KUALA LUMPUR: Australia, New Zealand and Canada’s Green parties are voicing concerns over a new Pacific free trade agreement. The political parties are arguing that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is being negotiated in “an undemocratic and opaque fashion,” the Australian Associated Press reported. They believe a leaked draft of the TPP’s chapter on investment “could undermine the ability of TPP-member governments, including Malaysia, to perform effectively.”

HCM CITY — Garment exports have grown at an annual rate of 21.7 per cent in the five years since the country joined the World Trade Organisation, the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association said. Le Tien Truong, its deputy chairman, said exports, which had been worth only US$5.9 billion in 2006, rose to $15.8 billion last year. Viet Nam has become the second largest garment exporter to the US, third largest to Japan, and fifth largest to the European Union, he said.

The Government is hosting one of the United States' most influential senators, Max Baucus, for a visit and Prime Minister John Key is expected to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement with him. Mr Baucus is chairman of the US Senate finance committee, and Trade Minister Tim Groser says he is influential on trade policy and especially trade agreements. He is a Democratic senator of 34 years' standing and has long supported a free-trade agreement with New Zealand.

(Reuters) - China's Commerce Ministry said on Monday the United States must cut support for six government-backed renewable energy programs or face unspecified penalties, in the latest trade dispute between the world's two largest economies. The U.S. measures supporting wind, solar and hydroelectric energy programs in several U.S. states, including Massachusetts, Ohio and New Jersey, present a barrier to Chinese exports, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Joint Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Australian Greens, Green Party of Canada) As the Green parliamentary political parties of three nations whose governments are currently in the process.

New Zealand's ambassador to the United States says a free trade agreement is on the cards. Mike Moore's comments come as Trade Minister Tim Groser prepares to hold talks with US Senator Max Baucus this week. Moore told TV One's Q and A programme, the US is looking for a stronger economic presence in the Asia-Pacific region. "It's very much in America's interest they do this deal they know Japan, Korea, Taiwan, south-east Asia, Australia and New Zealand soon, are doing more business with China than the United States."

BIG tobacco has opened a new front in its war against Australia's plain packaging law. The World Trade Organisation has revealed that within hours of the government's victory in the High Court, Ukraine upgraded to formal a complaint against Australia's law and demanded the establishment of a disputes panel. Australia will have to argue its case before the WTO in a hearing and appeals process that could take up to 14 months.

BUENOS AIRES--Argentina's government has taken the first steps toward formally accusing the European Union of violating World Trade Organization rules in a dispute over restrictions on biodiesel imports from the South American farming nation. In a statement Saturday, Argentina's Foreign Ministry said the administration of President Cristina Kirchner began the accusation process Friday.

Tajikistan is entering the final stretch of its bid to achieve membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The nation has so far held eight rounds of negotiations on a bilateral basis with nations that have sought to discuss tariff and market access provisions for inclusion in its final accession package.

After five years of implementation, Resolution 08-NQ/TW has brought about great and practical results, significantly contributing to the country’s common achievements.  The statement was made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung while presiding over a national conference in Hanoi on August 14. He reviewed the implementation of the resolution on a number of major policies and guidelines aimed to develop the economy in a rapid and sustainable manner, now that Vietnam has become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).