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ASEAN

China trade deal to cost Indonesia ’millions of jobs’
11-Jan-2010 Jakarta Globe
In the latest and most authoritative warning about a new region-wide free-trade agreement with China, an executive with the state social security provider PT Jamsostek predicts that as many to two million Indonesians will be laid off because their firms can’t outperform their Chinese rivals.
Thousands rally to demand delay of ASEAN-China FTA
7-Jan-2010 Jakarta Post
Thousands of workers from across West Java staged a rally in Bandung on Wednesday, demanding the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement be postponed in Indonesia.
Indonesia may seek tariff delays in ASEAN-China pact
5-Jan-2010 Reuters
Indonesia’s coordinating minister for the economy, Hatta Rajasa, said on Monday that a letter had been sent to ASEAN seeking "further discussion" of its obligation to reduce tariffs.
Australia, New Zealand free trade agreement with Asean starts
4-Jan-2010 Bloomberg
Australia’s free trade agreement with New Zealand and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations came into effect, removing tariffs on grape exports to Malaysia and wheat sales to the Philippines.
China and ASEAN launch world’s 3rd biggest trade zone
1-Jan-2010 Reuters
China sees the agreement as a way of securing supplies of raw materials, while countries in ASEAN see opportunities in China’s huge market.
China eyes ASEAN resources from free trade pact
29-Dec-2009 Reuters
A free trade agreement between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, which takes full effect from January 1, will help China fill its urgent need for natural resources, a senior commerce official said on Tuesday.
Expectations, Burma case derail FTA
28-Dec-2009 Business Mirror
Continuing political turmoil in the military-ruled Burma have caused major hurdles in the proposed free-trade deals being negotiated by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with the European Union, Canada and the United States.
In Southeast Asia, unease over free trade zone
28-Dec-2009 New York Times
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, China and 10 Southeast Asian nations will usher in the world’s third-largest free trade area. While many industries are eager for tariffs to fall on everything from textiles and rubber to vegetable oils and steel, a few are nervously waiting to see whether the agreement will mean boom or bust for their businesses.
Government plans safeguards for farmers
27-Dec-2009 Bangkok Post
Thai authorities are taking precautions to shield businesses and farmers from the fall in farm product prices after tariffs are cut under the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) at the start of 2010.
EU to launch FTA negotiations with individual ASEAN countries, beginning with Singapore
23-Dec-2009 EU
"While we don’t lose sight of our ultimate goal of achieving an agreement within a regional framework, I welcome today’s decision which will allow us to move forward and re-engage with this important region through negotiations with individual ASEAN member states," EU Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.
RI-China FTA rules unlikely to be delayed: China says
15-Dec-2009 Jakarta Post
While local industries are seeking a delay in the full implementation of the free trade agreement (FRA) with China, to start in January, China says this stands little chance of succeeding.
RP elections cast cloud on trade pact
14-Dec-2009 Business Mirror
Philippine elections pose uncertainty in the regional tariff regime, with neighbors wondering whether the new government next year can live up to its free-trade commitments with member-countrie
India seeks demand list from Asean nations
14-Dec-2009 Economic Times
India has taken the first concrete step towards concluding a deal with the Asean for liberalising trade in services, including cross-border movement of professionals, sending a request list to all Asean members pointing out where exactly the country wants greater access.
Indonesia considers moves to protect 11 sectors from China FTA
8-Dec-2009 Jakarta Globe
Indonesian ministers will meet on Friday to discuss a proposal to renegotiate the Asean-China free trade agreement under a "special status" they will request from ASEAN.
Only half Asean members ratify FTA with India
29-Nov-2009 India Journal
India’s trade with South East Asia will be liberalized only partially from January 2010, as half of the 10-nation bloc has not received parliamentary approval for the Free Trade Agreement signed in August.
EU wants to negotiate FTA with Vietnam
27-Nov-2009 Viet Nam Net
After failure in FTA negotiation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the last over one years, Schlegelmilch said that the EU wants to seek another approach before the Vietnam-EC Joint Committee’s meeting on November 26-27 in Hanoi.
Philippines risks being left behind in free trade with Europe — think tank
17-Nov-2009
A private sector think tank yesterday pressed the Trade department to move faster on a free trade pact with the European Union (EU), citing research which points to gains awaiting several Philippine industries.
Official: Malaysia, a springboard for China to penetrate ASEAN
17-Nov-2009
Malaysia can be the springboard for China’s investors and entrepreneurs to penetrate the ASEAN market, a Malaysian official said on Tuesday.
Making the Asean FTA work
14-Nov-2009
The formalisation of Asean-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) covering the goods sector marks an important step towards India’s deepening trade links with its partners in the Asian region. Viewed as the cornerstone of India’s ‘look east’ policy, this free trade agreement (FTA) would help the two partners unlock the tremendous growth potential that their closer economic integration could bring.
Kerala fishermen protest India-Asean free trade pact
11-Nov-2009
The Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee (KFCC) comprising several fishermen unions from the state on Tuesday said India-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would adversely impact the livelihood of a million fishermen in the state as cheap imports will cut down demand for local produce.