The decision to establish the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) by the year 2005 has resulted in producers in all ASEAN countries except Singapore raising concerns relating to potential loss of market share and adjustment pressures. Underlying these concerns is the view that the expected growth in...

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is a transitional economy, and one of the few least developed economies in the Southeast Asian region. Laos became a member of ASEAN in July 1997, and will participate in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) from 1 January 1998. This paper examines the...

The US–Japan trade dispute has been widely reported. It continues to threaten the stability of the world trading order because the United States alleges that the Japanese market remains ‘closed’ to its exports. The Clinton administration has made it clear that it will judge the openness of...