World’s biggest trading bloc likely by year-end

Asian trade ministers took another step toward reating what could be the world’s biggest trading bloc on Sunday, expressing hope that a deal could be signed by the end of this year. Ministers from the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which inclu- des China, Japan and India but not the US, met in Tokyo on Sunday to try and thrash out remaining differences among themselves.

“The path toward a year-end agreement is now clearer,” said Hiroshige Seko, Japan’s Trade Minister during the joint-press conference held Sunday. “As protectionism concerns increase globally, it’s important that the Asian region flies the flag of free trade.”

If ever fully achieved, the partnership would also include the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and cover onethird of the world’s economy and almost half its population. While the pact doesn’t seek to impose higher standards in areas such as labour and environmental protection, like the 11nation Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership signed earlier this year, consensus continues to prove elusive.

Major obstacles include India’s requirement that any agreement to reduce tariffs on goods and services should allow for free movement of people, something India wants for its highly skilled information technology sector.