International Business Opportunities

According to a poll performed by Gallup Korea, more than 60 percent of South Koreans (61.5 percent) believe the recently-concluded free trade deal with the United States will benefit their country.
This figure is eight percentage points higher than in February.

The poll was commissioned by the KORUS FTA Industry Alliance, a private pro-free trade organization.
(source)

President George W. Bush pressed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday over a beef trade standoff, telling the leader in an official visit that Japanese consumers should be eating U.S. beef.[…]

U.S. officials, along with the beef industry, have been pushing Japan to loosen its import rules on beef, hoping to rebuild a robust trade with the Asian nation. They want to see Japan accept meat from older animals and also seek an end to mandatory inspections of each box of beef.

Currently, Japan accepts U.S. meat from animals 20 months or younger, but exporters would like to see meat shipped from animals up to 30 months old.[…]

U.S. beef exports to Japan were about $1.4 billion a year until 2003, when mad cow disease was discovered in the United States. For 2006, that figured stood at $66 million.
(source)

U.S. banks, insurers, pharmaceutical companies and other businesses announced their support for a free-trade agreement with South Korea […] The agreement reached early this month in Seoul would eliminate duties on products such as South Korean autos and apparel and reduce investment barriers for U.S. insurers and banks. South Korea would phase out its tariffs on beef and pork. […]

However, U.S. automakers, farmers and lawmakers said they opposed it and vowed to get it rejected unless it was reworked to address their needs.
(source).

Canada has asked to join a U.S. challenge of Chinese piracy and counterfeiting practices as a third party in World Trade Organization consultations, Trade Minister David Emerson said in a statement.

Emerson added that pirated goods cause billions of dollars in losses for the Canadian economy annually and that Ottawa’s goal is to resolve this issue through dialogue with the Chinese government.
April 25, 2007 - in: B2B & Export & China
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Japan and Australia have completed the first round of talks on the terms of a preferential trade deal.

Officials from Japan and Australia have agreed they’ll aim to have another three rounds of negotiations this year.
(source)