China to Join RCEP, Creating Massive Free Trade Area with ASEAN, India, and Japan
Plus Myanmar issues new foreign investment law Nov. 9 – China is set to commence negotiations to create a 16-nation trade bloc, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), with its launch expected to be formally announced at the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh later this month. The RCEP will include the 10 members […]
The China Alternative – Singapore
The China Alternative is our series on other foreign investment destinations in emerging Asia that may soon be competing with China in terms of labor costs, infrastructure and operational capacity. In this issue we look at Singapore. By Joshua Gill and Martino di Nola Background Jul. 17 – In a global economy dominated by huge […]
Why ASEAN Matters For Your China Business
The 2015 Free Trade Agreement will soon kick in. Is your China business ready? Op-Ed Commentary: Chris Devonshire-Ellis May 22 – The term “ASEAN” is cropping up more often these days, yet still many businesses in China are unaware of what it is and why it is gaining in importance. The basic answer is fairly […]
ASEAN and China to Become Top Trade Partners by 2015
Apr. 20 – When taken together as a group, the combined members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will become China’s top trading partners by 2015, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. Made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, ASEAN […]
Myanmar Set to Open Up to Foreign Investment
Mar. 28 – The Myanmar government is introducing a new set of regulations expected to promote foreign direct investment into the country. Coupled with the lifting of U.S. sanctions on the existing regime, this move may well spell the beginning of a new chapter in the nation’s development. Long a pariah state and run until […]
India’s Free Trade Agreements
Apr. 27 – Free trade agreements are normally made between two countries. Many governments, throughout the world have either signed FTA, or are negotiating or contemplating new bilateral free trade and investment contracts. However, there are two types of free trade agreements: namely, bilateral and multilateral. Every customs union, trade common market, economic union, customs […]
Vietnam Exempts Import Tax Under Australia, ASEAN, New Zealand Treaty
Jul. 1 – Vietnam will exempt as much as 90 percent of tax lines on goods imported from Australia, New Zealand and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members this year. By 2017, Vietnam will remove import tariffs on butter, milk and cheese. Import duties on car components will also be slashed to 5 percent […]
Indonesia Wants to Delay China-ASEAN Pact
Jan. 14 – The Indonesian government has formally lodged a letter to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) asking for the group’s free trade pact with China to be delayed to January 2011. The deal began this month; imposing zero tariffs on around 90 percent of imported goods including textiles, steel and chemicals. Indonesia […]