ASEAN
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4-May-2018 International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
ASEAN leaders call for boosting connectivity, resolving RCEP trade talks "expeditiously"
Leaders of the ASEAN gathered in Singapore on Saturday 28 April to review the bloc’s goals going forward, with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong calling for greater regional collaboration and integration as a way to bolster against external pressures, including trade tensions among major economies such as the US and China.
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2-May-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
Thailand wants to join TPP ’as soon as possible,’ says deputy PM
Thailand wants to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership "as soon as possible," Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak told visiting Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy and Revitalization Minister Toshimitsu Motegi who is in charge of negotiations for the pact on Tuesday.
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30-Apr-2018 Manila Bulletin
EU upgrades IPR category of PH in terms of protection, enforcement
Despite serious concerns on copyright piracy, the EU has raised the Philippines’ standing from “bad” to “better” in the area of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
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30-Apr-2018 The Straits Times
Asean leaders deeply concerned about protectionism, say it is urgent to conclude RCEP talks
Asean leaders last week said they were "deeply concerned" over the rising tide of protectionism and anti-globalisation sentiment, and reiterated their continued support for a multilateral trading system.
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26-Apr-2018 UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News
China’s Hong Kong seeks closer ties with Indonesia, ASEAN under FTA, Belt and Road Initiative
An official delegation from China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is seeking closer ties in economic and other areas with Indonesia as well as ASEAN under the Hong Kong-ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) and the Belt and Road Initiative.
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25-Apr-2018 The Japan Times
Thailand aims to join TPP trade deal
Thailand intends to join the TPP deal, which counts Japan and Australia among its members, after it takes effect. The existing 11 member countries are seeking to have it take effect this year.
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24-Apr-2018 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia targets to conclude RCEP negotiations this year
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said that the government is planning to finish negotiations over the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) this year, as, currently, progress in negotiations stands at about 80 percent.
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23-Apr-2018 Business Mirror
‘US-China trade war to slow Asean’s economic progress’
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will not take the brewing trade conflict between the United States and China sitting down, as the regional bloc will urge the two economies to shun protectionism in favor of free trade at its 32nd summit this week.
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22-Apr-2018 Reuters
Indonesia urges Southeast Asian economies to bargain together on TPP
Indonesia’s trade minister urged Southeast Asian countries that have not signed up for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact to consider joining and that these economies could collectively negotiate accession terms.
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17-Apr-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
Japan and China pledge to accelerate free trade talks
The governments of Japan and China stressed the importance of free trade and pledged to accelerate negotiations of bilateral pacts at their high-level economic dialogue in Tokyo on Monday, the first such meeting in eight years.
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12-Apr-2018 United State Trade Representative
United States and Thailand discuss strengthening engagement on trade, resolving priority issues
The United States and Thailand met today under the US-Thailand Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to discuss ways to deepen trade ties and address outstanding bilateral trade issues between them. The two sides reaffirmed the importance of their longstanding relationship and of working together to expand trade.
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10-Apr-2018 Prachatai English
New law and trade agreement will diminish farmers’ control over seeds
An amendment recently introduced in Thai parliaments will take seeds out of the hands of women, farmers and indigenous peoples who have kept seeds, shared seeds and developed a wealth of local knowledge on plant varieties— and put them instead in the hands of large corporations.
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9-Apr-2018 Dawn
Why we don’t need an FTA with China
Pakistan and China started negotiations on the second phase of the Pak-China FTA in 2011. So far, 10th meetings have been held in this regard. China was not willing to offer Pakistan substantial market access on items of Islamabad’s interest.
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28-Mar-2018 Nikkei Asian Review
Is China’s Belt and Road working? A progress report from eight countries
Project delays after initial fanfare, projects sometimes experience serious delays. In Indonesia, construction on a $6 billion rail line is behind schedule and costs are escalating. Similar problems have plagued projects in Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.
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26-Mar-2018 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia pins hope on ASEAN-EU FTA to support SMEs, palm oil
Speaking at the 16th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM)-EU Trade Commissioner Consultations in Singapore on Friday, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita outlined the desired impact a free trade agreement (FTA) between ASEAN and the European Union would have on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the palm oil industry.
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26-Mar-2018 The Indian Express
Thailand expects some progress on RCEP pact finalisation before July
Thailand is expecting “some progress” towards finalisation of the long-delayed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) before July as a ministerial-level meeting is likely soon to address many of the pending issues.
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26-Mar-2018 Jakarta Post
Indonesia calls for unified ASEAN position in RCEP talks
Indonesia has called on ASEAN member countries to develop a unified position in negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
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22-Mar-2018 International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development
Australia, ASEAN leaders pledge commitment to free trade, highlight regional cooperation
Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia met in Sydney on 18 March to discuss the next steps for their Strategic Partnership, initiated in 2014, with regional trade agreements, digital trade, and sustainable urbanisation high on the agenda.
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21-Mar-2018 Trade Justice Pilipinas
Statement of Trade Justice Pilipinas : Human rights should be central to EU- Philippines partnership
Trade Justice Pilipinas is alarmed over reports that the European Union is wavering on its commitment to protect and promote human rights in the context of its long-term strategic partnership with the Philippines.
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21-Mar-2018 EURACTIV.com
ASEAN countries unconvinced by EU trade pact
South East Asian countries are dragging their feet on a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU, with officials saying that the countries still need to be convinced of the benefits of the region-to-region deal.
