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policy: Apec sight trans-Pacific free trade zone

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in conversation: Abhisit provides new momentum for free trade


In the Financial Times Germany is now a abridged article about the decision of the Apec summit appeared to begin concrete negotiations on a trans-Pacific free trade zone. It was based on a preliminary and a group press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan with Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit the FCCJ. From left to right: Karel van Wolferen, FCCJ President Georges Baumgartner, Monzurul Huq and myself (as 1st Vice-President of the FCCJ).

Abhisit gave it to understand very clearly that the decision of the Apec is not lip service. "It is serious," said Abhisit following the APEC summit, " but whether the Apec can ultimately deliver is another question. "

The idea is for Europe quite important, as a degree could create the largest free trade zone in the world. It would allow unrestricted trade from the world's largest market, the U.S., on the west coast of South America and the East Asian industrial countries Japan and South Korea to the Asian emerging markets including China.

Abhisit suggested that the vision even earlier than 2020, the previous date in the "Bogor goals" of the Apec in 1994, could be realized. "I had the feeling that the APEC leaders are seeking to accelerate the process. We think by now about the mechanisms to achieve the vision. "

The Apec could use a fresh impetus good. Because the global economic crisis threatened to weaken in the Apec discussions. But Japan has worked hard on a diplomatic turning point. Because the country has a unique opportunity to revitalize the vision sensed as take in the coming year, the U.S. presidency. And they were at least so far been a major driver of the free trade strategy.

This is achieved this surprised by the dispute at the G-20 summit last week, perhaps. But the timing was Abhisit a stroke of luck, because the critical questions were already completed. "Because it was right after the G-20 summit, we had a lot less pressure," said Abhisit. "That allowed us to reflect on the medium-term strategy."

The idea is with the ten countries of Southeast Asian Nations Asean as a focal point by already ongoing discussions on different tailored free trade blocks have a build ocean-border pact. For the ASEAN countries have not only already decided to reduce by 2015 the internal customs barriers, but also implemented free trade agreements with Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea.

addition, a further networking planned. One way is through the ASEAN plus Three, which includes the ASEAN countries and China, Japan and South Korea. Japan in turn promotes the keyword "ASEAN-plus-six" about pulling additional Australia, India and New Zealand on board to balance China's influence.

discuss addition, nine states, including the U.S. and Australia, via a transpacific partnership agreements (TPP). Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan has declared his colleagues at the APEC meeting that he would lead his country into the TPP.