China and ASEAN Finalize Free Trade Agreement Third Upgrade

The Philippines posted a $4.13B trade deficit in March 2025 as import growth outpaced exports, driven by electronics and capital goods, PSA data shows.
A cargo ship loaded with containers docks at the port of Lianyungang, in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, on August 7, 2024. AFP Images.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have concluded negotiations on the upgraded China–ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA 3.0). 

The new CAFTA 3.0 deepens regional economic integration by expanding digital trade, green development, and cross-border supply chain cooperation commitments.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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