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ASEAN

Portugal aims to seal EU-Mercosur trade agreement, progress on other deals
8-Jan-2021 Euractiv
Portugal will try to conclude a free-trade agreement between the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur during its six-month EU presidency, and attempt to expand Europe’s ties with other potential trade partners.
Negotiations for FTA with Asean underway
14-Dec-2020 The Daily Star
Bangladesh has formally initiated negotiations with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) to sign a free trade agreement.
RCEP fails to promote a people-centred ASEAN
7-Dec-2020 The ASEAN Post
If indeed the RCEP is an ASEAN-led initiative, it fell short of supporting the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The RCEP offers little in terms of shedding ASEAN’s elitist image and committing to the development of a highly inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community.
EU and ASEAN focus on connectivity in move towards free trade agreement
3-Dec-2020 Computing
The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, marking a first step to simplified trade between the bodies.
Modi calls for early review of free trade agreement
13-Nov-2020 The Hindu Business Line
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an early review of the ASEAN-India trade in goods agreement that has been pending for a long time at the virtual ASEAN-India Summit.
Thailand’s export to China expanded under the BRI
6-Nov-2020 Digital Journal
China’s interconnectivity strategy under the Belt and Road Initiative enables Thailand to better exert the agreement on market opening under the framework of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
Indonesian trade minister discussed the RCEP draft at the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meeting
4-Nov-2020 Radar Bangsa
Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto attended a virtual ’special caucus’ meeting of 10 ASEAN Economic Ministers discussed status of the RCEP draft and consolidated ASEAN countries’ position in preparation for the signing of RCEP agreement in this year.
A quantitative assessment of India’s withdrawal from RCEP: issues and concerns
29-Oct-2020 TWN
This study casts serious doubt on earlier more optimistic projections of projected gains and shows that the case for proceeding with the RCEP without India’s participation is even less convincing.
RI-South Korea trade deal sign of things to come
27-Oct-2020 The Jakarta Post
Indonesia is set to sign a trade agreement with South Korea and seeks ensure that a larger deal at the regional level will also be inked, as the country focuses on increasing overseas market access in the hopes of lifting its economy out of the mire of the pandemic.
Trade commitments between Brunei and Hong Kong to take effect
29-Sep-2020 The Star
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that the commitments relating to Hong Kong and Brunei member state, under the trade and and investment agreements between Hong Kong and ASEAN, will enter into force on Oct 20.
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.