THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS CURRENTLY INACTIVE.

This study examined the prospects for a Free Trade Area between the United States and ASEAN countries. Research resulted in a book, The Economics of the Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative, published in 2005 by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. The study makes a case for the Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative (EAI) proposed by President Bush in 2002 as a defensive strategy for ASEAN and a proactive commercial policy approach for the United States. The reports provide a comprehensive analysis of the economic relations, covering topics such as trade in goods and services, foreign investment, trade and investment linkages, technology transfer, intellectual property rights, government procurements, financial services, as well as barriers affecting the linkages between these countries. This study was carried out in collaboration with researchers from ASEAN countries under the auspices of the East-West Center, and was partially funded by the U.S. ASEAN Business Council and the Ford Foundation. The project was initiated with encouragement of the (Office of) the U.S. Trade Representative.

Findings were presented at seminars in Washington, D.C. and at a meeting of ASEAN economics officials in Manila.