In the aftermath of Trump's dramatic escalation of the dispute between China and the United States, with the president increasing tariffs on imports on Beijing and moving to blacklist Huawei, the foreign minister of Singapore, Vivian Balakrishnan, urged Washington to exercise restraint in its approach and permit China to "assume its rightful place as it develops."
A discussion over the global economic outlook usually revolves around the likes of the US, Europe, Japan, China and India. But another economic powerhouse has emerged.
The government will set up a Korea-ASEAN finance support center either in Bangkok, Thailand, or Jakarta, Indonesia, next year, said Joo Hyung-chul, President Moon Jae-in's economic adviser.
Laos has raised its trade value targets, including imports and exports, with Japan this year after an increase in the annual trade value of both countries.
The tenth meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN and the ambassadors of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 17.
Those parts relating to Hong Kong and five Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, under the Investment Agreement (IA) between Hong Kong and ASEAN, will enter into force on June 17, a spokesperson for China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government was cited by China’s Xinhua News Agency on May 16.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, on May 17 issued a joint statement, agreeing to upgrade their bilateral relations into enhanced partnership.
Singapore, New Zealand and Chile launched trilateral talks on the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) on May 18, on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Chile.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
