Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday took a swipe at the Trump administration’s retreat from a major free trade deal, joining Asian nations at a forum this week in criticising rising protectionism.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has much to crow about as it marks its 50th anniversary: economic and social progress, a manufacturing powerhouse and a relative political stability.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states have vowed to promote their economic integration agenda which can drive inclusive growth and reduce development gaps in the region, despite criticism by civil society groups that the bloc’s 50-year record had shown mostly “exclusionary” progress
As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marks its 50th anniversary this year, the biggest challenge for the regional group moving forward will be for it to stay united, said Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh.
On the 50th anniversary of its founding today, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can look back with optimism on its incremental record on regional integration.
On the 24th of July India hosted the 19th round of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement covering 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. India’s commerce secretary has said that there is “enough political will to expedite the conclusion of the talks” but in reality many barriers, both economic and political, remain.
It really does not take too much of a sceptic to dismiss such questions out of hand. After all, unlike previous years, the largest economy in the group, the United States, has stopped being involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation process – acting instead under the dictum of “America First”
Foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN countries and three partners – Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (RoK) – have agreed to enhance financial cooperation to strengthen economic stability in the region.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
