# As the EU advances free trade with Southeast Asia, why is there no ASEAN-wide deal?

https://mins.news/en/item/70517

- DW, 2026-09-23 11:49 UTC
- Economy
- Original: https://www.dw.com/en/as-the-eu-advances-free-trade-with-southeast-asia-why-is-there-no-asean-wide-deal/a-79388278?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf

> The EU is nearing bilateral trade agreements with several Southeast Asian countries and could have deals with six of ASEAN’s 11 members by mid-next year. Yet an EU-ASEAN bloc-to-bloc agreement remains distant. Trade reached €274.9 billion last year, while geopolitical tensions, supply-chain diversification and the EU’s de-risking strategy toward China are driving closer ties.

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