ISDS Case Map
ASEAN
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
