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ASEAN

ASEAN’s fate hangs in an RCEP balance
25-Mar-2021 APWLD
In a virtual press conference held today, new evidence from a UN economist shows that the RCEP, a mega FTA recently signed by ASEAN and five trading partners Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea, will negatively impact ASEAN, especially its trade balance.
India considers long-term economic ties with the Philippines, to boost Indo-Pacific initiative
1-Mar-2021 The Print
In an effort to reduce China’s influence in ASEAN’s third-largest economy, the Modi government is planning to make rapid inroads in the Philippines.
Kerala: Farmers demand that Centre withdraws from ASEAN agreement
24-Feb-2021 Newsclick
Farmers from Kerala marched to the regional office of the Rubber Board, demanding that the Centre withdraw from the ASEAN free trade agreement.
Canada, Indonesia trade talks begin for comprehensive economic partnership agreement
18-Feb-2021 ASEAN Briefing
Bilateral trade between Canada and Indonesia remains small — amounting to just over US$3.7 billion in 2019.
Cambodia scheduled to join Asean-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement
15-Feb-2021 Khmer Times
Cambodia recently notified the Asean Secretariat it is ready to comply with AHKFTA, meaning the pact covers all Asean member countries from Feb 12.
ASEAN and India agree to review FTA on decade of anniversary
12-Feb-2021 Khmer Times
Trade ministers from India and the Southeast Asian association agreed this month to start discussions on reviewing the scope of the ASEAN-India free trade agreement (AIFTA), some 10 years after it came into force.
Trying to prepare scoping paper to quickly start FTA review with Japan, ASEAN: Goyal
9-Feb-2021 The Economic Times
The Commerce and Industry Ministry is trying to prepare a roadmap and a scoping paper to quickly start review of respective free trade agreements with Japan and ASEAN, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.
ASEAN-Hong Kong FTA set for Feb 12
11-Jan-2021 The Phnom Penh Post
The part in relation to Cambodia under the ASEAN-Hong Kong free trade agreement (FTA) and Investment Agreement (IA) is set to take effect on February 12, according to Hong Kong’s Trade and Industry Department.
HKSAR gov’t says free trade, investment agreements with ASEAN to come into force in full
8-Jan-2021 Ecns
The free trade and investment agreements between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will come into force in full on Feb. 12 when the part related to Cambodia took effect.
Portugal aims to seal EU-Mercosur trade agreement, progress on other deals
8-Jan-2021 Euractiv
Portugal will try to conclude a free-trade agreement between the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur during its six-month EU presidency, and attempt to expand Europe’s ties with other potential trade partners.
Negotiations for FTA with Asean underway
14-Dec-2020 The Daily Star
Bangladesh has formally initiated negotiations with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) to sign a free trade agreement.
RCEP fails to promote a people-centred ASEAN
7-Dec-2020 The ASEAN Post
If indeed the RCEP is an ASEAN-led initiative, it fell short of supporting the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The RCEP offers little in terms of shedding ASEAN’s elitist image and committing to the development of a highly inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community.
EU and ASEAN focus on connectivity in move towards free trade agreement
3-Dec-2020 Computing
The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a first step to simplified trade between the bodies.
Modi calls for early review of free trade agreement
13-Nov-2020 The Hindu Business Line
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an early review of the ASEAN-India trade in goods agreement that has been pending for a long time at the virtual ASEAN-India Summit.
Thailand’s export to China expanded under the BRI
6-Nov-2020 Digital Journal
China’s interconnectivity strategy under the Belt and Road Initiative enables Thailand to better exert the agreement on market opening under the framework of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
Indonesian trade minister discussed the RCEP draft at the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meeting
4-Nov-2020 Radar Bangsa
Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto attended a virtual ’special caucus’ meeting of 10 ASEAN Economic Ministers discussed status of the RCEP draft and consolidated ASEAN countries’ position in preparation for the signing of RCEP agreement in this year.
A quantitative assessment of India’s withdrawal from RCEP: issues and concerns
29-Oct-2020 TWN
This study casts serious doubt on earlier more optimistic projections of projected gains and shows that the case for proceeding with the RCEP without India’s participation is even less convincing.
RI-South Korea trade deal sign of things to come
27-Oct-2020 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia is set to sign a trade agreement with South Korea and seeks ensure that a larger deal at the regional level will also be inked, as the country focuses on increasing overseas market access in the hopes of lifting its economy out of the mire of the pandemic.
Trade commitments between Brunei and Hong Kong to take effect
29-Sep-2020 The Star
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that the commitments relating to Hong Kong and Brunei member state, under the trade and and investment agreements between Hong Kong and ASEAN, will enter into force on Oct 20.
India wants to urgently review its ASEAN Goods FTA, but other countries are slow to play ball
29-Sep-2020 The Wire
India’s insistence on reviewing its free trade agreement (FTA) in goods with the ASEAN region may not be done as quickly as it hopes, as most of the Southeast Asian nations are reluctant to immediately start getting into the nitty gritty of negotiations.