ARTICLES

14 Sep 2022

Environmental and Labour Standards in IPEF: Tough Pill to Swallow for Southeast Asia

Darren Cheong

The U.S. must ensure that it finds the right leverage within its IPEF scheme to make up for its lack of trade benefits or risk turning off prospective participants.

22 Jul 2022

India-ASEAN Relations: The Need to Reconsider RCEP

Akash Sahu

There was no mention of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership when the foreign ministers of India and ASEAN met in New Delhi last month. India opted out of RCEP negotiations in 2019. New Delhi might want to reconsider its position.

ASEAN-India Relations India International Trade

30 May 2022

To Ban or Not To Ban? How Indonesia Can Overcome the Global Food Crisis

Maria Monica Wihardja|Arianto Patunru

Jakarta’s latest decision to briefly ban the export of crude palm oil has not helped Indonesians reeling from rising food prices. Rather than bending with the political wind, Indonesia’s leaders should steer its course by reconsidering fundamentals to improve its competitiveness in the global food economy.

Environment Food Security Indonesia Indonesian Economy International Trade

1 Apr 2022

Supply Chain Resilience and the Trumped-up Case for Reshoring

Jayant Menon

Regional or country-specific shocks are more likely to cause relocations to third countries than reshoring, driven by changes to competitiveness.

COVID-19 Economic Development International Trade Supply Chains

17 Mar 2022

Reaping the Benefits of RCEP: From Utilisation to Exports

Tham Siew Yean

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has come into force, but member countries have their work cut out for them in seeking to raise utilisation rates and exports.

Asean Trade International Trade RCEP

23 Feb 2022

Thailand’s Vision to Become A Rail Hub: A Long Shot

Wu Shang-Su

Thailand has ambitious plans to become a rail hub in mainland Southeast Asia. But successful implementation of the plan is a different thing altogether.

Infrastructure International Trade Thai Economy Thailand

17 Feb 2022

The State of Southeast Asia Survey

Hope Deferred Makes Southeast Asia’s Heart Sick

Sharon Seah

The US has gained brownie points among Southeast Asians, who put great store in Washington championing free trade and upholding the rules-based order. But Washington has its work cut out for it in deepening economic linkages to Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific.

ASEAN-U.S. Relations Diplomacy International Trade Security State of Southeast Asia Survey

14 Feb 2022

30 Years of ASEAN-India Relations: Taking Stock

Nazia Hussain|Tan Ming Hui

As ASEAN and India commemorate the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations this year, the two parties have little to show in terms of functional collaboration. A reassessment of the relationship should focus on three areas: connectivity, trade and public health.

ASEAN-India Relations India Infrastructure International Trade Security

27 Jan 2022

Malaysia’s Ratification of the RCEP: Necessary but not Sufficient

Tham Siew Yean

Malaysia's ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a step in the right direction, but there are still barriers to foreign direct investment in services which can be rolled back.

International Trade Malaysia Malaysian Economy RCEP