POLITICS: Iraq Contracts Expose Washington’s True Aims – Critics

The George W. Bush administration's decision to exclude countries that opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq from multi-billion-dollar reconstruction deals contradicts its position both on free trade and its self-described mission in Iraq, Washington analysts say.

POLITICS: Iraqi Contracts Expose Washington’s True Aims – Critics

The George W. Bush administration's decision to exclude countries that opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq from multi-billion-dollar reconstruction deals contradicts its position both on free trade and its self-described mission in Iraq, analysts here say.

TRADE: Broad Coalition Vows to Fight U.S.-Central America Pact

Representatives from trade unions, human rights and civil society groups joined U.S. legislators Tuesday in denouncing a free trade deal the United States is negotiating with five Central American nations as an official failure to address labour, environmental and public health concerns.

TRADE: U.S.-Central America Deal Could Block Cheap AIDS Drugs

Volunteer social worker Alain Rias, who helps treat people living with HIV/AIDS in Honduras, says his work has helped patients recover, go back to work and support their families.

TRADE: Bush Bows to Pressure on Steel Tariffs

U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday he is lifting controversial tariffs imposed on steel imports well before schedule because of international pressure.

TRADE: Bush Bows to Pressure on Steel Tariffs

U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday he is lifting controversial tariffs imposed on steel imports well before schedule because of international pressure.

POLITICS-U.S.: Senators Seek Saudi Sanctions

After targeting Syria and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, some pro-Israel U.S. senators have tabled a bill in the U.S. Congress that would impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia for its alleged ties to international terrorism.

AMERICAS: FTAA Goes ‘Lite’ But U.S. Still Trade Heavyweight

The scaled down plan given the nod at the end of a meeting here Thursday on a proposed pan-American common market marks a U.S. retreat on its ambitious trade policies in the western hemisphere but Washington's new aggressive push for bilateral deals could be a greater threat to the region's developing countries.

AMERICAS: FTAA Goes ‘Lite’ But U.S. Still Trade Heavyweight

The scaled down plan given the nod at the end of a meeting here Thursday on a proposed pan-American common market marks a U.S. retreat on its ambitious trade policies in the western hemisphere but Washington's new aggressive push for bilateral deals could be a greater threat to the region's developing countries.

TRADE: Activists Pan FTAA ‘Consultations’

Civil society groups have dismissed an attempt by officials discussing a controversial Americas trade agreement to include them in the process as inadequate or a move to "whitewash" the proposal.

TRADE: Draft FTAA Deal Waters Down U.S. Agenda

The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), an ambitious plan for a common market of the 34 countries in the western hemisphere, might be fading from its original vision articulated here nine years ago, a leaked document showed Wednesday.

TRADE: U.S. Moves on ‘Incremental’ Deals As Americas Talks Stall

The United States officially unveiled its new "incremental approach" to global trade Tuesday, announcing a string of bilateral deals with Latin American nations at a meeting that was supposed to achieve a comprehensive pan-American trade agreement.

TRADE: NAFTA No Model for Development – Reports

A decade-old trade deal between Canada, the United States and Mexico did not help the latter boost its economy, create jobs or rejuvenate its agricultural sector as promised, say two studies released here Tuesday.

TRADE: NGOs, Business Decry ‘Flexible’ FTAA

Civil society opponents and corporate boosters of a proposed Americas free trade deal found themselves on the same side Monday - against a U.S.-Brazil proposal to compartmentalise the agreement.

TRADE: NGOs, Business Decry ‘Flexible’ FTAA

Civil society opponents and corporate boosters of a proposed Americas free trade deal found themselves on the same side Monday - against a U.S.-Brazil proposal to compartmentalise the agreement.

AMERICAS: Ministers Meet for Another Trade Test

A high-profile meeting to discuss a pan-American trade zone opened here Monday amidst tight security and doubts about the fate of the embattled plan.

TRADE: U.S. Moves to Squeeze FTAA Opponents

The United States might be trying to re-write its strategy towards a threatened trade deal in the Americas by adding more pressure tactics to its old technique of doling out economic benefits to Latin American countries.

ENVIRONMENT: ‘Think Twice’, Report Warns Miners, Investors

The world's miners and the investors that back them must do more thorough impact studies before pouring money into ecologically and socially vulnerable areas - and should sometimes decide to avoid them altogether, a new study warned Wednesday.

TRADE: Deadlocked FTAA Agreement Still Hard to Solve

A short-notice meeting called by the United States last weekend for trade ministers from the Americas might have saved U.S. officials a major upset a la Cancun when ministers meet again next week, but analysts say the gathering did nothing to change positions on the main issues blocking a regional trade deal.

RIGHTS: Group Urges Egypt to End Police Torture

A leading human rights group Friday accused the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of cracking down on anti-war demonstrators and torturing prisoners while in police custody, a practice that has killed at least 13 people over the past two years.

FINANCE: World Bank Shrugs Off Concerns, Funds Caspian Oil

The World Bank decided to back a multi-billion-dollar oil field and pipeline project in the Caspian region Tuesday, overriding objections from activists who say the scheme will endanger the local environment and people.