601. Toward a Consolidated Preferential Tariff Structure in East Asia: Going beyond ASEAN+1 FTAs
- Author:
- Sio Yue Chia
- Publication Date:
- 05-2012
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
- Abstract:
- ASEAN countries are discussing a possible template for trade in goods chapter of so-called ASEAN++ FTA (also known as RCEP). Analyses of tariff structures under the current ASEAN+1 FTAs give insights on possible approaches as well as challenges in this discussion. To meet 90% or 95% tariff elimination thresholds, both ASEAN countries and their FTA partners should make further efforts. When a "common concession" approach, which we advocate in this paper, is applied, the challenge becomes even larger as member countries should focus their policy discretion on a more limited number of sensitive products. These challenges, on the other hand, mean room for additional gains for potential users of the new agreement despite the existence of ASEAN+1 FTAs.
- Topic:
- Diplomacy, International Cooperation, International Trade and Finance, and Tariffs
- Political Geography:
- Asia and Southeast Asia