ARTICLES

13 Oct 2021

‘Global Britain’ and Southeast Asia: Progress and Prospects

Ian Storey|Hoang Thi Ha

Southeast Asia is crucial to the United Kingdom’s (UK) ‘tilt’ to the Indo-Pacific. It has achieved notable progress in strengthening its diplomatic, economic and security engagement with the region.

28 Sep 2021

Ratifying the RCEP to Reset Malaysia’s Economy

Tham Siew Yean

Malaysia needs to move fast to ratify two free trade deals to reset its economy, which has been impacted by political instability and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a priority.

Asean Trade Malaysia Malaysian Economy RCEP

Cargo containers stacked at Yantian port

21 Jul 2021

Unpacking China’s Merchandise Trade with ASEAN during the Global Pandemic

Xiaojun Li

While the global merchandise trade shrank by 5.3% as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN increased in the meantime by 6.7%, thanks not only to a steady increase in bilateral trade but also to the relative decline of trade between China with its other major trading partners.

Asean Trade ASEAN-China Relations China

workers fixing a floater onto a solar panel as part of the construction of a floating solar power farm on Tengeh reservoir in Singapore

30 Jun 2021

Trade and Environmental Disputes May Persist Despite Promising Leaders’ Summit on Climate

Melinda Martinus|Qiu Jiahui

At the recent Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change convened by the Biden Administration, several ASEAN leaders emphasised the principle of differentiating levels of economic development between states in their response to climate change. Finding a balance between this principle and ambitious climate targets remains a challenge.

ASEAN Asean Trade Climate Change E.U. Environment U.S.

26 Apr 2021

Freeing Trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

Implementing WTO trade facilitation commitments will be key.

Asean Trade Economic Development Mekong River

19 Apr 2021

Vietnam’s Car Market and AFTA: Kicking it Up a Gear

Ivan V. Small

Vietnam is one of ASEAN’s most promising car markets. To tap the growing potential in-country and across ASEAN, however, Hanoi will need to leverage on — and slalom around — a raft of regional free trade agreements.

Asean Trade Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

5 Apr 2021

Covid-19 and ASEAN: Facilitating Trade in Perishable Goods

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

Fulfilling their WTO obligations will expedite perishable goods trade among ASEAN member states.

ASEAN Asean Trade COVID-19

15 Dec 2020

RCEP and Intra-ASEAN Trade

Shankaran Nambiar

ASEAN Centrality would not be very meaningful if intra-ASEAN trade remains shallow.

Asean Trade Global Value Chains RCEP

17 Jul 2020

ASEAN Single Window: Time to Enlarge the Aperture

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

The development of ASEAN Single Window in the past 15 years has demonstrated the importance of digitalizing trade procedures to reduce trade costs and boost competitiveness in ASEAN. The enlargement of the ASEAN Single Window to include the grouping’s dialogue partners will reduce trade costs further.

ASEAN Asean Trade

10 Jun 2020

The RCEP in 2020: Covid-19 and Another Casualty?

Sithanonxay Suvannaphakdy

The formation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a lengthy process. Signing the RCEP in 2020 is not impossible although it can be undermined by the persistent spread of Covid-19.

ASEAN Asean Trade RCEP