CEBU, Philippines, Dec 9, 2006 (AFP) - Southeast Asian trade ministers hastily signed four agreements to speed up economic integration before packing up and leaving after the Philippines abruptly postponed a summit scheduled for next week. One of the agreements expanded the number of products in 12 priority sectors whose tariffs will be abolished by 2007, three years ahead of schedule, said senior Philippine trade official Ramon Kabigting. Another is an agreement easing the requirements for nurses to practise within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional grouping. Kabigting said the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on nursing services would benefit Filipino nurses who are in demand overseas. Two agreements with China were also signed late Friday in a confused session as the ministers prepared for their departures after Manila postponed the summit. It cited a storm which was threatening to hit Cebu island. Foreign ministry sources however have said security threats were also a factor for the decision to defer the summit to January. One of the agreements between ASEAN and China reduces tariffs on a basket of goods as part of an ASEAN-China free trade accord currently being negotiated. A seventh agreement due for signing, with China on trade in services, was shelved until the summit in January. mba/sm/cc