Originally published April 2005
This article discusses international tax developments and has been prepared by professionals in the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
America - free trade talks with Middle East and SE Asia
On 18 March the US government announced that it will soon begin bilateral free-trade negotiations with five more members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Cambodia. The US already has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place with Singapore and is in the process of negotiating an FTA with Thailand. Additionally, on 12 March, the US began negotiations on an FTA with the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The latter agreements are important steps on the path to fulfilling the US’ plan to establish a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013.