ASEAN discusses customs<\/p>\n
HANOI (AFP): Customs officials from the seven ASEAN states
\nbegan two days of talks in Hanoi yesterday on streamlining
\nprocedures and implementing a free trade agreement, a Vietnamese
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
On the agenda is a customs agreement to be signed by the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations, a common customs
\ndeclaration system, priorities in drafting regulations and
\npublication of each country's regulations.<\/p>\n
ASEAN nations -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- are to reduce tariffs on a
\nwide range of goods under the ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement.<\/p>\n
Most members are to comply by the measures by 2003 but Vietnam
\nhas been allowed to delay its implementation by three years.
\nProspective new ASEAN members such as Burma, Cambodia and Laos
\nare also expected to lag behind their more developed neighbors.<\/p>\n
Foreign investors here hope Vietnam will come under pressure
\nfrom other countries in ASEAN to improve its customs and trading
\nprocedures which are currently opaque and inconsistent.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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