ASEAN has concluded its negotiations on the third package of commitments for the liberalization of services.  The package includes commitments in air transport, business services, construction, financial services, maritime transport, telecommunications, and tourism. Under business services, several commitments have been made on ICT-related services with the view to facilitating the realization of the e-ASEAN initiative.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers adopted the Protocol to Implement the Third Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services on 31 December 2001. The ASEAN Economic Ministers also launched the third round of negotiations beginning on 1 January 2002 and ending on 31 December 2004. The third round is meant to go beyond the commitments made in the first two rounds, by covering all services sectors and all modes of supply.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers have considered that for this round of negotiations, with the view to accelerating progressive liberalization, Member Countries might adopt the like-minded countries approach where agreements could be concluded by those countries that were ready while others could accede at a later time.