The continent is home to 77 intra-regional deals and 104 extra-regional ones and, as such, is party to 45% of the world’s preferential trade agreements. Indeed, a revamped agreement between ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand took effect on April 21st.

Asian stock markets rose Friday morning amid lingering hopes for trade deals between the U.S. and other countries.

Asian and European stocks climbed on Friday, buoyed by a rally on Wall Street, strong earnings from Google parent Alphabet, and hopes of diffusing tensions in US President Donald Trump's