Accusing CPI-M led LDF government in Kerala of politicising free trade agreement with ASEAN countries by opposing it, Defence Minister A K Antony today said the pact would benefit the country and the state.

The LDF Government's contention that there was no negative list was not correct and 480 items were included in the list which was part of the agreement, he said here.

Terming LDF government's approach to the ASEAN pact as "unfortunate", he said when the agreement came into force on January 1, 2010, the negative list also would be there.

There was also a highly sensitive list which included coffee, tea and pepper, Antony said. The tax on these items would be brought down in a phased manner in next ten years.

The Centre had also formulated plans to modernise and rejuvenate coffee, tea and pepper plantation to make the sector more competitive in the international market, he said.

Union commerce Minister Anand Sharma had cleared all doubts and apprehensions of the state about the pact in a letter to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

However, even after that, the state government was making a political campaign against the agreement, Antony said, adding the ASEAN pact would benefit the country and Kerala.

The export of the country was going to increase, he said.

"People of the state would give a fitting reply to this false campaign in the November 7 by-polls in Ernakulam, Kannur and Alappuzha assembly constituencies," Antony said.

Earlier, Antony presented journalism awards instituted by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club.