UPSC Prelims 2018 GS Paper I · Q34 of 100 Current Events medium

Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN ?

  1. (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5
  2. (b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
  3. (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5 ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) 2, 3, 4 and 6

Why the answer is (c)

• ASEAN has free-trade agreements with six dialogue partners: China (2004), South Korea (2006), Japan (2008), India (2009 goods, 2014 services/investment), and Australia–New Zealand (2009).

• Of the listed countries, Australia (1), China (3), India (4) and Japan (5) are ASEAN FTA partners.

• Canada (2) has been negotiating an FTA since 2021; the USA (6) has no FTA with ASEAN.

• These six partners formed the basis of RCEP negotiations (India withdrew in 2019).

• Hence 1, 3, 4 and 5, option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5
Canada has no ASEAN FTA; China does.
(b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
The USA has no ASEAN FTA; Australia does.
(d) 2, 3, 4 and 6
Canada and the USA have no ASEAN FTAs.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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