NAFTA, ASEAN discuss trade links<\/p>\n
OSAKA, Japan (Reuter): North America and Southeast Asia are
\ndiscussing possible future linkages between their two regional
\nfree trade areas, United States Trade Representative Mickey
\nKantor said yesterday.<\/p>\n
He told reporters after meeting economic ministers from the
\nseven-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that
\ndiscussions focused on a \"potential informal dialog\" between the
\ntwo groupings.<\/p>\n
The U.S., along with Mexico and Canada, is part of the North
\nAmerican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).<\/p>\n
ASEAN -- which groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- plans to have its
\nASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in place by the year 2003.<\/p>\n
\"We had a very good and productive meeting with some very
\nimportant ideas discussed,\" Kantor said. \"And I'm delighted with
\nboth the tone and the substance of the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We talked about the attempt to put together an informal
\ndialog between the two (free trade areas), which I think would be
\nhelpful and productive.\"<\/p>\n
Kantor declined to give more details about potential linkages
\nbetween the two groups, saying he first had to consult his
\ncounterparts from Mexico and Canada in NAFTA.<\/p>\n
Leaders of ASEAN and NAFTA were in Osaka yesterday to attend
\nthe Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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