GENEVA — A World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel has upheld Japan's claim that the provincial government of Ontario unfairly treated local firms in its solar power promotion program in violation of the organization's rules, sources said. According to an interim report by the Geneva-based WTO, Ontario's fee-in-tariff system requiring solar and other power generation facilities to meet certain local-content levels runs counter to WTO rules, supporting the position by Japan and the European Union, the sources said Tuesday.

Australia’s sugar growers and investors could end up with a sweeter deal under the upcoming  Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations as the U.S. faces growing calls to put it’s long-standing sugar import restrictions on the table. The U.S. has been leading the wide-ranging regional talks, which aim to eliminate barriers to trade between the world’s largest economy and some of the fastest-growing markets. In all, the 11 countries in the talks–which include Australia–account for one-third of U.S. trade.

During a workshop organized by the European Parliament, Karel De Gucht, the European Commissioner for Trade, noted that the functioning of the European Union (EU)-South Korea free trade agreement (FTA) during its first year of operation has shown that European companies are competitive enough to take advantage of international markets.

The Philippines is looking into the timeliness of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), citing the need to further “analyze” conditions that may or may not benefit the country at this time, President Aquino said on Wednesday. “We’re still studying whether it will be timely for us to join it at this time,” Mr. Aquino said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, when asked about the government’s position on the TPP.

A recent survey of 1018 New Zealanders found that over 60.5 per cent believed New Zealand needed to do more to connect with global markets. While 85.7 per cent could not name the deal under negotiation with the United States and other Asia Pacific economies, when prompted 51.6 per cent said they had heard of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). 56.3 per cent said they supported TPP and only 13.4 per cent said they opposed it. 30.4 per cent said they had no view or didn't care.

KUWAIT (VNS)– Asian leaders yesterday pledged to promote investment and remove trade barriers to achieve economic integration for all countries in the continent. The commitment was included in a communique of the first Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit which was held in the State of Kuwait. "The mutual protection of assets in ACD member states will promote regional investments and economic integration while encouraging joint Asian investments in other continents", it said.

Oct 17 (Reuters) - Mexico is hoping to recruit allies in a trade dispute in which it accuses China of breaking international rules by giving tax breaks and subsidies to its textile businesses, a top Mexican trade official said on Wednesday. Mexico argues that Beijing subsidizes Chinese companies in its textiles and clothing sector by exempting them from income taxes, value-added taxes and municipal taxes.

Washington has advised Manila to cash in on the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (Tpepa) so that the Philippines can get a bigger share in investment being poured in by American firms in Southeast Asia. David Carden, US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), in a recent discussion with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said the Philippines needs to explore possible advantages that the country could gain if it wanted to attract more investment. The partnership itself is led by the United States.

The 14th round of negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership took place in Leesburg, Virginia from 6–15 September with Washington keen on wrapping it up before the presidential election in November. The nine countries negotiating the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the US. Once finalised, it will be the largest trade bloc in the Asia Pacific region and could become even larger once Canada and Mexico join the discussions. Japan and the Republic of Korea could also follow suit.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) — Malaysia is optimistic of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey by year-end, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said FTA negotiations between Malaysia and Turkey, which commenced in May 2010, was progressing well and both countries have decided to compromise on several contentious issues which were a stumbling block to finalising the agreement.