RELEASE EMBARGO DATE: APR. 30, 2013 AT 9 AM

Panel: East Asian Economic Regionalism (Grand BallroomⅢ)
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 / 12:30-13:45
Talking Points for: Ahn Dukgeun, Seoul National University

East Asian economic regionalism has long been a political motto instead of realistic policy agenda. But recently the East Asian countries started their march towards regional integration by formally launching the Trilateral FTA negotiation. This initiative has to overcome still numerous formidable challenges ranging from huge trade imbalance to territorial conflicts. Nevertheless, Korea-China FTA may be a critical key to open regional integration in the East Asia. The outcome of Korea-China FTA may also play an important role to setting forth the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. On the other hand, following Korea, Japan has also engaged in FTAs with the United States and European Union. This situation raises another tension among the East Asian countries since China will not be able to establish such FTA relationship. Accordingly, the development of East Asian economic regionalism becomes ever more interesting and important for the future direction of the world trading system.