ASEAN and China are reported to have made substantial progress in the 5th round of the ASEAN-China free trade agreement (ACFTA) upgrade negotiations held between January 29th and February 2nd n Hangzhou in China’s Zhejiang province.
Ratchawit Piyapramote, deputy director-general of Thailand’s International Trade Negotiations Department and chair of the ASEAN team, said that the two sides tried to make as much progress in the talks as possible. The negotiations are expected to be concluded this year, as required by the economic ministers of the two parties.
He said that the two sides managed to reach conclusions on small and medium-sized enterprises, trade competition, consumer protection, technical regulations, goods standardisation and inspection and certification processes.
He expects all the other aspects, such as trade in digital economy goods, investment, customs…
