This is the logic behind Singapore's seemingly promiscuous trade policy of negotiating FTAs with so many countries.
Are you willing to work with us, for example, to make sure those FTAs get called, that's no-cost job creation?
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FTAs with the United States (although his country in effect has one, sending 1.5m barrels per day of oil tariff-free).
Some point out that one reason why not all East Asian firms take advantage of FTAs is that tariffs are already low.
ECONOMIST: Regional economic integration has a long, long way to go
As for Asia's noodle bowl of proliferating FTAs, a recent survey found only 22% of firms taking advantage of trading preferences offered by such agreements.
ECONOMIST: Regional economic integration has a long, long way to go
The U.S. has already opened trade with Mexico, Chile, Central America, Dominican Republic, and Peru through FTAs, and continues to work toward implementation with Colombia and Panama.
And in nearly all Asian FTAs, sensitive sectors remain protected.
ECONOMIST: Regional economic integration has a long, long way to go
While the FTAs will reduce obstacles to the U.S. market for a greater array of exports from these nations, we will come out ahead because the agreements will also remove roadblocks to a host of our exports.
Priorities have been FTAs, intellectual property rights protection, export credit financing, technology release -- which you haven't commented on, but you've made some progress on -- and business and tourist visa processes -- and you know the list.
While the Commerce Department's reasoning may be shaky, the impetus behind this move is crystal clear: The Bush Administration hopes to appease congressional protectionists, thereby helping to win approval for free-trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Peru, Panama and South Korea.
But so far Congress has done nothing to pass the three pending free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, which are busy pursuing FTAs with our competitors in Canada, Asia and the EU. U.S. companies simply cannot compete when they must pay a tariff that raises the cost of our goods.
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