Manila, Sept. 20 -- Any member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may now voluntarily implement the upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) ahead of its entry into force in June 2027.

This comes as the governments of the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar-the 10 signatories of the said deal-issued on Saturday a declaration allowing the provisional application of the Second Protocol to Amend ATIGA.

The ASEAN said the declaration aligns with the member states' push to facilitate an early application of the trade agreement among countries that are ready to do so.

"Member States may, on a voluntary and reciprocal basis, apply the Second Proto...