Asia & Pacific


Bilateral deal-making involving governments of Asia and the Pacific region.


Asean beefs up cooperation in finance, trade
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is beefing up various frameworks for cooperation and development within the region and with its trading partners, in preparation for regional economic integration by 2015.
ASEAN's free trade links with US gain prominence
President Barack Obama's presence at the East Asia trade summit in Bali has reinforced US efforts to engage with Asia.
ASEAN’s newer members and the Asian noodle bowl: coming to grips with multilateralism
Jayant Menon discusses the trade policy challenges faced by Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV)—the newest members of ASEAN. The paper concludes that the multilateralised single-rate system is a better alternative to the multiple-rate system and thus suggests that CLMV countries should follow the original ASEAN members and multilateralize their CEPT tariff preferences. It encourages both old and new members to do the same, especially in the context of proliferating ASEAN+1 FTAs
Hundreds take interfaith service to the streets on eve of APEC trade conference
More than 30 clergy from a dozen denominations led hundreds of followers out of St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Waikiki on Monday night and into the streets of Waikiki as a challenge to APEC, the international trade talks kicking off tomorrow in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Occupy Honolulu’s position on APEC
The Occupy Honolulu General Assembly formally asserts its opposition to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings to be held in Honolulu from November 7 – 13, 2011.
Free trade agreements kill people!
"In light of threats from FTAs and TPP, we call on our governments to completely reject the attempts to conclude the upcoming agreements and to stop the implentation of the previous FTAs."
Noda, Lee push trade talks / Leaders agree to step up efforts to negotiate bilateral pact
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak agreed Wednesday to speed up working-level talks to resume bilateral free trade negotiations.
ASEAN prepares framework of principles for Asia-Pacific wide FTA
This move reflects a deep concern among some member countries that ASEAN could be sidelined by the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership that has attracted attention even as it is being negotiated, especially if Japan decides to come on board, ASEAN official sources said.
FTA strategies in China and India
By mid-2011, the two Asian giants were among Asia's leaders in FTA activity with 11 each in effect in both China and India. The number of FTAs under negotiation and proposed suggested that such activity will rise in the future, as China has another 13 agreements in the pipeline and India another 20.
India’s Myanmar Approach: Some General Observations
This article is based on the author's visit to Manipur and the observations expressed are gathered from the formal and informal interactions with people working on Indo-Myanmar issues from long time.