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ASEAN

China-ASEAN trade to blossom in hard times
11-May-2020 Hellenic Shipping News
Economic complementarity, lower shipping costs and the upcoming Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will substantially expand bilateral trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year.
Singapore minister says RCEP trade deal on track for year-end signing
5-May-2020 The New York Times
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal is still on track to be signed by the end of 2020, Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said.
Coronavirus stricken China losing grips on RCEP: should India give second thought to join? – analysis
30-Apr-2020 Eurasia Review
Given China’s influence gradually ebbing as a major supply chain hub in the region and Japan and Japan asking its investors to withdraw from China, new opportunities emerge for India to woo investment from these nations.
Virus pandemic may force Japan to give up RCEP agreement in 2020
15-Apr-2020 Kyodo News
With the new coronavirus pandemic hindering the progress of talks for the world’s biggest free trade pact involving 16 Asia-Pacific countries, Japan may be forced to give up reaching the deal this year in the face of domestic opposition.
The impact of Corona, trade negotiations of Indonesia - European Union disrupted
14-Apr-2020 The impact of Corona, trade negotiations of Indonesia - European Union disrupted
Besides to the European Union, a schedule of negotiations of trade for the year is also the plan will be reviewed.
Palm oil politics still threaten EU–Malaysia ties
2-Apr-2020 East Asia Forum
The European Union is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner and is its largest source of foreign direct investment, and Malaysia is a major exporter of raw materials to the European Union. But politics over palm oil threaten their relationship.
Hong Kong-ASEAN free trade agreement, investment agreement to take effect for Philippines in May
31-Mar-2020 Xinhua
On trade in goods under the FTA, the Philippines will progressively eliminate and reduce customs duties on goods originating from Hong Kong. On trade in services, Hong Kong service providers will enjoy better business opportunities.
UK keen on joint committee to boost bilateral trade post-Brexit
27-Mar-2020 The Malaysian Reserve
The British government remains hopeful of setting up a joint committee to boost bilateral trade and investment with Malaysia amid changes to the federal government.
Japan scouts more Asian players for TPP to cut China dependence
23-Mar-2020 Nikkei Asian Review
Japan will make a fresh attempt to expand the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact to include more Asian economies, such as Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines, after the new coronavirus exposed the risks of supply chains overly dependent on China.
India in free trade talks with 23 parties
17-Mar-2020 Ultra News
India is in talks with 23 parties, including the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, ASEAN and Israel, on various types of trade agreements, according to data from the central ministry of commerce and industry.
ASEAN presses on with the RCEP without India: How they covered it
16-Mar-2020 ASEAN Today
Despite India’s decision to withdraw from the final stages of negotiations to form the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the remaining parties hope to get the free trade agreement (FTA) signed off by the end of the year.
Asean agrees to persuade India to return to RCEP
13-Mar-2020 New Straits Times
Asean nations have agreed to try and persuade India to return to the negotiating table for the 16 nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal.
RCEP deal expected to be signed late 2020: ASEAN secretary general
12-Mar-2020 Xinhua Net
The RCEP deal is expected to be signed at the end of this year, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said on the sideline of the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat.
Regional MPs call for greater transparency of RCEP negotiations
10-Mar-2020 APHR
As ministers of the member countries of the RCEP meet for final negotiations over the trade agreement this week, regional lawmakers today expressed concern about the lack of parliamentary and public oversight of the deal, as well as its potential human rights impacts.
What ails India’s Free Trade Agreements?
9-Mar-2020 Financial Express
Lack of harmonised standards, and certification issues that increase transaction costs plague India’s FTAs
The European Commission’s palm oil conundrum
28-Feb-2020 East Asia Forum
With new regulatory changes now taking place on the basis of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II of 2018, Indonesia and Malaysia are trying to come to terms with the implications for their global palm oil market strategy and domestic production.
EU eyes FTAs with Asean as a whole
24-Feb-2020 Bangkok Post
The EU has expressed interest in pursuing a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) in the region, not only with Thailand but eventually with Asean as a whole, says EU-Asean Business Council Chairman Donald Kanak.
Vietnam: Asean economic integration meeting in Hanoi a success
18-Feb-2020 The Star
Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Quốc Khánh talks to Vietnam News Agency about what went on at the recent meeting on Asean economic integration in Hanoi.
Singapore and New Zealand ratify upgraded trade agreement
10-Feb-2020 ASEAN Briefing
In late December 2019, Singapore and New Zealand ratified the upgraded Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP) agreement. The agreement came into force on January 1, 2020.
India absent from RCEP special negotiating talks in Indonesia
4-Feb-2020 Kyodo News
India was absent from two days of talks on a sprawling Asia-Pacific free trade agreement in Indonesia that ended Tuesday, fueling speculation that it may withdraw from the negotiations.