APR News

Launched at the 48th AEM Meeting in August 2016 as one of the key deliverables under Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2016, the ASEAN Tariff Finder is designed as a user-friendly tool to support businesses, especially MSMEs to obtain the up-to-date information on the preferential tariffs applied by ASEAN Member States under ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) or by ASEAN Member States and their trading partners under various ASEAN+1 FTAs. It also sets out the rules of origin criteria used to determine a product’s eligibility for preferential tariff treatment. Visit http://tariff-finder.asean.org/ for more information.
Press-release at the official ASEAN web-site

Launched at the 48th AEM Meeting in August 2016 as one of the key deliverables under Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2016, ASEAN Solutions for Investments, Services and Trade (ASSIST) is now ‘open for business’. http://assist.asean.org/
ASSIST is designed as a non-binding and consultative mechanism aiming at delivering practical solutions to ASEAN based enterprises for specific intra–ASEAN cross border trade problems in a time-bound manner, thereby facilitating business across the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

In the first half of 2016, the EAEU Member States demonstrated positive dynamics of selected macroeconomic indicators.
The agricultural production increased by 2.7% in January-June, the turnover increased by 1.2%, industrial production by 0.1%.
The consumer price index for goods and services in the EAEU amounted to 103.4% in June 2016 as compared to December 2015.

On August 9, 2016 the EEC Council approved a draft Agreement on harmonized approaches to the regulation of the legal exchange relations and adoption of liberalization measures in the EAEU Member States.
The agreement is aimed at ensuring the freedom of movement of capital and funds, creating a common financial market in the Member States.

On July 29, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with the Republic of Korea.
After decades of impressive economic progress, Korea’s growth has slowed, and the economy is facing a number of structural headwinds, including: unfavorable demographics; heavy export reliance; pockets of corporate vulnerabilities; labor-market distortions; lagging productivity; a limited social safety net; and high household debt. Inequality and poverty are also of concern. On the positive side, Korea has considerable fiscal space to manage these challenges.

More information
Press-release at the official Eurasian Economic Commission web-site

More information
Press-release at the official Eurasian Economic Commission web-site

On July 27 and 28, 2016 Moscow hosted an international seminar dedicated to the Program of European phytosanitary research coordination (Euphresco) between Member of the Board - Minister in charge of Technical Regulation of the EEC Valery Koreshkov and CEO of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), Martin Ward where the parties reached an agreement on the preparation of the program of cooperation between the EEC and EPPO.

On July 27, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with China.
China continues its transition to sustainable growth, with progress on many fronts yet also many challenges. Growth slowed to 6.9 percent in 2015 and is projected to moderate to 6.6 percent this year owing to slower private investment and weak external demand. The economy is advancing on many dimensions of rebalancing, particularly switching from industry to services and from investment to consumption. But other aspects are lagging, such as strengthening SOE and financial governance and containing rapid credit growth.

Member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board (Minister) for Trade Veronika Nikishina held a meeting with members of the Manager Association on July 21, 2016. The meeting was devoted to the development of foreign trade agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the role of the business community in the process.