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China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Expected to Launch

October 28 , 2009
Expeditors Newsflash

China-based Xinhua News reported on October 25, 2009, that a free trade
area between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to launch by January 1, 2010.

According to the article, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) was initiated in 2002. CAFTA will represent 1.9 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of 6 trillion dollars between both sides, which would make this free trade area the third largest.

In another article published by Xinhua News on October 20, 2009, China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang stated that CAFTA will indicate duty free treatment for 90 percent of the products traded between China and ASEAN countries.

ASEAN countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The full text of the article published on October 25, 2009 can be accessed online at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/25/content_12322445.htm

The full text of the article published on October 209, 2009 can be accessed online at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/20/content_12273465.htm