AFTA, and Engaging the outside World

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ASEAN's problems of the past few years have not necessarily impacted adversely upon the Association's economic co-operation schemes. Indeed, the targets for the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) have been brought forward --- to 2002 for the six older members, 2003 for Vietnam, 2005 for Laos and Myanmar, and 2010 for Cambodia. This means that by these dates member countries will have tariff lines of only 0-5 per cent on their manufactured products. In fact, by the beginning of the year 2000, 90 per cent of goods traded in ASEAN would have tariffs of less than 5 per cent and some would have no tariffs at all. Further, the original six members agreed to bring tariffs for all …