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After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next?

After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next?
South China Morning Post Sunday 27 September 2026, 00:00 UTC By Sam Beltran 1 min read
Key Points

After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next? A bloc-to-bloc free-trade agreement offers Asean real economic clout, but analysts warn there is still a ‘long way to go’ The breakthrough, announced on Tuesday, capped talks that began in 2016 and stalled a year later, only to resume again in 2024. “I am proud to say we have delivered a substantial agreement that reflects the ambition both sides brought to the table,” EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said following virtual talks...

After EU-Philippines trade breakthrough, is Asean-wide deal next? A bloc-to-bloc free-trade agreement offers Asean real economic clout, but analysts warn there is still a ‘long way to go’ The breakthrough, announced on Tuesday, capped talks that began in 2016 and stalled a year later, only to resume again in 2024. “I am proud to say we have delivered a substantial agreement that reflects the ambition both sides brought to the table,” EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said following virtual talks with his Philippine counterpart Cristina Roque. Their call set the trade deal “on a clearer path towards its formal conclusion in the coming months”, the two said in a joint statement issued afterwards, in which they welcomed the promise of new opportunities for “businesses … farmers, manufacturers and consumers on both sides”.
EU (LOCATION) Asean (LOCATION) Maros Sefcovic (PERSON) Philippine (ORG) Cristina Roque (PERSON)
Originally published by South China Morning Post Read original →

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