Sunday, September 05, 2004
ASEAN to start free trade talks (1:30 p.m.)
JAKARTA -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is to start free-trade negotiations with Japan and South Korea next year and expects to wrap up talks within two years, ministers said.
"ASEAN and Japan agreed to start negotiating in April 2005 and negotiations should be completed by 2007," Indonesian Trade Minister Rini Suwandi said.
Suwandi said talks with South Korea would start in January next year.
Free trade arrangements with Japan should be in place by 2012 and with South Korea.
By 2009, talks will start for ASEAN's six more developed members -- Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, she said.
ASEAN's four other members -- Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam -- will follow suit five years later, she said. (AFP) |
