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THE
Philippines and the other Southeast Asian-bloc countries
have committed to conclude within the year their
regional trade negotiations with dialogue partners South
Korea, Japan, China, New Zealand and Australia.
To do
this, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)
has decided to impose a moratorium on the opening up of
negotiations on new free-trade agreements (FTAs) with
other economies to be able to concentrate on completing
the talks with the dialogue partners, according to Ramon
Kabigting, Bureau of International Trade Relations
director, at the recent meeting of the high-level task
force on Asean economic integration.
“Let it
be clear that the focus should not be put on the
moratorium, but to the desire of the Asean to conclude
the FTA negotiations that are now in progress,” he said.
Those
that are likely to be affected by this are the proposed
regional FTAs with the European Union, the US and
Pakistan, among others. Kabigting said, however, that
there is a possibility the talks with the EU may be
included with the Asean dialogue partners.
Some
provisions of Asean’s economic cooperation deals with
South Korea and China are already being implemented,
said Kabigting, adding the trade in goods chapter of the
FTA with South Korea had been signed; on the deal with
China, the chapters on trade in goods and services have
been concluded.
The
proposed FTAs with
Japan,
New Zealand and Australia, on the other hand, are still
being finalized.
“The
high-level task force on Asean economic integration met
recently, and they said ‘let’s finish what is there and
have a moratorium for the others that will come before
they are concluded,’” said Kabigting. “Everybody is
aiming for this year.”
The bloc
has decided, meanwhile, to continue with the
comprehensive studies and evaluation of the impact on
Asean of the other proposed FTAs. |
