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ASEAN

India to align ROO on ASEAN model
20-Jan-2005
India will adopt the Indo-ASEAN FTA criterion for Rules Of Origin (ROO) for all the other trade pacts with Asian countries, including Thailand and Singapore.
The benefits and dangers of bilateral FTAs for Indonesia
20-Dec-2004 Jakarta Post
It might be that the best path of all for the Indonesian government to reassess its commitment to pursue free trade. Bilateral FTAs are nothing more than hidden tools used to secure the privileges and the wealth of multinational corporations and to advance the interests of powerful governments.
ASEAN and China sign ’dirty’ FTA
18-Dec-2004 Taipei Times
ASEAN on Dec. 2 signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with China, a move that has grabbed the world’s attention. The agreement won’t take force until 2010. But since it involves a realignment in the region’s integration, it has caused a domino effect.
Viewpoint: Is ASEAN irrelevant?
17-Dec-2004 PDI
Drastic imbalance is likely to be the result of the China-ASEAN FTA. But the blame for this is not China’s. The responsibility is largely ASEAN’s. We had 30 years to build an ASEAN house, and we blew it.
Labour: The spread of bilateral trade agreements
14-Dec-2004 GURN (135kb PDF)
This report looks at major Customs Unions, Free Trade Areas, and economic association agreements around the world, with particular attention to any clauses covering social issues, core labour standards and trade union participation.
Sino-Asean free trade pact a bane to RP, says Ibon
12-Dec-2004
An economic research group warned an upcoming free trade agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Nations will have adverse effects on the country’s economy.
Asian free trade vogue could heat up
12-Dec-2004
Free trade agreements are flying around East Asia these days, with even India, from South Asia, getting a piece of the action.
EIU: Free-trade free-for-all
7-Dec-2004 EIU ViewsWire
If proof were needed that an Asian free-trade "arms race" has begun in earnest, then the 10th ASEAN summit in Vientiane on November 29th-30th provided it in abundance. The highlight of the summit was the signing of an FTA between China and ASEAN, but equally striking was the number of other trade pacts that were, variously, agreed, worked on or proposed during the meeting in the Lao capital.
Seoul to start FTA talks with ASEAN in 2005
24-Nov-2004 Korea Times
South Korea will start negotiations next year for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Viet Nam eyes more FTA involvement
17-Nov-2004 VNS
Viet Nam will start its first round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with Japan and South Korea next year, as well as prepare for negotiations with Australia and New Zealand in the near future, said a Ministry of Trade official on Monday.
Singapore -Thailand see need to implement ASEAN free trade earlier
11-Nov-2004
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his visiting Singapore counterpart Lee Hsian Loong have shared the same view that the planned ASEAN trade liberalization should be implemented and achieved earlier than originally set in 2020, according to Government Spokesman Chakraphob Penkair.
‘East Asia trade bloc would balance NAFTA and EU’
11-Nov-2004 Asia Today
Beijing would like to see the emergence of an East Asian arrangement such as the European Union or the North America Free Trade Arrangement (NAFTA). Such an East Asian grouping would balance the world system, which is slowly being carved into blocs.
ASEAN-Korea free trade talks set to start
8-Nov-2004
Negotiations on the proposed ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) is expected to commence next year as ASEAN and Korean leaders are seen to favorably endorse the recommendations at the forthcoming ASEAN-Korea Summit this month.
Taiwan: FTA push moves into high gear
8-Nov-2004 Taipei Times
Taiwan is struggling to find ways of making free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners, even as China and ASEAN are set to sign two landmark agreements this month establishing the world’s largest Free Trade Area, which is scheduled to come into being by 2010.
Indonesia courts the Dragon
6-Nov-2004 Asia Times
Trade liberalization and a push toward enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are high on the agenda of the new administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
China to speed up FTA process with ASEAN
4-Nov-2004
The Chinese government is willing to speed up the process of the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA) and promote comprehensive and substantive bilateral cooperation.
Sino-ASEAN FTA nears final stage
31-Oct-2004 China Daily
Leaders of China and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are expected to sign a package of free trade deals late next month, enabling the two parties to formally implement a China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA) starting from 2005.
Japan-ASEAN: Step back to save deal, says researcher
27-Sep-2004
Asean and Japan should take a step back from the thorniest issues under discussion in order to move forward toward a fruitful free trade area (FTA) agreement, according to a prominent researcher from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
Preferences, conflicts in the way of free trade pact with EU
24-Sep-2004 The Nation
The European Union and Thailand are unlikely to forge a free trade agreement (FTA) because the grouping is currently focusing on its 10 new members, business pundits said yesterday.
Malaysia to push for India-ASEAN FTA
21-Sep-2004 PTI
Malaysia today said it was leading the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and ASEAN and would offer a ’springboard’ for Indian corporates willing to tap the potential markets in the region.