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ASEAN

The grand illusion of ‘free trade area’
17-Aug-2019 The Tribune
What’s worrisome for India is the economic growth rate owing to the overall core sector slump and adverse bilateral trade balance with countries under the RCEP.
EU-Vietnam trade deal shows EU will bend human rights standards if the price is right
17-Aug-2019 ASEAN Today
The new EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (FTA) shows the EU will look past human rights violations to push a trade agenda. But as FTAs with ASEAN states don’t offer the EU the same economic benefits, it’s unlikely the bloc will pen more in the near future.
EU seems to have forgiven Thai military ruler
8-Aug-2019 Asia Times
EU is gaining a reputation in Southeast Asia for being hypocritical. Clearly, now, pragmatism is coming before principles, and values are to be provisional to trade policy.
Free trade agreement between Singapore and Britain in the works: Vivian Balakrishnan
8-Aug-2019 Channel News Asia
Singapore is working with Britain on a trade deal that will port the provisions of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) to the United Kingdom, said Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
EU struggles to strike trade pacts with major ASEAN countries
5-Aug-2019 Nikkei Asian Review
Sticking points could hinder other deals, as Vietnam gains from recent agreement
Can China’s trade boost with Asean help get the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership over the line?
22-Jul-2019 South China Morning Post
The success of the ASEAN-China FTA in helping to boost business amid Beijing’s tariff dispute with the US bodes well for the upcoming talks on the creation of a RCEP.
Hopeful of addressing India’s concerns in RCEP: Indonesian Trade Minister
15-Jul-2019 The Economic Times
The ASEAN troika led by Indonesia had a “fruitful” and “very frank” dialogue with India on the RCEP and efforts are on to address Delhi’s concerns ahead of a meeting on the proposed trade agreement in China.
EU-Vietnam trade deal prompts concern in Thailand
14-Jul-2019 ASEAN Today
The new EU-Vietnam free trade deal could spark a manufacturing exodus from Thailand to Vietnam. Thailand will likely look to other markets to compensate.
ASEAN Trade Ministers persuade India to speed up talks on RCEP
10-Jul-2019 The Hindu Business Line
Trade Ministers of Thailand and Indonesia and the Secretary-General of the 10-member ASEAN group met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss ways to speed up the RCEP negotiations
Govt attempts fresh focus on FTAs, talks with US, EU and ASEAN negotiators next week
9-Jul-2019 The Hindu
Re-elected Indian government will engage in three sets of important trade talks: with the EU, the US and ASEAN negotiators this week.
RCEP and Indo-Pacific initiatives play second fiddle
2-Jul-2019 The Jakarta Post
The Indo-Pacific concept was developed in recognition of the need for ASEAN to respond with a united front to emerging regional issues, thereby preserving ASEAN’s centrality.
ASEAN to send envoys to break RCEP deadlocks
24-Jun-2019 Jakarta Post
ASEAN economic ministers have agreed to have representatives from Indonesia and Thailand, as well as ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi, engage with Indian officials over deadlocks in the negotiations of the bloc’s most strategic trade agreement.
ASEAN finalises common position on RCEP
24-Jun-2019 The Nation
ASEAN is ready for the next move to negotiate the remaining 13 chapters of the trade deal together as a bloc at the upcoming senior economic officials’ meeting to be held at the end of this month in Melbourne, Australia.
ASEAN masses behind China as it pushes world’s biggest free trade pact
22-Jun-2019 Asia Times
Southeast Asian leaders look determined to make progress on the world’s largest commercial pact, the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership during the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit which gets underway in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.
Iswaran: RCEP will unite region, bring opportunities for all
22-Jun-2019 Singapore Straits Times
He notes India’s concerns over trade deal, says it would be a loss if it was not part of pact.
ASEAN seeks conclusion of China-led trade deal this year: Thai PM
21-Jun-2019 France 24
Southeast Asian leaders are eager to sign a sweeping China-led trade pact by the end of this year, Thailand’s prime minister said Friday, with further talks expected at a Bangkok summit on the world’s biggest commercial deal.
Thailand hopeful of RCEP deal despite scant progress
19-Jun-2019 The Nation
Thailand maintains the RCEP historic deal involving 16 economies can be finalised by November.
Asean-Hong Kong FTA enters force to begin intra-regional tariff removals
12-Jun-2019 Global Trade Review
Five members of the ASEAN have implemented a FTA with Hong Kong to remove tariffs, improve access for intra-regional service providers and eliminate pervasive non-tariff barriers to trade.
Thailand seeks restart of trade negotiations with EU
11-Jun-2019 The Nation
Thailand is ready to resume negotiations for a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) once the new government is established, as officials seek to offset the decline in global trade, according to a leading trade official.
Mahathir’s tilt to China smooths the way for Beijing in Southeast Asia
7-Jun-2019 The Interpreter
Always known as a fiercely non-aligned leader, Malaysia’s Prime Minister has changed his tune on the Belt and Road.