The EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign Network in the Philippines strongly urges the Philippine government to rethink its plans to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) in the wake of the release of a leaked copy of the proposed agreement’s controversial investment chapter. Amidst increasing public backlash over the lack of transparency in the TPP talks, a leaked document outlining the draft negotiating text of the investment chapter was released by Wikileaks, and its authenticity verified by Public Citizen, a US-based think-tank.  

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that Japan won’t make any easy concessions just to advance the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks before he meets with U.S. President Barack Obama on April 28. The TPP negotiations are “in the final phase, but problems remain,” Abe said during a session of the Upper House Budget Committee. “It is impossible to make unnecessary concessions in line with my trip to the United States.” Abe is setting out April 26 for an eight-day official visit to the U.S.

(Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Thursday a Pacific trade agreement can be wrapped up in months and urged lawmakers to quickly move ahead with key trade legislation. Froman said although there was no firm deadline to conclude the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, "we do feel that we can close this out in a very small number of months."

(VEN) - Vietnam is an important market for Malaysia within the ASEAN region. The prime ministers of both countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to US$11 billion by 2015 during a recent bilateral meeting and official visit to Hanoi by Malaysia’s Prime Minister in February 2014. Vietnam Economic News’ My Phung spoke with Faizal Izany Mastor, the Trade Commissioner of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in Ho Chi Minh City, to have an overview of trade relations between the two countries during last years.

WASHINGTON — An ambitious 12-nation trade accord pushed by President Obama would allow foreign corporations to sue the United States government for actions that undermine their investment “expectations” and hurt their business, according to a classified document.

Japan-New Zealand TPP talks making slow progress: Amari Kyodo Japan-New Zealand negotiations on the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade initiative are making slower progress compared to bilateral talks with other member countries, economic and fiscal policy minister Akira Amari said Wednesday. Talks with New Zealand have been “significantly delayed,” Amari, Japan’s point man for the TPP negotiations, told reporters after meeting with New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser in Tokyo.

RIGA – The EU and United States will likely miss a year-end target to seal the world's biggest-ever free trade deal, current European president Latvia said Wednesday. "During our (EU) presidency and during the next presidency of Luxembourg, most likely these negotiations will not be concluded," Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told reporters in the capital Riga, referring to talks on the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP.

(Reuters) - Russia shows no signs of wanting to leave the World Trade Organization, WTO chief Roberto Azevedo said on Tuesday, despite tensions with the West over the Ukraine crisis and disputes with other member states. Some Russian parliamentarians have called for their country to pull out of the WTO less than three years after it acceded because, they say, membership is damaging Russia's economy. But Azevedo said during a visit to Latvia that he had never heard of any moves by Russia to leave.

In addition to non-traditional exports to the United States, the Free Trade Agreement between the nations means educational and security trade. The Peruvian Ambassador to the United States, Luis Miguel Castilla, spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama today regarding the countries’ bilateral relations and trade agreements. Castilla presented his credentials to the American head of state today and discussed three main topics falling under the binding Free Trade Agreement (FTA) held between the United States and Peru.

HANOI – Vietnam has shown a strong determination to pursue free trade agreements (FTAs), especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to reduce its overdependence on a single export market, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh. Speaking at a dialogue organized by the Government portal (chinhphu.vn) last Friday, Khanh said FTAs would help Vietnam restructure exports and imports and avoid heavy dependence on a single market.