Bilateral EU free trade deals can pave way for broader Asean-EU pact: Singapore DPM

MANILA: Bilateral trade deals between the European Union and individual South-East Asian countries could help pave the way for an eventual Asean-EU free trade agreement (FTA), Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong (pic) said on Sept 22. The remarks coincided with the EU and the Philippines announcing the finalisation of their own free trade deal the same day, adding to a growing network of bilateral pacts between the European bloc and Asean member states. “They build on each other. I think bilateral negotiations between (the) EU and individual countries will also set the stage for further integration at the…