ASEAN


Rough ride for some Asean FTA talks
Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong admitted Saturday that some of Asean's free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations were difficult, and cited talks with India, Japan and South Korea as examples.
Comment: "Smug calculations" lack sincerity, analysis
Japan is craving a "return to Asia", and the kernel of its regional strategy is to "Japanize" regional policies, legal system, industrial division and financial and monetary fields. It mainly targets some ASEAN countries, at the same time avoiding Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but bending on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
India, Asean to consider free-trade pact by '07
India and the Association of South East Asian Nations aim to forge a free-trade agreement by the start of '07, both sides said after a meeting on Friday.
Rice row threatens ASEAN-South Korea free-trade deal
A row over Asia's staple food, rice, is threatening to scuttle a proposed free-trade deal between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea, which wants to protect the key sector from tariff cuts.
ASEAN to ink FTAs with India, S Korea
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to sign free trade agreements next week with India and South Korea, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz has said.
FTA with ASEAN benefits Kaesong products
Goods made in the North Korean border city of Kaesong will likely benefit from a free trade agreement (FTA) to be signed between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, a senior presidential aide said Tuesday.
Korea pushing for FTAs with ASEAN by next year
Korea aims to close free trade agreements with ASEAN countries by the end of 2006, presidential adviser for foreign affairs Chung Woo-sung said Tuesday. The government will seek to sign basic agreements during Korea-ASEAN summit talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec. 13.
Hyundai to put up plant in RP soon
Hyundai Motor Co. will put up a car-assembly plant in the Philippines after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and South Korea forge a free-trade agreement, according to the Korean carmaker's sole distributor in Manila.
Seoul to sign trade deal with ASEAN
Korea is expected to sign a framework agreement for free trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in mid-December.
US and Asean agree on stronger links
Kantathi Suphamongkhon, the Thai foreign minister, said the partnership, known as the Asean-US Trade and Investment Framework, could lead to a regional free trade area agreement between the 10 members and the US.