The trouble is that substantive progress is quite slow. The ASEAN Economic Ministers, at their September 2005 meeting, declared 2015 as"the end-date for the liberalization of all services sectors", although it is unclear what precisely is to be achieved by that year. Many negotiators are extremely cautious either because of their uncertainty about the impact of liberalization or because of the power of domestic interests that benefit from protection even at the expense of the economy and the population in general. There is also the fear of the loss of regulatory control in some services sectors. Still, Cheah believes that the adoption of the ASEAN Economic Community, with its"road maps" for four"priority" services sectors air services, tourism, e-ASEAN and health care will hasten the process. So will, he says, the pressures arising from the negotiations on free trade agreements with Dialogue Partners, processes that include important provisions on trade in services as well as goods.