More Trade News in Brief Week 19 (5 – 11 May 2014)

 

* ICC – Guide to International Franchising

 

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has published a practical guide to help business people understand why, how and when to use franchising to expand into new foreign markets.

 

Check the “Using Franchising to Take Your Business International: ICC Strategies and guidance for master franchising, area development and other arrangements”.

 

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* US & Singapore – FATCA Agreement

 

United States and Singapore have initialled the text of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

Check here for more.

 

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* EU & Japan – FTA by 2015

 

The European Union (EU) and Japan agreed to a one-year review that should lead to the “early conclusion of a highly comprehensive and ambitious” free trade agreement (FTA).

 

Read more here.

 

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* US & Israel – Reach FATCA Agreement

 

United States and Israel have concluded the text of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

 

See more following the link.

 

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* USTR Releases Annual Report on Intellectual Property Rights

 

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released its annual “Special 301” Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). 

 

Find the Press Release here.

 

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More Trade News in Brief – Week 21 (14-20 May 2012)

* CIS Summit 2012

 

 15 May 2012, Moscow

 

Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) reaffirm their commitment to tied their relations and to considered economic and trade cooperation a priority.

 

On 15^th May, the delegations of the CIS’s members discussed the ratification of the agreement on a free trade zone within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

 

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* Informal Talks on Information Technology Agreement (ITA)

 

15 May 2012-05-18

 

Under the WTO’s organization, several countries have announced their intention to start informal bilateral and plurilateral consultations on what products to add to the Information Technology Agreement (ITA).

 

More here.

 

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* South Africa – CPI & PPI to be Reviewed

 

 16 May 2012, Pretoria

 

The Government announced that the methods used to calculate the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI) are to be reviewed. More here.

 

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* EU Demands Accurate Information

 

 European Parliament has emitted a resolution calling for accurate information on customs duty and value-added tax (VAT) evasion in member states.

The aim argue was that the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is unable to recover misused money from member states or even to provide accurate data related to EU funds.

 

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* The 5^th Round Negotiation between China & Switzerland on FTA

 

16 May 2012, Beijing

 

On the last round negotiations, 8-10  May en Beijing, the two parts exchanged views on issues as: goods trade tariff reductions, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, competition policies and trade dispute remedies.

 

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* G8 Summit – “Acting Together”

 

This year’s G8 Summit, under the motto “Acting Together”, will take place on 18-19 May 2012 in Camp David.

 

More: EU & U.S. Department of State.