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