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ASEAN

Philippines to ratify Indo-Asean FTA soon
15-Mar-2011
After more than a year since the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) became operational, it is now approaching consolidation.
EU prefers Asean-wide FTA
8-Mar-2011
Thailand remains keen to have a bilateral free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) while the latter prefers to seal a region-wide pact with all Asean members, say the delegations of both sides.
Indian parts firms eye FTA potential
3-Mar-2011
Indian auto-parts makers and renewable-energy firms are looking to Thailand as an investment hub for Southeast Asia because of the privileges offered under the Asean-India free-trade agreement, says India’s largest industrial group.
Fear of Indian pros holding up services deal: Malaysia
3-Mar-2011
The proposed agreement between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to open up investments and services sector has met with resistance from some members of the 10-nation bloc who are concerned that free movement of professionals will impact their own workforce.
India, Asean to ink economic pact by year-end: Anand Sharma
2-Mar-2011
India will sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) by the end of this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said Wednesday.
EU mulls individual FTAs for ASEAN
2-Mar-2011
Despite ASEAN emerging as a fast-growing market of 591 million people, one major trading partner — the European Union (EU) — still won’t ink a free trade agreement with the bloc, preferring to strike individual deals.
EU renews FTA call with Philippines
25-Feb-2011 CNA
"The ball is in the Philippines’ court," Ledoux told reporters.
Southeast Asia embraces China trade, but how’s the relationship? It’s complicated.
9-Feb-2011 CSM
Lower export barriers are spurring trade and investment from China, but local producers now worry that a flood of cheap Chinese imports will put them out of business.
A closer look at East Asia’s free trade agreements
24-Jan-2011 ADB
ADB and ADBI conducted firm-level surveys in six East Asian countries, the results of which are published in the book “Asia’s Free Trade Agreements: How is Business Responding?” released on 21 January 2011.
Colonisation again?
22-Jan-2011 Aliran
The FTA issue is so serious; and the fact that the Malaysian government is taking it so lightly is alarming, says Sarajun Hoda Abdul Hassan.
Chinese firm launches 1.5-billion-dollar mall in Bangkok
19-Jan-2011 dpa
’The purpose of the project is to respond to the vigorous growth of the ASEAN-China free trade area,’ said Dong Hongqi, president of the Ashima Yunnan Cultural Industry Group, a Yunnan-based state enterprise, brushing off criticism that the complex was designed to promote cheap Chinese goods on the Thai market to the detriment of local producers.
Interview: China-ASEAN FTA adds new vitality into Sino-Philippine economic and trade cooperation: official
17-Jan-2011 Xinhua
"It’s fair to say the Philippines is becoming one of the main destinations for Chinese companies to make overseas investment," says Wu Zhengping, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese embassy in the Philippines.
India pushing for services pacts with individual Asean members
4-Jan-2011 IIFL
Changing its strategy, India is aiming to enter comprehensive bilateral trade agreements with more individual members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, as a services agreement with the multilateral body remains elusive.
India-Asean services deal hits roadblock
15-Dec-2010
The negotiations to conclude a services and investment deal under the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Asean countries have hit a stonewall.
Negotiating services with ASEAN
8-Dec-2010
What can India do to show flexibility while safeguarding its core market access interests? A solution seems to present itself from the experience of the recently implemented ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA.
China plans S-E Asia rail links
22-Nov-2010 The Hindu
China will, in coming months, accelerate plans for high-speed rail links with Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, as part of a wider effort to deepen engagement with its Southeast Asian neighbours, officials said this week
Regional and national CSOs push for right to information, fourth pillar on environment and accountability in trade agreements in ASEAN
28-Oct-2010 Focus on the Global South-Philippines
As ASEAN advances towards its goal of becoming an economic community in 2015, it has to confront urgent issues relating to the people’s right to information, trade and economic agreements, and the environmental concerns resulting from this integration into the regional and global economy.
EU-Asia summit boosts calls for free trade pacts
5-Oct-2010 Reuters
Europe hopes trade pacts with Asia will allow it to impose environmental and anti-counterfeiting rules to secure European dominance of technology sectors and guarantee intellectual property when European firms invest abroad.
PM set to launch Malaysia-Europe FTA talks on the sidelines of ASEM
4-Oct-2010 Borneo Post
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to launch the Europe-Malaysia FTA negotiations on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) next week in Brussels.
No US plans for RP, ASEAN trade deals
20-Sep-2010 BusinessWorld
The Philippines may have to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal if it wants a trade pact with the United States, a visiting American official said on Friday.