Press Release: EU to launch FTA negotiations with individual ASEAN countries, beginning with Singapore

EU Member States on 22 December 2009 gave the green light for the Commission to pursue negotiations towards free trade agreements (FTAs) with individual countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As a first step, the Commission intends to begin negotiations with Singapore early in 2010. With around €55 billion of bilateral trade, Singapore is the EU´s most important trading partner among the ASEAN countries. However, the door remains open for other ASEAN countries willing to negotiate a comprehensive FTA with the EU.