Financial Times, 28 Feb 2009, Tim Johnston
As south-east Asian leaders gathered on Friday for their annual summit, the region’s united front against protectionism was starting to crack under the pressure of the global economic crisis.
The fight against protectionism is top of the agenda at this weekend’s meeting of the 10-country Association of South East Asian Nations, which on Friday signed an agreement cutting tariffs and other barriers with Australia and New Zealand.
However, the leaders appeared far apart in pre-conference comments on the balance to be struck between sustaining open markets and promoting economic activity at home.
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