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AUSTRALIA and New Zealand are likely to sign free-trade agreements with 10 Southeast Asian nations within weeks, in a deal aimed at boosting trade between the Pacific countries and a market of over half a billion people.
'I understand it's only a matter of protocol, a matter of procedure. We're working on one country which has some difficulty in this protocol but we think that it's within reach,' the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of economy ministers of Asean and other Asia-Pacific countries in Singapore, Dr Surin declined to identify the country.
Last month, Indonesia temporarily banned imports of halal-processed beef from New Zealand, a move that raised fears about its possible impact on the proposed trade deal between Australia, New Zealand and Asean.
'Not end of this meeting, but within a few weeks, Australia and New Zealand and Aseanwill conclude,' Dr Surin said. -- REUTERS
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