BEIJING, Apr 30 (AFP): China is pressing for a vast Asia-Pacific free trade agreement, a senior official said Wednesday, as a rival US-led deal that excludes the Asian giant runs into snags.
Wang Shouwen, an assistant commerce minister, told reporters at a briefing that China has proposed setting up a working group to study the feasibility of an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Agreement (FTAAP).
The proposal comes ahead of a meeting in May of trade ministers from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which China will host.
"The feasibility study will look into the potential economic benefits if APEC members reach a free trade agreement, how to make use of existing FTAs... and whether we can use the similar aspects of the various FTAs to serve the general FTA within the Asia-Pacific region," he said.
China pushes for rival trans-Pacific trade deal
FE Team | Published: May 01, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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