Lugar Encourages Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with ASEAN
Congressional Desk
October 12, 2009
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind) will introduce legislation next week encouraging United States officials to initiate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"The United States should proceed to develop a comprehensive strategy toward engaging ASEAN in serious FTA discussions. While this endeavor will be complex and have possible challenges to negotiation given the varying levels of economic development and open markets among ASEAN countries, China, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have already finalized FTAs with ASEAN and are sharpening a competitive edge over the U.S. in Southeast Asia," Lugar said.
"Ongoing trade restrictions with Burma should not deter U.S. efforts to reach an FTA with the rest of ASEAN. President Obama´s possible meeting with ASEAN leaders while in Singapore will reflect the significance of the U.S. – ASEAN relationship," Lugar added.
ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 2006, Senator Lugar introduced legislation establishing the position of U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN. President George Bush appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel as U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN in 2008.
"The United States should proceed to develop a comprehensive strategy toward engaging ASEAN in serious FTA discussions. While this endeavor will be complex and have possible challenges to negotiation given the varying levels of economic development and open markets among ASEAN countries, China, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have already finalized FTAs with ASEAN and are sharpening a competitive edge over the U.S. in Southeast Asia," Lugar said.
"Ongoing trade restrictions with Burma should not deter U.S. efforts to reach an FTA with the rest of ASEAN. President Obama´s possible meeting with ASEAN leaders while in Singapore will reflect the significance of the U.S. – ASEAN relationship," Lugar added.
ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 2006, Senator Lugar introduced legislation establishing the position of U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN. President George Bush appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel as U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN in 2008.
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