At a mall in Thailand (Illustrative photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) group is keen to upgrade existing free trade agreements (FTAs) and accelerate the enforcement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact among all members, aiming to revive the regional economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Thailand’s Trade Negotiations Department Director-General Auramon Supthaweethum said the economic ministers are expected to discuss restoring the ASEAN economy amid the pandemic and strategies for economic relations with non-ASEAN countries at the 28th AEM Retreat, which is scheduled to take place on March 16-17 via video conference. Cambodia, as chair of the meeting, wants all ASEAN members to work together to start negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement and existing FTAs, especially the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA, and accelerate the enforcement of RCEP for all members, she said. As the … [Read more...] about ASEAN to upgrade trade pacts for regional economic recovery
