The European Union (EU) and ASEAN have agreed to restart the process of establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between them, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday, Channel News Asia reports. The talks for a region-to-region agreement were put on hold in 2009, after the EU decided to pursue bilateral talks because of differences between members in terms of economic development or market access. The lack of enthusiasm from the ASEAN region comes as the EU is having difficulties closing a deal to renew its trade agreement with Mercosur. Prime Minister Lee was in Paris at French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation, to be the guest of honor at the French National Day.