The conclusion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) represents a significant political achievement. After more than 10 years of negotiation, the 27-member European Union and Southeast Asia's largest economy have cemented their economic ties.
Thailand plans to scrap levies and sharply expand its feed-corn import quota next year to make room for American supplies, part of its concessions in US trade negotiations.
After several months of negotiations, Malaysia on Oct 26 emerged as one of the first countries in Asia to conclude a reciprocal trade agreement with the US as the powerhouse economy steps up its “reciprocal tariff” push across the globe.
The Indonesian government has refuted earlier claims that radioactive contamination in exported shrimp and cloves originated from imported scrap metal, suggesting that the Cesium-137 radiation detected at the Modern Cikande Industrial Estate (KIMC) in Banten came from domestic sources, not foreign imports.
Thailand maintains its export target for next year at 7.5 million tonnes, including 3.5 million tonnes of white rice, 1.7 million tonnes of hom mali rice, 1.4 million tonnes of parboiled rice, 600,000 tonnes of Thai fragrant rice and 300,000 tonnes of sticky rice.
While the bilateral trade between Cambodia and the US reached $10.7 billion, reflecting favourable conditions for local businesses and export growth; with China, however, the volume of raw material imports remains disproportionately high.
While garments and footwear will remain central to Cambodia’s economy, developing stronger domestic production capacity, increasing value-added processing would reduce vulnerability to external trade shocks.
The main markets for Kingdom’s milled rice include China, the EU markets and ASEAN member nations.