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ASEAN

Shoemakers fear FTA
4-Mar-2008
Carcar City’s shoemakers are looking with dread at 2010, the year the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-China Free Trade Area is set to be created.
ASEAN-Japan FTA expected to be signed in May
25-Jan-2008 MCOT
A free trade area (FTA) agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan is expected to be inked this May, a senior Thai official said Thursday.
Asean-India FTA talks enter final stage
8-Jan-2008 Star
Discussions on a free trade agreement between Asean and India are in the final stage with only one issue to resolve: the export of palm oil from the region to India
Thailand: Agreement in trade talks with Korea
3-Jan-2008 Bangkok Post
Thailand has concluded free trade talks with South Korea under the Asean-Korea free trade agreement (AKFTA) after almost a year of negotiations. Under the deal, Thailand will be given more flexibility in cutting and/or waiving its tariffs compared to other Asean nations.
FTAs and safety standards
1-Jan-2008 Economic Times
Unlike India, most Asean countries have a very robust regime of quality and safety standards for products imported into their markets. What that means under an India-ASEAN FTA is that Indian manufacturers, despite having lower entry tariffs into Asean, will still not be able to export their products unless they meet the strict safety and quality regulations of those countries.
Delhi shifts aim to bigger ball
1-Dec-2007 Bangkok Post
The much-hyped free trade area (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and India seem to be stalling, as the latter’s focus has shifted toward the much-bigger Asean-India FTA, a leading Thai negotiator says
Asean FTA: Time to introspect on domestic oilseed cultivation
28-Nov-2007 Hindu Business Line
In the absence of a clear strategy to put our own house in order, the India-ASEAN FTA negotiations appear to be farcical. Negotiations are conducted between equals and in a level playing field. But here is a situation where everyone knows India is vulnerable.
Thai Constitution could complicate Asean-EU FTA talks
28-Nov-2007 Nation
The process of Asean-EU free trade talks may be complicated by the newly-enacted the Constitution which requires the government to seek the parliamental approval, said Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand.
EU, Vietnam launch talks on new bilateral pact
27-Nov-2007 AFP
The new Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which would replace a 1995 pact, will "facilitate deeper economic and commercial integration between the European Union and Vietnam preceding a future Free Trade Agreement between the EU and countries of ASEAN."
EU, Vietnam launch talks on new bilateral pact
26-Nov-2007
e European Union and Vietnam launched talks on a wide-ranging cooperation pact Monday during a visit by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to the fast-growing Southeast Asian economy.
Study sees modest gains for Indonesia after trade deal
26-Nov-2007
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, can expect relatively modest gains from a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an independent study shows.
ASEAN FTA talks may conclude in 2 mths: Nath
26-Nov-2007
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said that the negotiations in the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be concluded in next two months.
European Union Parliament opposes free trade agreement with ASEAN due to Myanmar issue
24-Nov-2007
The parliament of the European Union will oppose an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement as long as democracy is not restored in Myanmar.
Vietnam vows to work for ASEAN-EU partnership
23-Nov-2007
Vietnam will work hard for the development of the ASEAN-EU partnership, particularly their Free Trade Agreement that is now under negotiations, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has promised.
EU trade chief impatient on Doha, Southeast Asia deal
23-Nov-2007
The European Union’s trade chief said on Thursday he was impatient with the lack of progress towards free trade deals in the global Doha round and between the EU and Southeast Asia. The Doha round of talks, launched six years ago, has been deadlocked as the United States and European Union call on developing nations to open up their markets for manufacturers in return for cuts by rich countries to trade-distorting subsidies.
EU lawmakers vow to block free-trade deal with ASEAN without reforms in Myanmar
23-Nov-2007
The European parliament will oppose any free-trade deal between Europe and Southeast Asia unless Myanmar makes democratic reforms, visiting parliamentarians warned Friday.
`Body blow to Kerala farmers`
23-Nov-2007
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s remark that India will show the necessary flexibility on talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) is worrying farmers in Kerala.
Bend, but not backwards
22-Nov-2007
The “necessary flexibility” that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said India will show in order to conclude by March the free trade agreement with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) may not be as daunting a task as some might imagine - because the gap between the positions on the two sides does not look unbridgeable.
ASEAN must make trade offer: NZ PM Clark
22-Nov-2007
South-East Asian nations need to put a better offer on the table if they want a free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Use Japan-ASEAN EPA as leverage to bolster ties
22-Nov-2007
The endorsement of an economic partnership agreement between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should be a good chance for strengthening economic relations between Japan and the regional bloc in areas such as investment and human exchanges, in addition to boosting trade.