A number of scholars have suggested that signing the ECFA with China would effectively announce the normalization of cross-strait trade relations. They also note that Taiwan has always had close trade relations with its neighbors (Taiwan is the 10th largest investor in ASEAN and the seventh largest importer of ASEAN goods). Were these roadblocks to come down, nearby nations would likely hurry to establish reciprocal relations with Taiwan.
許多學者均表示，若兩岸簽了 ECFA，等於宣示兩岸經貿關係正常化，加上台灣與周邊各國的經貿依存度向來密切（台灣是東協第 10 大投資國及第 7 大進口國），一旦阻力消失，各國應會樂於跟進，和台灣建立互惠關係。