ASEAN has adopted strategic frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), aiming to raise the digital economy’s value to 2 trillion USD by 2030.
As the Philippines seeks to secure free trade agreements with several trading partners, these deals should not only address the removal of trade barriers but also include provisions for building supply capacity, according to the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The Philippines expects negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) to conclude next year, as the government seeks to open new markets for its goods and services.
As Southeast Asian neighbours struck deals with the US for lower tariffs, Malaysia’s refusal to compromise on some of its long-standing policies risks leaving it out of potentially more favourable terms.
Thailand submits its final offer to the US in trade negotiations, hoping for tax rates competitive with ASEAN countries before the August 1 deadline.
The escalating global trade tension underscores a need to bolster intra-Asean food trade to safeguard against potential disruptions in the regional food supply chain, according to a Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) expert.
The Indonesian government is continuing negotiations with the United States to lower import tariffs on several strategic commodities to below 19 percent or eliminate them entirely.
When Thailand’s top trade strategist admitted this week that Bangkok “couldn’t match” Vietnam’s zero-tariff proposals to the United States, the alarm bells should have echoed in Putrajaya too.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
