ISDS Case Map
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has suspended free-trade talks with India because of New Delhi's reluctance to open its markets, Malaysia's trade and industry minister said on Tuesday.
Burgeoning economic links through a web of free trade agreements (FTAs), financial cooperation and investments may reduce the risk of war in Asia but are no guarantee of peace, analysts say.
The standoff between India and the Asean over the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has started rubbing over to India's bilateral relations with individual Asean members.
The signing of separate free trade agreements (FTAs) by individual ASEAN members with other countries will undermine the ASEAN's spirit of solidarity, a Malaysian scholar said on Tuesday.
The rising influence of India and China need not worry ASEAN countries and the regional grouping should look at joining hands with the two fastest growing economies of Asia, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said today.
Baby steps are not always giant leaps for India, let alone for mankind. The reopening of the Nathu La pass, a key junction for trade between India and China over centuries, could have been a momentous event.
The much touted India-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) is in a limbo with the 10-country trading bloc hardening its stance and seeking more concessions from India.
New Zealand and Australia will have to be patient over striking a free trade deal with ASEAN countries, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday.
The developments of recent years have led to an Asian resurgence, with the emergence of China and India as engines of growth, the recovery of Japan from a decade-old recession, rise of the Asian middle class as a source of final demand, and increasing resilience of Asian countries to external shocks such as oil price rises, etc. Over the past decade, Asian countries have also integrated themselves within the region, as evident from a high and growing proportion of intra-regional trade and investments. Besides growing economic inter-dependence, Asian countries also face shared vulnerabilities to external shocks and natural disasters.
Negotiations between India and Asean over the proposed Free Trade Agreement are deadlocked, with the latter now asking India to prune its list to just 60 items on which it will offer no tariff cuts. Asean has also rejected New Delhi's offer for a Tariff Rate Quota on palm oil, tea and pepper.
