Singapore, EU free trade agreement a 'pathfinder' deal: Chan

Brussels

THE free trade deal between Singapore and the European Union (EU), which is pending ratification, is a "pathfinder" deal that could pave the way for similar pacts between the EU and other Asian nations, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media after a day of meetings with EU trade officials in Brussels to discuss the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), Mr Chan said that his visit to the EU capital comes at a critical juncture also because of rising protectionism around the world.