bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

ASEAN

Manmohan softens stance on FTA
22-Nov-2007
In a small but significant step forward, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said negotiations for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the 10-member Asean would be wrapped up by March next year and that India would show “necessary flexibility” to achieve this goal.
ASEAN, Japan endorse free trade pact, but rice, beef kept out
21-Nov-2007 IHT
Japan and Southeast Asia endorsed a free trade agreement Wednesday under which tariffs would be eliminated on 90 percent of imports by both sides, but key items such as rice and beef would remain protected.
S. Korea, ASEAN sign FTA on services
21-Nov-2007 Korea Times
The deal is the third part of a four-step process to reach a "full" Korea-ASEAN FTA by next year.
ASEAN signs landmark accord on trading bloc
21-Nov-2007 Forbes
The 10 countries that are part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed Tuesday to create an economic bloc that will eliminate barriers to free trade and production in the region.
ASEAN-Japan to pilot free-trade list
21-Nov-2007 MCOT
ASEAN and Japan have agreed to put 70 categories of goods on an intensive tariff reduction list, in a show of commitment to the free trade agreement between the regional bloc and Japan.
Asean steps up China free-trade talks as deal with India stalls
20-Nov-2007 Bloomberg
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is stepping up talks on free trade agreements with China after a similar accord with India was put on hold because of disagreements on tariff cuts.
No US-Asean free trade with Burma present
20-Nov-2007 Bangkok Post
Current political conditions in Burma make a free-trade deal between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations impossible in the near term, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said.
EU-ASEAN: The beginning of a beautiful friendship?
15-Nov-2007 Chatham House
At present, the economic relationship is asymmetrical, with the EU market much more important to ASEAN than the reverse. But in the long run, the size and growth of the ASEAN market will make it a key source of growth and profitability for EU firms.
Malaysia’s racial policies jeopardize trade deal, EU envoy says
14-Nov-2007 Bloomberg
Malaysia’s refusal to review its race-based policies is jeopardizing a proposed free-trade agreement between Southeast Asia and Europe, said the outgoing European envoy to Kuala Lumpur.
With Asean pact in limbo, India now looks at E Asia
11-Nov-2007 Economic Times
India’s problems with the free trade agreement being worked out with the Asean notwithstanding, the country is eagerly exploring the possibility of entering into a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the sixteen East Asia Summit members, including the 10 Asean countries, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Indo-Asean FTA slips on palm oil
7-Nov-2007 Business Standard
It is now certain that negotiations to conclude the agreement will spill over to the next year, due to disagreements over reduction of duties on palm oil.
ASEAN health warning: Myanmar stunts your growth
6-Nov-2007 Inquirer
Brussels and Washington have taken steps toward free-trade agreements with ASEAN, but they could be stopped in their tracks if the destination was a deal that had to include Myanmar.
Industry told to help exporters
2-Nov-2007 China Daily
Chinese business associations should help local firms make the most of the China-ASEAN free trade agreement, said Xu Ningning of the China-ASEAN Business Council. "Most Chinese companies are not aware of the FTA, let alone translating it into real benefits."
China, Asean on crucial stage in FTA talks
1-Nov-2007 China Daily
Although the commodity trade agreement came into effect in July 2005 and the one on service trade this July, many serious issues still need to be worked out. For example, Chinese auto parts can’t enter Thailand because of the restrictions by the Auto Association of Thailand. Neither can readymade Chinese garments enter Indonesia as its Clothes Chamber won’t allow it.
Malaysia: Keep Myanmar politics out of ASEAN-EU free trade talks
31-Oct-2007 IHT
Myanmar’s political crisis should not be used an excuse to hold up a proposed free trade pact between Europe and Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia’s trade minister has said.
Commerce ministry backs Asean-EU trade talks
31-Oct-2007 Bangkok Post
Thailand will be able to export more boiled chicken to EU, Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, permanent secretary for Commerce, said.
China, ASEAN ink food safety deal
31-Oct-2007 China Daily
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday released the Nanning Joint Statement to strengthen collaboration on food safety.
Investment pact urged with bloc
29-Oct-2007 China Daily
China’s Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan Sunday pushed for an early conclusion of talks on a China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) free trade area investment agreement to expand mutual investment.
Summit can help US-Asean FTA
17-Oct-2007 Today
There’s still a long way to go before Asean and the United States can ink a free trade agreement (FTA), but trade representatives from both sides are hoping that next month’s Asean Summit will enable them to move the process forward.
China sets up new harbor area for planned free trade zone with ASEAN
12-Oct-2007 AHN
China has started construction of a bonded harbor area that will form part of a future free trade zone with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).