Latest News

October 28, 2019: A new article by Rahul Nath Choudhury in the The Interpreter outlines concern, particularly amongst developing countries, about the inclusion of e-commerce provisions in trade agreements. Many developing country governments, and civil society organisations, are concerned that the e-commerce agenda is an attempt by the US to establish international rules that suit big tech companies from developed countries, locking developing countries out of the digital economy.

October 24, 2019: Read our new fact sheet on the impact that trade agreements can have on public health, including access to medicines, the way our health services are managed and our health warning labels.

October 23, 2019: A new article from Luciana Ghiotto, a researcher at CONICET and a contributor to the Transnational Institute, has identified how the public movement against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP-11) has contributed to this week’s nationwide protests, which have resulted in government repression and declaration of martial law.

October 21, 2019:  Weekend media reported that union leaders have strongly criticised the ALP decision to approve the enabling legislation for the Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru agreements.

October 17, 2019: Media Release “Labor has decided to approve the enabling legislation for the Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru agreements despite the fact that they contain damaging provisions that are contrary Labor policies, in return for some fairly weak assurances from the government that may not be delivered,” AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald said today.

October 15, 2019: Chief negotiators are continuing to meet in Bangkok this week after last week’s RCEP Ministers’ meeting, intended to finalise the negotiations, failed to reach agreement on key provisions. Governments still say they are working to complete the agreement by the end of the year, but final agreement is proving difficult to achieve.

October 10, 2019: Community groups representing millions say trade deals with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru put corporate rights before people and environment and urge Labor and cross-bench to oppose them

October 9, 2019: Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) polling in the seats of Bass, Brand, Corio, Hunter and Rankin reveals 75 - 80 per cent of voters oppose trade agreements that allow additional work visas without first testing if local workers can fill available jobs and that include Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions that give corporations the right to sue governments for policy decisions that impact on their profit.

October 8, 2019: AFTINET and Indonesia for Global Justice have come together to oppose the inclusion of investor rights to sue governments in the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

October 8, 2019: All AFTINET members and supporters are invited to our annual AGM on Wednesday November 13 at 5.30pm to discuss what we’ve done over the past year and to make plans for next year.