UPSC Prelims 2018 Question:

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?

Explanation:

• The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding fathers of ASEAN - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Other members that joined later include - Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Cambodia. 
  
  
• It has existing free trade agreements with Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. So, points 1, 3, 4 and 5 are correct.
  
  
• It does not have a free trade agreement with Canada and the United States of America (USA). So, points 2 and 6 are not correct. 
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Polity | International Relations