Some of the Regions--in Brief

APEC

--Australia has put down "energy", unsurprisingly, as the biggest issue for discussion for the next APEC summit, slated for September

ASEAN

--Japan and the 10-member regional bloc are to sign a free-trade agreement

Africa Union

--The Ghanaian-based private newspaper, The Statesman, has begun looking at the so-called Africa Union government discussions slated for the AU summit here in Accra in July.

European Union

--THe 27-member bloc certainly looks like it has way too much time on its hands! It's setting up an early warning system:

The European Union said Wednesday it would set up an early warning system to watch for foreign trade barriers that it says prevent European companies from exporting to growing markets

from:http://manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=139801

Charming!