Free Trade Agreement
China's Foreign Minister arrives in Solomon Islands

China Offers South Pacific Nations Security, FTAs

China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, in what one regional leader called a thinly veiled effort to lock them into "Beijing's orbit".The wide-ranging draft agreement and a five-year plan, both obtained by AFP, will be the subject of discussion during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's tour of Pacific nations, which began Thursday.The package would offer 10 small island states millions of dollars in C

26 May 2022
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Strengthening The EU-Singapore Relationship

European Union (EU) and Singapore senior officials met on 25 February for the 8th Senior Officials’ Meeting to discuss how to build on the current relationship, increase cooperation and address new challenges. The EU delegation was chaired by Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, while Singapore’s side was led by Ng Teck Hean, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The coronavirus pandemic, which has affected

19 March 2021
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Britain Finalises Free Trade Pact With Vietnam

Britain and Vietnam on Friday finalised a free trade agreement (FTA), the second deal London has reached in Southeast Asia in as many days while deadlock continues over post-Brexit European Union (EU) arrangements.The deal with Vietnam comes into force 1 January, 2021 and will be Britain's third, following Thursday's pact with Singapore and October's first post-Brexit trade deal with Japan.Vietnam stands to benefit from tariff savings of £114 million (US$150.6 million) on its e

12 December 2020
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CPTPP: Good That Malaysia Is Cautious?

With the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on 15 November, the stage is set for Malaysia to tap into the world’s largest free trade area (FTA) with 2.1 billion consumers, including China, and accounting for approximately 30 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). Up next is the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – spanning the Asia-Pacific Rim countries and home to 95 million consumers as well as contributing a

21 November 2020
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Vietnam and EU sign free trade agreement

The European Union (EU) and Vietnam on Sunday signed a long-awaited free trade deal that will slash duties on almost all goods, an agreement that pushes back against a rising tide of global protectionism and hailed as a "milestone" by Brussels.

1 July 2019
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ASEAN, Hong Kong FTA comes into effect

Trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN will be boosted with yesterday’s implementation of the ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA), building on the already solid economic foundation both parties share and countering the escalating United States (US)-China trade war.Five years in the making, the AHKFTA kicked off on Tuesday with reductions and eliminations of customs duties in Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam for Hong Kong imports.

12 June 2019
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Canada wants more trade with ASEAN

Is an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the cards?The idea which was first proposed in 2016, was one of many on the agenda during the 16th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, last month.

6 April 2019
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Vietnam expects boost in shrimp exports

Vietnam’s shrimp exports are expected to reach more than US$4 billion in value this year aided by free trade agreements.The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) last week said the country was unable to meet its 2018 export target of US$4.8 billion, hitting only US$3.5 billion – a 7.8 percent decrease from 2017.However, the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and other free-trade agreements later this year is expected to boost exports to 28 E

5 February 2019
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Doubts remain as RCEP inches closer to conclusion

The signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took place last week, but questions now loom over the status of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP recently progressed to yet another ministerial meeting on 3rd March, after which it was reported to be closer to finalisation.

10 March 2018
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The time for deeper integration between ASEAN and EU is now

The European Union (EU) and ASEAN celebrated 40 years of diplomatic relations in 2017, with trade characterising the strongest dimension of their relationship thus far. As ASEAN chair, Singapore this year hosted the sixth ASEAN-EU Business Summit, which coincided with the 24th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat in Singapore from 1-3 March, 2018. At the ASEAN-EU Business Summit, opening remarks were delivered by Donald Kanak, Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council, H.E.

5 March 2018
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How will the CPTPP pan out for ASEAN?

Despite the United States withdrawing from the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement), ASEAN countries will still largely benefit from the revamped version of the agreement. Now known as the ‘Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership’ (CPTPP), the remaining 11 participating countries will include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

26 January 2018
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