- Symposium on ASEAN-US Cooperation
- ASEAN Cooperation Plan
- Enterprise for ASEAN
Enterprise for ASEAN Introduction
The 10-member ASEAN group, collectively, is the United States’ fifth largest trading partner. President Bush announced the Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative (EAI) in October 2002, to strengthen US trade and investment ties with ASEAN countries, both regionally and bilaterally, and to enhance its already close relationship with the US. For ASEAN, this initiative will help boost trade and redirect investment back to the ASEAN region, while ASEAN’s continued growth and large regional population provide opportunities for US companies.
Under the EAI, the US offers the prospect of bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) with ASEAN countries committed to the economic reforms and openness. In preparation for FTA negotiation, The US assists with the development of a bilateral trade and investment framework agreements (TIFA) and supports ASEAN countries’ efforts to join the World Trade Organization. Since the launch of the EAI, the US has concluded an FTA with Singapore and begun FTA negotiations with Thailand. The US also has TIFA in effect with Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Brunei Darussalam, and is in ongoing negotiations with Cambodia.
In November 2005, under the auspices of the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership, the US and ASEAN countries took a significant new step by agreeing to work towards a region-wide US - ASEAN TIFA, focusing on areas of shared interest, such as intellectual property rights, customs and trade facilitation, biotechnology, sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues, small and medium enterprises, and information and communications technology.
Last Updated May 31, 2006