6-Sep-2006
Bangkok Post
Burma and the US elections are singled out as sticking points.
1-Sep-2006
IBON
The recently-signed trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA) between the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will sooner or later lead to a free trade agreement (FTA), and this will prove disastrous to the vulnerable sectors of the region, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.
29-Aug-2006
Manila Times
Local leaders expressed differing views on whether the Philippines has the capacity to enter into a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States or be lumped together with its Asean neighbors in a region-wide FTA agreement.
28-Aug-2006
After resuming talks on a free trade pact, India and ASEAN are likely to hold another round of discussions in Kuala Lumpur next month and later in Kochi, with a view to finish negotiations by the end of this year.
26-Aug-2006
Thailand, the sole Asean country yet to sign the grouping’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea, hopes to resume negotiations with Seoul before the Asean Summit in Cebu in December.
26-Aug-2006
ABS-CBN
The United States on Friday signed a trade and investment pact with Southeast Asia in a bid to bolster its influence in the region, which is growing closer to China.
25-Aug-2006
The United States has no plans to begin new bilateral free trade negotiations with other nations, and will focus on successfully concluding the four it is actively pursuing, Washington’s top trade envoy said Friday.
25-Aug-2006
ASEAN countries agreed to accept South Korea’s request to recognize some products from a North Korean industrial park as South Korean as part of their plan for a free trade pact, officials here said Thursday.
25-Aug-2006
The Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks could be concluded in 2007, despite some wrangling over issues like government procurements and environment.
24-Aug-2006
Asean’s plan to narrow the gap on rules of origin regulations pose no hinderance to the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand and Australia.
24-Aug-2006
Despite the tense negotiations behind doors, India said it will now study Asean’s sensitive list comprising 1,900 goods before pursuing its free trade negotiations with the 10-member grouping.
24-Aug-2006
ASEAN today requested that India make further tariff concessions in its list of goods and services offered under a beleaguered Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the two sides agreed to resume FTA talks suspended by the 10-member grouping because of alleged lack of progress.
24-Aug-2006
Thailand and South Korea failed Thursday to reach an agreement in negotiations into the issue of rice trade between the two nations, impeding the implementation of a regional trade pact between Southeast Asia and Seoul.
24-Aug-2006
The US Trade Representative is "cautiously optimistic" that the US and Malaysia will be able to conclude a mutually-beneficial free trade agreement (FTA) during the remaining rounds of the negotiations despite the tight deadline.
23-Aug-2006
Japan won support from Asean Wednesday for a study into a free trade area in East Asia covering 16 countries but the grouping wants Tokyo to prioritise clinching a trade pact with it beforehand.
23-Aug-2006
The United States trade chief said Wednesday a trade pact to be signed with ASEAN nations this week is a great boost to economic relations, but she urged the bloc to do more to push Myanmar toward democracy.
23-Aug-2006
Nature abhors a vacuum, and so when regional organisations go making ostensibly grandiose claims that they will create a single currency, seek economic convergence, or establish an army, it is easy to speculate that these are not articulated outside a context.
22-Aug-2006
US enterprises are chafing at the bit to get into Vietnam, yet many business heads are concerned that if Congress does not establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with their former foe, then firms from other countries will have a trade advantage.
22-Aug-2006
The Asean-United States Trade Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa), which is likely to be concluded Friday, is a well-timed development given the growing trade and investment between the two, a US senior congressional aide said here Monday.
21-Aug-2006
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the six East Asean members as proposed by Japan can help thwart the rich nations’ economic hegemony in the region, said Laos Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Nam Viyaketh.