Asia & Pacific


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


Hong Kong expands transshipment scope, reinforces status as key global trade hub
Such arrangements strengthen the logistics and transportation sectors, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an international logistics hub.
Maldives-Turkey Free Trade Agreement formulated
The Maldives has finalized a formulation of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey. The FTA, which aims to increase trade between the two countries, is expected to be signed and implemented soon. Overall, the Maldives is actively pursuing free trade agreements with both Turkey and China to boost its economy and trade relations.
Canada-Asean FTA in sight by 'next year'
A free trade agreement (FTA) between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is expected to be concluded by next year, according to Canadian and Thai officials who are privy to the talks.
ASEAN hints at forming trade pact with Gulf Cooperation Council
ASEAN recently dropped another hint that they might try to strike a trade pact with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as the former tries to boost its trade with partners outside the region.
Papua New Guinea seeks free trade talks with Japan, PM says
Japan and Papua New Guinea have discussed the path toward a potential free trade agreement, PNG Prime Minister James Marape said.
US-Maldives TIFA Council meeting held in Washington
The third meeting of the US-Maldives Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council took place in Washington, DC.
US-Central Asia TIFA signatories agreed to expand trade, economic and investment cooperation
Prospects to diversify trade and expand investment cooperation were discussed by the representatives of the six countries – Kazakhstan, the US, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan – within TIFA.
Spain responds positively to Cambodia’s investment pitch
Spanish Secretary of State for Trade Ms. Maria Amparo Lopez Senovilla responds positively to Cambodia’s ‘door-knocking’ mission to bring in more investments from Europe.
13 IPEF members ink clean fair economy agreements India to sign after domestic approval
The government said 13 IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) bloc members have signed fair and clean economy agreements, while India will ink the deal after getting domestic approval.
Free trade frenzy: the hidden costs of South Asia's economic gamble
As debt pressures rise, South Asia's economic strategies are increasingly revolving around FTAs. The frenzy, however, is not only reshaping the region's trade dynamics, but also a wide array of national legal frameworks, from labour rights to agriculture policies.

Referenced sites

ABAC

APEC Business Advisory Council is pushing for an FTA among APEC members

ASEAN Briefing

ASEAN Briefing is a platform dedicated to the various and increasing number of trade treaties and agreements throughout the ASEAN region, produced by tax and...

Asia Regional Integration Center

Database of bilateral and plurilateral FTAs with at least one of Asian Development Bank’s 48 regional members as signatory.

Australia-ASEAN-New Zealand FTA

An Australian government webpage on the Australia-ASEAN-New Zealand FTA negotiations, agreed to end 2004 and begun early 2005.

Macau-China FTA

Official website on the Macau-China Closer Economic Partnership Agreement

PANG

The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) plays the role of the Pacific regional “peoples’ watchdog on trade issues”.