Thailand Information Center

Provides diversification to explain the sequence of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTA) development in which the Southeast Asian states have been collectively involved. Discusses the factors contributing to ASEAN's PTA policies and their consequent partnership selection by examining three major PTAs such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP). Reviews literature in order to explain the rise and spread of PTAs and the emerging partnership patterns. Explains how PTAs help expand bilateral trade and investment ties between ASEAN and its partners. Examines how PTAs have help diversity of ASEAN's economic linkage and thus increase economic gains.