Walden Bello analyses the agreement on the China-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Free Trade Area which went into effect on 1 January 2010, and allegedly brings advantages for both sides. For Walden Bello it is likely to disadvantage Asean. Even with the temporary exemptions of certain areas from full trade liberalization, Asean would be locked into a process where the only direction that barriers to super-competitive Chinese industrial and agricultural goods will go is downwards.
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