ASEAN Integration in Services

Thứ sáu, 26/01/2018 15:50

Trade in services is one of the core fundamentals in ASEAN economic integration. The initiative formally started in 1995 through signing of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), which was two years after ASEAN launchedthe initiative to work towards ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) for trade in goods through the Agreement on Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the AFTA (CEPT) signed in 1993. AFAS provides the mandate for progressive negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services, recognising that intra- ASEAN services liberalisation will strengthen the flow of trade and investment in the services sector among ASEAN Member States, and will eventually contribute to overall economic integration in theregion.