A timely ASEAN response to global economic uncertainties

Recent pronouncements from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted the need for ASEAN to come together to sustain economic cooperation and integration in ASEAN in light of the challenges posed by the recent liberation day tariff announcements by the US government. These statements come at the heels of the recent ASEAN economic ministers meeting.

- #MINDANAO

These and other calls for greater economic cooperation in ASEAN in light of the tariff challenges are timely. They, however, prod us to focus as well on fulfilling the third pillar of ASEAN, which is the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). This envisions robust trade within ASEAN towards achieving socio economic development of its various peoples through means such as spurring trade facilitation, competition and the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers.