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Trade and investments

Political article

After the elections...

Much has already been written about the 2019 parliamentary election results. One searched the media in vain for an assessment of their implications for Switzerland‘s development policy approaches or its foreign policy.

Political article

Driver of development, neo-colonialism – or both?

With the Belt and Road Initiative, China is pushing global development in a manner unparalleled to date. But how sustainable are the “new silk roads”? Switzerland wants a piece of the cake and has signed a memorandum of understanding with China.

Political article

The obsolescence of the free trade model

The free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries raises questions. Those being affected locally fear even more power for agribusiness. And gloomy prospects for the observance of human rights.

Political article

World Trade Organization courts women

The World Trade Organization purports to be pro-women. Yet a closer look at the Declaration on Women and Trade shows that it is primarily a kind of pink washing, a clumsy attempt at image correction.

Political article

After 25 years of free trade, we've had enough!

The newly founded platform "America Latina mejor sin TLC" opposes any new free trade and investment agreements. And the impacts of existing agreements are to be assessed.

Political article

Mercosur negotiations behind closed doors

Anger is widespread in Mercosur countries over free trade negotiations with the EU. It is feared that industrial jobs will disappear to make way for a commodity-exporting economy. Things are not much different in the case of EFTA.

Mercosur and EFTA: Transparency requested!

Four Swiss NGOs and Friends of the Earth Uruguay ask State parties to guarantee transparency in the free trade negotiations between Mercosur and EFTA.

Article as analysis

Who should pay: the elderly or foreign investors?

Argentina hopes to economize US$6 billion through the pension reform adopted in December 2017. Its debts to foreign investors amount to 8.65 billion. Another 11 billion must be paid to vulture funds.

WTO and the fourth industrial revolution

The 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires shall discuss – among other topics – the liberalisation of E-commerce. The digital divide is likely to deepen even more. The Alliance Sud position.