<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"The ASEAN countries have a diversity of cultures (including legal cultures) and different approaches to the organisation of economic life and the normative order. The reasons for this lie in the differing socio-economic and ideological contexts. For the competitiveness of industrial production, trade agreements need to be established to maintain the attractiveness of existing (non)tariff conditions. At the same time, production and trade links between European and foreign businesses are strengthened. In addition, the share of the former in global supply chains will grow, creating a demand for favourable conditions for production cooperation, service provision, etc. The choice of FTAs as a strategic tool in the implementation of the EU’s external trade policy makes it possible to include, for example, the rules on access to public procurement, investment or competition(1) . For example, a Free Trade Agreement has been signed between the EU and Vietnam and a Free Trade Agreement with Singapore has entered into force. Establishing economic relations with the the other ASEAN members seems an inevitable process.1.Which ASEAN countries is the Commission currently in negotiations with, and what stage have those negotiations reached?2.Which cases offer the best prospects of concluding free trade agreements or economic partnership agreements covering free trade issues?  (1)K. Kołodziejczyk, Trade As a Key Instrument of the European Union’s Development Policy, Studia Europejskie 1/2016, p. 61."
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [18]. </s>
The ASEAN countries have a diversity of cultures (including legal cultures) and different approaches to the organisation of economic life and the normative order. The reasons for this lie in the differing socio-economic and ideological contexts. For the competitiveness of industrial production, trade agreements need to be established to maintain the attractiveness of existing (non)tariff conditions. At the same time, production and trade links between European and foreign businesses are strengthened. In addition, the share of the former in global supply chains will grow, creating a demand for favourable conditions for production cooperation, service provision, etc. The choice of FTAs as a strategic tool in the implementation of the EU’s external trade policy makes it possible to include, for example, the rules on access to public procurement, investment or competition(1) . For example, a Free Trade Agreement has been signed between the EU and Vietnam and a Free Trade Agreement with Singapore has entered into force. Establishing economic relations with the the other ASEAN members seems an inevitable process.1.Which ASEAN countries is the Commission currently in negotiations with, and what stage have those negotiations reached?2.Which cases offer the best prospects of concluding free trade agreements or economic partnership agreements covering free trade issues?  (1)K. Kołodziejczyk, Trade As a Key Instrument of the European Union’s Development Policy, Studia Europejskie 1/2016, p. 61.