ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA timeline

Early 1990s: The Australian government initiates efforts to develop links between the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement.
November 1993: Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Supachai, makes supportive comments about linking AFTA and CER at trade conference in Melbourne.
September 1995: Informal consultations between Ministers from ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand in Brunei agree to “region to region linkages” between AFTA and CER.
October 1999: ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers establish a High Level Task Force to examine the feasibility of an AFTA-CER Free Trade Area.
October 2000: The High Level Task Force report “The Angkor Agenda” supports the establishment of an AFTA-CER free trade agreement.
September 2002: AFTA-CER Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) established.
November 2004: Leaders from the 10 ASEAN countries, Australia and New Zealand agree in Laos to launch negotiations on a comprehensive FTA covering goods and services, as well as investment.
March 2005: AANZFTA negotiations begin in Manila.
2005 - 2008: 16 rounds of negotiations.
28 August 2008: ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers meet in Singapore.
27 February 2009: ASEAN, Australian and New Zealand Ministers meet in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand, to sign AANZFTA.

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