The EU yesterday agreed a fresh strategy for signing bilateral and regional trade deals in Asia; a decision strongly advocated by the European Commission but criticised by many trade economists.

The European Commission claimed deals with India, South Korea and the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) could add more than €40bn ($54.38bn) - more than 3 per cent - to EU exports each year. But some economists said the deals were likely to be weak and narrow, and could do more to redirect trade than to liberalise it.