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  1. Negotiations

EU-ASEAN

The European Union was planning on a bilateral trade agreement with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for many years. On 4 May 2007, the two sides agreed to start negotiations.

The EU-ASEAN FTA is supposed to be a comprehensive agreement. While ASEAN states are hoping to gain additional market access in the EU, the agreement is expected to have a much bigger impact in strengthening business opportunities for European TNCs in the region.

The talks have moved slowly and it’s not clear if the final deal will take the form of separate agreements between the EU and individual ASEAN members, something the EU seems to prefer. This would allow European governments to avoid taking on any commitments that support the regime in Burma but also to deal with the economic heterogeneity among ASEAN members.

EU procedures require that all ASEAN countries sign a Partnership Cooperation Agreement, containing a commitment to human rights, as a prerequisite to an FTA. Indonesia has already concluded its PCA with the EU, Singapore and Thailand are in advanced stages of negotiations, and Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are soon to begin. The Philippine government stated early on that it expects problems in negotiating a PCA, as the agreement apparently requires that the signatory state join the International Criminal Court.

Click here for the European Commission’s page on the EU-Indonesia FTA

last update: May 2012
photo: People’s Health Movement

MEPs attempt to stall the EU-Singapore digital trade agreement
6-Nov-2025 Euractiv
The EU-Singapore digital trade agreement is not in compliant with EU rules and fundamental rights and should be assessed by the EU Court of Justice, left-wing MEPs argue.
Philippines, EU make ‘remarkable progress’ in free trade talks
27-Oct-2025 Manila Standard
The Philippines and the EU have made "remarkable progress" in their fourth round of FTA negotiations, covering key areas like goods, services, investment, digital trade, and sustainability. Both sides aim to stabilize the draft text by the end of 2025, with the goal of concluding a modern agreement by 2027.
PH-EU free trade talks to resume next week
20-Oct-2025 Manila Times
The EU and Philippine officials will hold the fourth round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in Cebu, the talks, paused since 2017, are progressing toward a potential FTA by 2027.
EU seeks to conclude FTA talks with Philippines before GSP+ expires
17-Oct-2025 Manila Bulletin
The European Union aims to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines by the end of 2027, ahead of the expiration of the current GSP+ arrangement that grants the Philippines duty-free access to the EU market for over 6,200 products.
Thai trade negotiators accelerate crucial FTA talks with the EU
15-Oct-2025 The Nation Thailand
The 7th round of Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations in Brussels marked significant progress, with breakthroughs in capital movement, financial services, and market access. Key issues like trade remedies, State-Owned Enterprises, and the automotive annex are nearing resolution, while talks intensify on outstanding challenges—market opening levels, agricultural standards, intellectual property, and digital trade.
The Indonesia-EU Free Trade Agreement, explained
8-Oct-2025 The Diplomat
The EU and Indonesia have finalized a comprehensive trade agreement that eliminates tariffs on key EU exports such as vehicles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and agri-food products (dairy, meat, processed foods), protects Indonesia’s strategic agricultural products like rice and sugar, implements mutual recognition of regulations (e.g., EU-certified vehicles accepted without re-testing), and opens sectors including finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, and mining to EU investment—reaching $3.6 billion in 2024, primarily from the Netherlands.
Thai civil society’s open letter to the European Commission ahead of the next round of FTA negotiations: “trade must advance, not undermine, human rights”
30-Sep-2025 Thai Lawyers for Human Rights
As longstanding advocates of human rights and democracy, the EU can leverage the FTA to spotlight abuses and ensure the respect of rule of law, democracy, and human rights, and ensuring that they remain central to the agreement.
Europêche warns EU against duty-free Thai tuna access
26-Sep-2025 The Fishing Daily
Europêche has urged the European Commission to exclude tuna products from the EU–Thailand free trade agreement currently entering a new round of talks on 29 September.
EU-Indonesia deal: global civil society alliance calls for a stop
26-Sep-2025 ETJC
A European-Indonesian alliance of civil society organizations and trade unions criticises the political agreement on the EU-Indonesia free trade agreement being signed in Indonesia.
EU hopes to reach free trade deals with Malaysia, other Asean nations soon, says trade chief
25-Sep-2025 The Edge Malaysia
Trade chief Maros Sefcovic said the European Union hopes to reach free trade agreements with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand before the 50th anniversary of the bloc’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2027.