Free trade increases prosperity for Americans—and the citizens of all participating nations—by allowing consumers to buy more, better-quality products at lower costs. It drives economic growth, enhanced efficiency, increased innovation, and the greater fairness that accompanies a rules-based system.
Key benefits are the elimination and reduction of tariffs and increased connectivity, which grant greater market access to companies. Most ASEAN countries have eliminated intra-ASEAN import duties on over 99 percent of their tariff lines under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).
