ASEAN, China discuss trade pact framework

ASEAN, China discuss trade pact framework

SINGAPORE: Officials from Southeast Asia and China have begun
a two-day meeting to draft a framework for comprehensive economic
relations including a free trade pact, Singapore said Tuesday.

Representatives from the 10-member nations that make up the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were meeting with
their Chinese counterparts, a Ministry of Trade and Industry
spokesman said in a statement.

The sixth round of talks was to discuss the framework to an
agreement on ASEAN-China comprehensive economic cooperation, he
said.

ASEAN and China have yet to agree on a list of products to be
covered by early tariff cuts under an "early harvest" element in
the proposed free trade agreement, which would cover nearly two
billion people and will be the world's biggest free trade zone if
implemented.

Under this element, China should cut tariffs on ASEAN imports
as a goodwill gesture for the regional bloc which already has
lower tariff rates. -- AFP