Earlier this year Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou announced that his government is pursuing an economic cooperation agreement framework (ECFA) with China. The details of the prospective deal are as yet unclear, but many expect that it will be akin to a free trade agreement (FTA). Taiwan’s pursuit of an ECFA is not surprising given Asia’s growing number of intra- and extra-regional free trade accords. China’s FTA with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations comes into effect next year and there are ongoing negotiations for South Korea–Japan and South Korea–European Union FTAs, to name a few. The proliferation of free trade in Asia is a promising sign for that region’s continued economic development, though the long-term effects may not be entirely positive for all concerned parties.

What are the ECFA’s implications for Taiwan and the United States? How will the various new FTAs impact Taiwan? How will they affect the American economy? What are the strategic implications of a growing web of FTAs, of which the United States is not a part? At this AEI event on September 21, leading scholars will offer their insights on these pressing questions.