Thailand will take until September to study whether to join a trans-Pacific free trade agreement, potentially missing a window for entry this year amid widespread concern that joining the pact may harm its farm and healthcare sectors.
The Philippines is at a critical juncture in its economic relations with the European Union over free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
Singapore and the Southern Common Market of South America (MERCOSUR) have experienced a delay in their FTA negotiations after Argentina announced its decision to withdraw from ongoing negotiations on potential trade deals, saying it needs to focus on the growing economic crisis at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kingdom’s government has predicted real economic growth to be negative 1.9 percent in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank forecast the country’s economic growth to be -5.5 percent and -2.9 percent respectively.
ASEAN nations should reevaluate its economy post-pandemic to one that is more resilient, digitally enabled, inclusive and sustainable, says the regional bloc secretary general Datuk Lim Jock Hoi.
An Indonesia-Australia deal that eliminates most trade tariffs between the two nations and aims to open up investment, took effect on July 5, Reuters quoted Indonesia's Trade Ministry as saying.
If the Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP) Agreement could be signed this November, it will send a “clear” and “very strong political signal” about multilateral trading in the context of COVID-19, said an Indonesian official.
The Philippines’ decision not to end its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US hints at Duterte’s uncertainty over relations with the US and China.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
