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  1. Negotiations

Asia & Pacific


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

APEC & free trade agreements in the Asia Pacific
22-Jul-2005    
This conference provides a useful opportunity to reflect on the present and possible future role of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation). In recent years, veteran APEC-watchers have rather complacently dismissed the grouping as irrelevant. But we may have under-estimated its contribution to the new matrix of economic alliances that are emerging within the region.
ASEAN in tariffs progress
21-Jul-2005    
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is said to be on track to achieve a zero-tariff regime by 2015, a key ingredient for its ambitious plan to create a single market and production base by 2020.
ECO agrees to sign FTA next year
17-Jul-2005     Dawn
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has agreed to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2006 to facilitate greater trade and investment activities in the region.
APEC trade ministers agree to promote trade facilitation in RTA/FTAs
5-Jun-2005    
APEC Trade Ministers have agreed to develop possible model measures on trade facilitation for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Regional Trading Agreements (RTAs) for endorsement by APEC Leaders in November.
The rise and rise of Asian trade
4-Jun-2005     Business Times
A mammoth regional grouping involving Asean and other countries and groups is in the works.
'Too many FTAs could hurt Asean'
30-May-2005     Bangkok Post
Too many bilateral free trade area (FTA) agreements between individual Asian countries and more powerful economies will erode Asean's drive to create free trade among its 10 members, according to Dr Somkiat Tangkitvanich, research director of the Thailand Development Research Institute.
High price to host, protect APEC '07
11-May-2005     The Age
Hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in 2007 will cost Australia $216.3 million.
'High time we signed RTAs'
11-May-2005     Financial Express
Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath has said that India is specifically looking at regional trading agreements (RTA) to boost its trade. "Without such agreements India faces the risk of being isolated globally. India must engage in trade on a regional basis", he said.
US moves to break free trade impasse with Southeast Asia
3-May-2005     Zee News
Deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick is determined to break a free trade impasse with Southeast Asia during a visit to the region this week.
Trade fever hits Asia-Pacific region
21-Apr-2005     IHT
The enthusiasm for bilateral free trade agreements, or FTAs, and regional trade agreements, or RTAs, around Asia-Pacific reflects frustration over the slow pace of multilateral trade reform, once seen as the great hope for regional trade.