ASEAN


Singapore -Thailand see need to implement ASEAN free trade earlier
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his visiting Singapore counterpart Lee Hsian Loong have shared the same view that the planned ASEAN trade liberalization should be implemented and achieved earlier than originally set in 2020, according to Government Spokesman Chakraphob Penkair.
‘East Asia trade bloc would balance NAFTA and EU'
Beijing would like to see the emergence of an East Asian arrangement such as the European Union or the North America Free Trade Arrangement (NAFTA). Such an East Asian grouping would balance the world system, which is slowly being carved into blocs.
ASEAN-Korea free trade talks set to start
Negotiations on the proposed ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) is expected to commence next year as ASEAN and Korean leaders are seen to favorably endorse the recommendations at the forthcoming ASEAN-Korea Summit this month.
Taiwan: FTA push moves into high gear
Taiwan is struggling to find ways of making free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners, even as China and ASEAN are set to sign two landmark agreements this month establishing the world's largest Free Trade Area, which is scheduled to come into being by 2010.
Indonesia courts the Dragon
Trade liberalization and a push toward enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are high on the agenda of the new administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
China to speed up FTA process with ASEAN
The Chinese government is willing to speed up the process of the China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA) and promote comprehensive and substantive bilateral cooperation.
Sino-ASEAN FTA nears final stage
Leaders of China and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries are expected to sign a package of free trade deals late next month, enabling the two parties to formally implement a China-ASEAN free trade area (FTA) starting from 2005.
Japan-ASEAN: Step back to save deal, says researcher
Asean and Japan should take a step back from the thorniest issues under discussion in order to move forward toward a fruitful free trade area (FTA) agreement, according to a prominent researcher from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
Preferences, conflicts in the way of free trade pact with EU
The European Union and Thailand are unlikely to forge a free trade agreement (FTA) because the grouping is currently focusing on its 10 new members, business pundits said yesterday.
Malaysia to push for India-ASEAN FTA
Malaysia today said it was leading the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and ASEAN and would offer a 'springboard' for Indian corporates willing to tap the potential markets in the region.