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Asean free trade

MANILA: The Philippines' commitment to a Southeast Asian free trade area is "total" despite challenges resulting from the regional financial crisis, the country's chief economic planner said on Thursday.

"Our commitment to a single Asean market is total," Economic Planning Secretary Felipe Medalla said in a conference sponsored by the foreign correspondents' club here, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Area (AFTA).ÑAFP