EU eyes FTAs with Asean as a wholeThe EU has expressed interest in pursuing a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) in the region, not only with Thailand but eventually with Asean as a whole, says EU-Asean Business Council Chairman Donald Kanak. The EU has already signed FTAs with Singapore and Vietnam and is in negotiations with Indonesia. "Our members have shown a very strong level of support for both an inter-regional FTA between the EU and Asean, but also other FTAs like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership," Mr Kanak said. The group strongly supports FTAs and will likely advise European negotiators in eventual talks between the EU and Thailand. Mr Kanak said signs of interest have stirred over a EU-Asean FTA, though it would likely require more bilateral FTAs to be signed before the possibility of holding talks with Asean.

Source: Bangkok Post February 24, 2020 00:00 UTC