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ASEAN

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.
The more the merrier in Indo-Pacific
29-Sep-2020 Bangkok Post
As of last week, there are at least 8 distinctive cooperative frameworks relating to the Indo-Pacific region, which reflects the region’s growing economic and strategic importance within the rapidly-changing international stage.
Vietnam’s EU trade deal fails to inspire COVID-hit neighbors
28-Sep-2020 Nikkei Asian Review
Southeast Asian countries facing the daunting challenge of kick-starting economic recoveries from COVID-19 are showing little interest in a step that could help — fast-tracking free trade talks with the European Union.
India engaging with ASEAN to review free trade agreement: Piyush Goyal
18-Sep-2020 Deccan Herald
India is engaging with the 10-member ASEAN to review the free trade agreement, Parliament was informed on Friday.
The path forward for Asean
14-Sep-2020 Bangkok Post
Now most countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia, are not only facing the economic and social repercussions of a protracted outbreak but also witnessing emerging trends that will permanently change the way we live and do business.
Confirmation of RCEP signature within the year ASEAN + 3 Foreign Ministers’ meeting
10-Sep-2020 Nikkei
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Mogi from Japan confirmed that they will continue to cooperate towards the signing of the East Asian Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) within the year.
S. Korea, Cambodia to hold 2nd round of FTA talks
31-Aug-2020 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea said Monday it will launch the second round of free trade negotiations with Cambodia this week as the country broadens efforts to expand its export portfolio to cushion the economic fallout from the new coronavirus pandemic.
India seeks stronger rules of origin as it urges ASEAN for FTA review
31-Aug-2020 Business Standard
India has pitched for stronger provisions in the rules of origin, removal of non-tariff barriers and better market access in the existing FTA with the the ASEAN, arguing the changes should kick off sooner rather than later.
RCEP talks entering final stage: Deputy Trade Minister
14-Aug-2020 Antara News
Negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have entered the final stage of legal scrubbing and are set to be signed soon, with the exclusion of India.
India reviews continuation of trade pact with Asean
3-Aug-2020 The Times of India
The government is reviewing the continuation of the of the free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean n the wake of the trading bloc’s reluctance to address India’s concerns over what it believes are asymmetries in the decade-old treaty.
Revised Japan-ASEAN trade deal takes effect
1-Aug-2020 Mainichi
A revised free trade pact between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations facilitating the cross-border flow of services and investment entered into force on Saturday.
Free trade deal with China finally finalised
29-Jul-2020 Khmer Times
Cambodia has listed around 340 more commodities to export to China under the Cambodia-China bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA), bringing the total to more than 10,000. Most of the products are in agriculture and agro-processing and are in addition to what Cambodia has received from the Asean-China FTA, according to a senior official of the Ministry of Commerce.
The RCEP talks and India’s anxieties
22-Jul-2020 ORF Online
The biggest concern of India with RCEP at this juncture is not merely the economic reasons, but more geopolitical: the existence of China.
The risk of investor-state disputes in Asean in the aftermath of Covid-19
8-Jul-2020 The Business Times
The current pandemic, and the treaty claims which are likely to stem from it, are a reminder of the importance for ASEAN to be engaged in ongoing discussions at the United Nations of possible reform of the system of investment treaty arbitration.
Japan completes procedures to amend trade agreement with ASEAN
17-Jun-2020 Vietnam Plus
Japan has completed its legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the First Protocol to amend the ASEAN-Japan Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP).
S. Korea, Cambodia to launch free trade talks in July
16-Jun-2020 The Korea Herald
South Korea is seeking to launch negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement with Cambodia next month, hoping to increase its economic influence in Southeast Asia.
S. Korea, Cambodia move closer to launching FTA talks
12-Jun-2020 Yonhap News Agency
South Korea said it has made further progress in fleshing out details for the planned free trade agreement (FTA) with Cambodia, as Seoul seeks to broaden economic ties with Southeast Asian nations and diversify its export portfolio.
PH eager to forge FTAs with Mexico, US
11-Jun-2020 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines will pursue separate discussions with Mexico and the US for potential free trade agreements with each these two countries.
Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA to enter into force for Indonesia: HK gov’t
5-Jun-2020 Xinhua Net
The part relating to Indonesia under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the Investment Agreement (IA) between China’s Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will enter into force on July 4.
Singapore: Russia’s new gateway to Southeast Asia?
1-Jun-2020 OZY
A new free trade agreement with Singapore is giving Moscow unprecedented access to Southeast Asian markets.