union at a General Motors assembly plant in northern Mexico reached an agreement for a new contract with the company that it says improves conditions for workers, a goal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact.
Australia and India thank Quad for new free trade deal
April 6, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — India and Australia’s trade ministers say a shared security partnership with the United States and Japan has helped them strike a trade deal that Australia hopes will reduce its dependence on exports to China.
US mulls booting Nicaragua from trade pact over crackdown
February 18, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration is considering trying to expel Nicaragua from a lucrative regional free trade pact — or allocate its valuable sugar quota to another country in Central America — to retaliate against President Daniel Ortega's crackdown on his opponents, according to a U.S.
Philippines, like New Zealand, rejects Myanmar in trade pact
February 18, 2022 GMTMANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines has followed New Zealand’s decision to reject the inclusion of Myanmar in the world’s largest free trade pact as international opposition to the military takeover that sparked violence and democratic setbacks in the Southeast Asian nation broadened into trade and diplomatic sanctions.
New Zealand won’t engage Myanmar in largest free trade bloc
February 17, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — New Zealand said Thursday it will not deal with Myanmar under a major 15-nation trade agreement, the world's largest that took effect this year, citing the deadly violence and democratic setbacks in the Southeast Asian country after the military seized power last year.
US files 1st USMCA environment case on Mexico over porpoise
February 10, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office filed the first environmental complaint against Mexico Thursday for failing to protect the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world’s smallest porpoise.
Mexico vows to press on with power changes amid US concerns
February 10, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president vowed Thursday to press ahead with changes to the electrical power industry despite U.S. concerns that they could close off markets, choke off competition and possibly violate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact.
Biden selects Los Angeles to host next Summit of Americas
January 19, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration has chosen Los Angeles to host a summit of leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean that is a key part of its outreach to a region increasingly being courted by U.S.
India, Britain launch talks on free trade deal
January 13, 2022 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — India and Britain on Thursday launched talks on a free trade deal that is expected to boost bilateral trade by billions of dollars in one of the most ambitious negotiations after Brexit.
Mexico asks USMCA dispute resolution panel on auto content
January 6, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government on Thursday requested a dispute resolution panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement because it claims the United States is improperly interpreting stricter regional content rules under the pact.
Australia, Britain sign free trade agreement
December 17, 2021 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Australia and Britain signed a free trade agreement Friday that will eliminate almost all taxes on exports between the countries.
The FTA was signed at a virtual ceremony by Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan in Adelaide and Britain’s Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan in London.
Mexico threatens legal action on US electric vehicle subsidy
December 2, 2021 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government threatened legal action Thursday over provisions of U.S. President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act that would give subsidies of up to $12,500 for purchases of union-made, American-made electric vehicles.
France says Australia hits ‘new low’ leaking Macron texts
November 3, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia leaking French President Emmanuel Macron’s text messages to the media was a “new low” and a warning to other world leaders that their private communications with the Australian government could be weaponized and used against them, the French ambassador said on Wednesday.
EU-UK talks, fishing threat kick Brexit back into high gear
October 15, 2021 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — The Brexit brawl kicked into high gear Friday on sticking points over Northern Ireland and French fishing, coming almost a year after a deal on a free trade agreement was supposed to have officially sealed the separation between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Mexico presents plan to shutter private power plants
October 12, 2021 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president presented details on Monday of a proposal that is likely to squeeze out hundreds of private power generating plants and may provoke complaints under the Mexico-U.S.-Canada free trade accord.
Australia-EU trade talks delayed amid submarine deal fallout
October 1, 2021 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — A round of free trade talks between the European Union and Australia has been postponed by one month in the wake of a dispute over the Australian government's decision to cancel a multibillion-euro French submarine deal, EU and Australian officials said Friday.
EU adopts 5 billion-euro Brexit reserve to help businesses
September 28, 2021 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — The European Council on Tuesday approved a 5 billion-euro ($5.8 billion) reserve aimed at helping EU businesses tackle the short-term effects of Brexit.
The council, which represents the national government of every EU member nation, said the money will cover extra costs and compensate losses from the U.K.'s withdrawal from the 27-nation trade bloc.
EU official says Aussie trade deal delayed by French snub
September 21, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s cancellation of a French submarine contract will complicate and delay negotiations on an Australian-European Union free trade deal, a European trade official said Tuesday.
France, Australia agree submarine row won’t stop trade deal
September 20, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — French and Australian officials said Monday that France’s anger over a canceled submarine contract will not derail negotiations on an Australia-European Union free trade deal.
China applies to join Pacific trade pact abandoned by Trump
September 17, 2021 GMTBEIJING (AP) — China has applied to join an 11-nation Asia-Pacific free trade group in an effort to increase its influence over international policies.
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted an application to the trade minister of New Zealand as a representative of the Comprehensive and Progress Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Commerce Ministry announced Thursday.
India, Australia call for global action in Afghanistan
September 11, 2021 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — Top ministers from India and Australia on Saturday called for international anti-terror efforts in Afghanistan, bolstering mutual security ties and blunting China's growing regional assertiveness.
Australia won’t allow UN climate goals in UK free trade deal
September 9, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's government confirmed Thursday that it refused to allow climate change goals to be written into a proposed free trade deal with Britain, as pressure mounts on it to make more ambitious commitments to cut carbon emissions.
US firm agrees to measures to ensure free union vote
August 11, 2021 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. parent company of a Mexican factory said Tuesday it has agreed to measures to ensure a free labor vote amid a battle by workers to unseat an old-guard union.
The Cardone company operates the Tridonex auto parts plant in Mexico’s border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.
Australia flags democracies’ trade swing from China to India
August 9, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian special envoy and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said a free trade agreement between his nation and India would signal the “democratic world’s tilt away from China.”
Mexican union complains of harassment at leafleting event
August 3, 2021 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Supporters of an independent union in northern Mexico said Tuesday they have been harassed while trying to hand out leaflets by beefy representatives of an old-guard union.
The mainly women handing out the leaflets said that state police stood by and may have helped prevent them distributing literature outside the Tridonex auto parts assembly plant starting in late July.
British FM heads to Southeast Asia looking for closer ties
June 21, 2021 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — Britain's top diplomat arrived in Southeast Asia late Monday on a three-nation visit as his country looks to promote closer ties and trade with the region following the U.K.'s exit from the European Union.
Australia, Britain reach free trade deal to cut many tariffs
June 15, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — Britain and Australia announced the broad outlines of a free trade deal Tuesday, eliminating tariffs on a wide range of goods as the U.K. seeks to expand links around the world following its exit from the European Union.
US unions file first trade labor complaint against Mexico
May 10, 2021 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. and Mexican unions on Monday filed the first labor complaint against Mexico under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact.
The complaint argues that Mexico has not lived up to its pledge under the trade accord, known as the USMCA, to guarantee workers the right to freely organize and join the union of their choice...
EU, India try again to clinch trade deal, sidelining China
May 8, 2021 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — The European Union and India agreed Saturday to restart negotiations on a bilateral free trade deal, eight years after their first attempt failed and as both sides seek alternatives to China...
EU lawmakers approve post-Brexit trade treaty
April 28, 2021 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders, their British counterparts and European businesses expressed hope Wednesday that the final ratification of the post-Brexit trade deal will open a new, positive era of cooperation despite the many divisive topics remaining between the former partners...
Australian envoy reportedly describes China as ‘vindictive’
March 26, 2021 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s ambassador to Beijing has reportedly described China as a “vindictive” and “unreliable” trading partner as Australian officials revealed steep declines in most exports to the nation’s most important market...
UK trade with EU plunges after Brexit, hurting economy
March 12, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — U.K. trade with the European Union plunged in January as Britain’s departure from the bloc and widespread coronavirus restrictions dealt a double blow to the nation’s struggling economy...
Biden treads carefully around Trump’s combative trade policy
February 9, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In his first weeks in office, President Joe Biden has wasted no time in dumping a batch of major Trump administration policies...
Companies say post-Brexit rules are clogging up UK-EU trade
January 8, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — Some businesses said Friday that costs and paperwork are hampering trade between Britain and the European Union as the reality of the U...
UK warns of ‘bumpy’ post-Brexit transition despite deal
December 28, 2020 GMTLONDON (AP) — First came the Brexit trade deal. Now comes the red tape and the institutional nitty gritty...
Australian PM says China coal ban would breach WTO rules
December 15, 2020 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s prime minister said Tuesday that China would be violating World Trade Organization rules and a bilateral free trade agreement if it banned Australian coal...
Argentina: Mercosur will address EU environment concerns
December 14, 2020 GMTBERLIN (AP) — South America's Mercosur countries will address environmental concerns raised by the European Union that have stalled ratification of a free trade deal between the two trade blocs, Argentina's foreign minister said Monday.
UK signs post-Brexit free trade deal with Singapore
December 10, 2020 GMTLONDON (AP) — The U.K. has signed a free trade deal with Singapore covering trade worth 17.6 billion pounds ($23.4 billion,) the latest in a series of trade pacts that Britain is seeking to secure around the world post-Brexit.
UK’s Johnson to head to Brussels amid Brexit talks deadlock
December 7, 2020 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — More than four years after helping set Britain’s course out of the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is headed to EU headquarters to try to finish the job...
APEC leaders, including Trump, agree on free trade
November 20, 2020 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, including U...
ASEAN, China, other partners sign world’s biggest trade pact
November 15, 2020 GMTChina and 14 other countries agreed Sunday to set up the world’s largest trading bloc, encompassing nearly a third of all economic activity, in a deal many in Asia are hoping will help hasten a recovery from the shocks of the pandemic...