COMPETING FREELY:

India Promotes Idea of Free Trade within East, South Asia (Anjana Pasricha, 24 October 2004, VOA News)

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants East Asian and South Asian nations to create an integrated market spanning the region from the Himalayas to the Pacific Ocean.

Mr. Singh's call for closer economic integration in Asia came at the third business summit between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which was recently held in New Delhi. The call was echoed by several East Asian countries.

According to Mr. Singh, the ASEAN nations, along with China, Japan, South Korea and India, could create an economic community comprising nearly half the world's population. It would be larger than the European Union in terms of income, and bigger than the North American Free Trade Agreement in terms of trade.

Is the Democratic Party the last hideout of protectionism?

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 24, 2004 1:23 PM