Singapore could be heading for a recession after it reported a big drop in economic activity in the second quarter of the year.
Myanmar recently signed a trade deal with China to increase rice exports across its northern border fourfold to 400,000 tonnes per year. But under the new trade agreement, Chinese traders will pay for a quarter of the sum with bartered goods.
The historical relationship between China and ASEAN is the basis of China's "Maritime Silk Road" initiative. Today, the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN is becoming a model for a new type of international relations.
The escalating trade war between the US and China may help drive a conclusion to the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement to ensure smooth operation of the international supply chains.
South Korea and the Philippines initiate their third round of FTA negotiations in Busan City on Aug. 12.
Vietnam’s tariff cuts under regional commitments, and its bettered business climate have helped it swell trade and win more investment from regional member states.
Apart from marketing Singapore as a leading investment destination where top talents thrive, the EDB also helps companies adapt quickly to technological changes.
The idea of the Indo-Pacific as a regional concept is not new and has been widely discussed in the policy community as a way to link the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and give greater recognition to the role of India and Indonesia in any regional strategic formulation.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
