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ASEAN

Philippine negotiator criticized for supporting EU proposal for bilateral trade negotiations
7-Feb-2009
The EU-ASEAN Campaign network, with members in Europe and Southeast Asia, assailed the statements made recently by Philippine Assistant Secretary Ramon Cabigting of the Department of Trade and Industry expressing support to the EU proposal to proceed with bilateral talks with the EU and the country’s willingness to liberalize its services sector.
EU-ASEAN FTA - draft IPR chapter (April 2008)
2-Feb-2009
EU, Philippines to resume talks on partnership deal
2-Feb-2009 BW
European Commission delegates will be arriving in Manila next week to continue negotiations for an agreement that will govern the two economies’ political and economic relations, officials said.
Trade roller-coaster: The ups and downs in 2008 and the road ahead
2-Feb-2009 Focus
It was a dizzying roller coaster-year for trade. As the multilateral trade talks faltered, bilateral and regional free trade and economic partnership agreements on the other hand surged, fueled mainly by the aggressive push by the most powerful economies - the US, EU, Japan and China - of their respective brands of commercial diplomacy.
Indonesian asks ASEAN to postpone signing FTA agreements with Australia, New Zealand
31-Jan-2009 People’s Daily
The Indonesian Industry Ministry demanded a postponement of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia, New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to protect Indonesian local industry, said an official here on Thursday.
Crucial ASEAN bills pass in rowdy house session
28-Jan-2009 The Nation
Thai lawmakers yesterday approved a total of 41 crucial Asean agreements after a stormy House session was suspended twice due to heated debates. Among the pacts were free-trade agreements between Asean and India, China and Australia & New Zealand.
ASEAN-India free trade agreement depends on Thailand
26-Jan-2009 Monsters and Critics
A free trade agreement between India and South-East Asia will be signed at the upcoming summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) if the Thai parliament approves the pact. Under Thailand’s new 2007 constitution all international agreements must first be approved by the parliament before going into effect.
Canberra pins hope on Asean FTA
23-Jan-2009 Business Mirror
Canberra has expressed hopes that member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will sign a comprehensive free-trade agreement (FTA) with Australia-New Zealand—already completed—that seeks to loosen restrictions on trade and improve investments.
Asean-India free trade pact to be signed in February
19-Jan-2009 The Star
India is likely to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Asean during the 14th summit of the bloc slated for February in Thailand
Speed up Asean-EU FTA talks
14-Jan-2009 AFP
ASEAN and the European Union should adopt a new approach in negotiations for a free-trade agreement (FTA) in an effort to speed up the talks, Britain’s trade minister said on Wednesday.
EU expects solid response from ASEAN on FTA offers
6-Jan-2009 Bernama
"With the economic slowdown creeping in, there is an urgency for concluding the EU-ASEAN FTA talks," the EU has said
ASEAN FTA by March first week: Jairam Ramesh
21-Dec-2008 Indopia
The Free Trade Agreement between India and ASEAN will be signed in the first week of March 2009. It will lead to tough competition from Vietnam, whose productivity in tea, coffee and pepper is much higher than India’s.
EU won’t renew special tariff rate for RP canned tuna
17-Dec-2008 GMA News
The European Union (EU) will not renew a special tariff scheme for canned tuna from the Philippines and two other Southeast Asian countries, offering, instead, increased market access for the product in its 27 member-countries via a free trade agreement, the top EU representative in the Philippines said in a news conference here Wednesday.
ASEAN tightens up to ride China’s rise
17-Dec-2008 Asia Times
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched a new joint charter on Monday that establishes mutual rules and commitments, moving the 41-year-old grouping one step closer to becoming a unified economic bloc.
Aust to sign Asean FTA
16-Dec-2008 Nation
Australia will today sign a free-trade agreement with Asean to stimulate trade, services and investment growth.
Asean To Sign Agreement On Commitment For CEPT-AFTA
4-Dec-2008
A new agreement to further strengthen the Common Effective Preferential Tariff-Asean Free Trade Area Agreement 1992 or CEPT-AFTA, has been drawn up and is expected to be signed at the 14th Asean Summit in Thailand.
India-Asean FTA misses deadline for the third time
4-Dec-2008 Hindu Business Line
The “indefinite” postponement of the 14th Asean Summit in Thailand, following the sacking of the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Somchai Wongsawat, by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, has led to the deferment of the signing of the India-Asean free trade agreement scheduled for the third week of this month.
Thailand: Status as regional leader in doubt
30-Nov-2008 IPS
The inability of the government to function lessens the prospect of Thailand failing to get parliament’s approval of trade deals vital for ASEAN’s economic agenda. The country needs to get the legislature’s backing for 30 agreements, including an ASEAN-India free trade agreement and an ASEAN-South Korea free trade agreement.
Indonesian chefs, teachers ready to fill New Zealand market
29-Nov-2008
Local skilled workers will have a chance next year to try their luck in New Zealand, which has agreed to open up to Indonesian workers as part of a free trade agreement (FTA).
India firm on signing FTA with Asean in Chiang Mai
26-Nov-2008 Bernama
India is firm in signing the much-awaited Asean-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, next month despite some teething problems that may further delay the trade pact, said a top trade official.