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Latest ASEAN news

MedTech in ASEAN: The New Frontier

The UK Government, through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and in collaboration with ASEAN, has launched an online toolkit to encourage cross-ASEAN trade and investment to strengthen regional supply chains for medical technologies. The toolkit showcases the attractiveness of the ASEAN MedTech sector, complemented by interactive tools for MSME use.

 

ASEAN is among the world’s fastest-growing markets for MedTech, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 9.2% - faster than the global average of 6.8%. There are multiple advantages that make the ASEAN region ideal for MedTech investment: an attractive labour market, availability of raw materials, evolving infrastructural support, integrated supply chain and a growing and dynamic market have made ASEAN the top destination for both ASEAN & international investors, as evidenced by strong growth in foreign direct investments.

 

This toolkit:

  • Consolidates top of mind questions for MedTech MSMEs & global firms to explore pan-ASEAN investment
  • Serves as a knowledge base to understand incentives & regulations across MedTech opportunities
  • Discovery platform for MSMEs on supplier database and/or navigate suppliers in the region
  • Showcases case studies how global MedTech companies have leveraged strengths of each ASEAN country to set up a regional value chain.

Visit www.aseanmedtech.com to find out more.

Launched: ASEAN Intellectual Property (IP) Register

ASEAN and WIPO launched the ASEAN Intellectual Property (IP) Register at the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting. The Register, powered by a state-of-the-art information exchange system and maintained by WIPO, is a one-stop IP information portal that incorporates up-to-date IP data on patents, trademarks and designs from all ten ASEAN Member States (AMS). It enables all stakeholders from policy-makers to private sectors and innovators to conduct IP searches seamlessly for the ASEAN region.

Access the ASEAN IP Register here.

Source: ASEAN Secretariat

ASEAN Tariff Finder has been launched

ASEAN Tariff Finder is an online platform designed to support traders to maximise benefits from ASEAN’s free trade agreements. This is a tool to help businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to get the latest information on the preferential tariffs applied by ASEAN Member States under various multilateral/bilateral free trade agreements. It also sets out the rules of origin criteria used to determine a product’s eligibility for preferential tariff treatment. With this search engine, traders will save time and resources in their transactions, since all tariff information they need is now readily available on the website. 

Access the ASEAN Tariff Finder HERE

Exports surge 17.8% to reach 3-year high of $29.5bn in March

In March 2025, Thailand’s exports surged by 17.8% year-on-year, reaching a three-year high of USD 29.5 billion. This growth was driven largely by urgent orders from key trading partners like the US, China, and the EU, ahead of expected tariff increases by the US.

For the first quarter of 2025, Thai exports rose 15.2% compared to the same period last year, totaling USD 81.5 billion, with a trade surplus of USD 1.08 billion. Commerce Minister Phichai Naripatapan expressed optimism that exports would continue to grow in the second quarter, possibly exceeding the annual growth target of 2-3%.

However, Thailand faces challenges in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States. If a new agreement isn't reached before the July deadline, Thai exports could be hit by tariffs as high as 36%. The US recently requested more time to review key issues, delaying the talks.
The export boost in March is partly due to buyers accelerating orders to avoid future tariffs, especially from the US — Thailand’s largest export market, accounting for 18.3% of total exports. Exports to the US jumped 34.3%, and to China by 22.4% during the month.

Despite potential tariff risks, Thailand’s Commerce Ministry remains positive about the overall export outlook for 2025.

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DITP’s campaigns help generate nearly THB 37 billion in revenue for over 42,000 exporters

As of April 2025, the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has successfully generated THB 36.92 billion in trade value through its export promotion campaigns, benefiting over 42,000 entrepreneurs. This achievement is part of DITP’s broader plan for the 2025 fiscal year, which includes 510 projects and more than 700 activities, aiming to reach THB 92.36 billion in trade value and support over 261,000 entrepreneurs.

Key Highlights:
  • Major Trade Fairs: Four significant international trade fairs—Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair, THAIFEX Horec Asia, STYLE Bangkok, and TAPA—collectively generated over THB 11.16 billion in trade value, aiding Thai SMEs in accessing global markets.
  • Additional Events: DITP also supported events like Bangkok Design Week, ADFEST, and Bangkok Rights Fair, contributing an extra THB 256 million in trade value.
  • Upcoming Events: Planned events for the remainder of the year include THAIFEX Anuga Asia 2025 (May 27–31), TILOG-Logistix (August), and the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair (September). DITP also anticipates significant revenue from the Bangkok International Digital Content Festival, expecting contributions of no less than THB 50 billion.
  • Fruit Export Initiatives: As part of the Ministry of Commerce’s 2025 fruit management strategy, DITP has facilitated business matching events for fresh fruit and processed agricultural products, generating over USD 115.29 million (approximately THB 4.04 billion). Efforts include promoting Thai fruits in international markets and expanding export channels, particularly for durians.
  • Soft Power Promotion: DITP supports six of the 14 targeted creative industries—books, games, design, fashion, films, and TV/series—focusing on markets such as Japan, South Korea, China, and the U.S. From September 2024 to March 2025, these activities generated over THB 9.66 billion in trade value, benefiting 323 entrepreneurs.
  • Seminar on U.S. Tariffs: On April 25, DITP will host a seminar titled “Decoding Trump’s Tax Policy: Opportunities in the New Trade Era” in collaboration with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries. The seminar aims to explore strategies for turning challenges posed by U.S. tariffs into opportunities for Thai exporters. 
Director-General Sunanta Kangvalkulkij emphasized DITP’s commitment to supporting Thai exporters through various initiatives, including international trade fairs, promotional campaigns, and strategic partnerships, to enhance Thailand’s presence in global markets.

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BOI boosts clean energy investment in Thailand to over THB560 billion in 10 years.

Over the past decade, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) has approved more than 2,900 clean energy projects, amounting to over 560 billion baht, positioning Thailand as a leading clean energy hub in ASEAN. These initiatives encompass waste-to-energy, solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable sources. Notably, 28 electric vehicle (EV) production projects by 22 companies have been approved, with a combined investment of approximately 78 billion baht and a production capacity exceeding 880,000 units.

Despite shifts in U.S. clean energy policies under President Donald Trump, major economies like the EU, UK, and China continue to prioritize clean energy. Trade mechanisms such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are being implemented, necessitating close monitoring by Thailand. Analysts suggest that changes in U.S. policy may redirect over $500 billion in clean energy investments toward Asia, with countries like China, Japan, and South Korea rapidly developing renewable energy sources.

Thailand aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by 2065. Under the Power Development Plan (PDP 2024), the country targets increasing clean energy's share to at least 50% of total electricity generation. Currently, clean energy accounts for 26% of Thailand's power capacity. According to the 2023 SDG Index, Thailand ranks 43rd globally and 1st in ASEAN for clean energy progress.

The BOI continues to promote clean energy projects, supporting a sustainable energy ecosystem and enhancing Thailand's competitiveness in the global market.

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Cambodia: NBC ink MoU for Japanese cross-border QR payments

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the Payments Japan Association (PJA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on cross-border QR code payments between Cambodian KHQR and Japanese JPQR, with the goal of establishing a framework for cross-border payments between the two countries.

According to an April 25 press release by the NBC, the MoU signing between was intended to facilitate easier and faster cross-border payments between Cambodia and Japan. This cooperation is divided into two phases: Cambodians using local banking apps will be able to scan JPQR codes for payments in Japan, and Japanese nationals will be able to scan KHQR codes for payments in Cambodia.

The NBC has selected ACLEDA Bank Plc. and SathapanaBank as liaison banks for cross-border payment connectivity with Japan. JPQR has chosen NETSTARS as the QR code payment operator on the Japanese side.

“This initiative will support and promote the digital payment ecosystem, enhance transaction security, and simplify cross-border payments, aiming to boost tourism and reduce the need for currency exchange during stays in Cambodia or Japan,” said the NBC release.

It also noted that large and small local merchants who accept KHQR payments in Cambodia or JPQR payments in Japan will benefit by offering more convenient payment options to customers. Furthermore, businesses will be able to manage their operations more efficiently, securely, quickly and cost-effectively.

Overall, cross-border payments will contribute to the growth of trade, investment and especially tourism, thereby supporting the economic development of both countries.

According to the NBC, the MoU is based on a broader national-level cooperation framework which was signed between the NBC and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) in December 2023, under the leadership of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The agreement outlines the collaboration on cross-border QR code payments between the two countries.

For full article, please read here

Source: The Phnom Penh Post

Thailand approves 200 billion baht of projects to expand Bangkok metro system, data-centre network

Thailand has approved a 200 billion baht (approximately 7.9 billion USD) investment plan to expand Bangkok’s mass transit system and data center network. The main project involves a 109 billion baht investment by Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) to extend the Orange Line, which will connect the western and eastern suburbs of Bangkok.

Additionally, three data center and cloud services projects have been approved, with the largest being a 72.7 billion baht plan by Chinese company Beijing Haoyang Cloud Data Technology to build a data center in Rayong province. These investments are expected to boost the country’s economic growth.

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Brunei economic growth forecast at 2.6pc in 2025, 2026: AMRO

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (Bernama-Xinhua) – Brunei’s economic growth is forecast at 2.6 per cent in both 2025 and 2026, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), reported Xinhua.
 
The AMRO’s regional economic outlook published last week said Brunei’s economy experienced broad-based growth marking its strongest expansion in decades whereby real gross domestic product expanded by 4.2 per cent in 2024.

Activities in the upstream oil and gas sector recovered strongly, benefiting from the accelerated production from newly developed oil wells which came on stream earlier than expected in October 2023, the report said.
 
The completion of major post-pandemic rejuvenation works further supported growth in the sector, it added. Similarly, in the non-oil and gas sector, growth was driven by downstream activities, and continued expansion of the services sector.
 
The report also said structural transformation to achieve a more diversified inclusive economic structure remains a key long term challenge.

Source: Borneo Bulletin

Read the full article here




France-Brunei trade sees strong growth in 2024

France emerged as Brunei Darussalam’s 28th largest global supplier in 2024, with exports reaching EUR13.8 million – more than double the amount recorded in 2023, representing an increase of over 106 per cent. The growth was primarily driven by strong performances in wood products (26 per cent), industrial and agricultural machinery (22 per cent), and electronics (11 per cent).

On the other hand, Brunei’s exports to France amounted to EUR929, with agri-food products accounting for 55 per cent of total imports. France ranked Brunei as its 199th largest global supplier and the smallest in the region, below Laos. The import increase was supported by rising demand for agricultural goods and textiles.

The trade figures were shared by Financial Counsellor for ASEAN member countries at the Embassy of France in Singapore Raphael Badr during a talk titled ‘Dialogue: ASEAN…Brunei…France: Looping Brunei In’ hosted by the French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) yesterday at Baiduri Community Centre. Honorary President of FBBA Musa bin Haji Adnin; President of FBBA Pierre Imhof; Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam and Patron of FBBA Eve Lubin; executive committee members; and guests were present at the event.

Source: Borneo Bulletin

Read the full article here


ASEAN Tariff Finder a free resource for exporters on trade info across 160 countries

Filipino MSME exporters eyeing making inroads in the Southeast Asian market and its trade partners have a handy tool at their disposal with the ASEAN Tariff Finder, a free online platform that provides detailed information on customs and trade in the region.

The tariff finder is a valuable resource for empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in particular, as MSMEs can save time and resources in their transactions since all needed trade-related information is readily available on the website.

This includes information on customs and trade regulations, rules of origin, market access requirements, Harmonized System (HS)-based product codes, taxes and duties, and import formalities.

The online portal is designed to enable enterprises to maximize the benefits from concluded or upgraded free trade agreements (FTAs), including the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, ASEAN+1 FTAs, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and bilateral FTAs concluded by ASEAN member states. The ASEAN Tariff Finder can support users who wish to explore the markets and import requirements for their products in more than 160 destination countries.

Using the ASEAN Tariff Finder, traders can simply enter the country of origin, the destination, and the product of interest. Immediately, they have the commodity code and insights into tariffs, rules of origin, and customs and trade regulations for destination countries.

According to the ASEAN Secretariat, all nomenclatures in the ASEAN Tariff Finder are available in English and reflect the currently applied customs tariffs. The user may use HS product codes, keywords, free texts or the nomenclature tree view to find trade-related information.

The ASEAN Tariff Finder offers information on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty rates, tariff quotas and suspensions, preferential duty rates for goods originating in the ASEAN member states, as well as additional duties levied upon importation. Furthermore, it provides information on turnover taxes such as value added Tax (VAT) or sales taxes, excise duties, or other taxes and charges levied before goods are released.

All country datasets contain a detailed country overview; general requirements relevant for all products; specific requirements for certain products; identification of documents required for customs clearance and market access; and detailed descriptions of the measures with translation of possible forms from the original language into English.

The ASEAN Tariff Finder was launched on August 19, 2023 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting-ASEAN Business Advisory Council Consultation.

To utilize the finder, the company must register to receive an email with a link with which to activate the registration. Once registered, the user can start searching for goods and obtaining trade-related information.

Access to the tool is free of charge for all businesses located within the region. Registration may be done at tariff-finder.asean.org.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN Secretariat is seeking feedback on the platform’s effectiveness in order to guide decisions on the tool’s future development. To participate, click https://forms.gle/6NiJ79p2tCrq1E638. The survey will be open until April 26, 2025.

March 28, 2025
Photo: Canva

Smartest move ASEAN should make amid tariff wars: expert

Amidst punitive US tariffs, ASEAN economies must refrain from reciprocating and retaliating after the Trump administration imposed a minimum 10% tariff on all countries exporting to the United States.

Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, senior research fellow at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), in a recent article said Asia, particularly ASEAN, should not join the tariff wars but should focus instead on meaningful domestic reform, strengthening regional cooperation, and investing in resilient supply chains. 

At first glance, imposing tariffs may seem like an effective and patriotic way to protect domestic industries and jobs, admitted Venkatachalam.

“But in reality, such protection often leads to complacency. Industries shielded by tariffs lose incentives to innovate and adapt. Worse still, tariffs almost inevitably provoke retaliation, escalating into trade wars that hurt everyone. Artificially inflated prices due to import duties prop up inefficiency. Eventually, consumer demand declines, markets shrink, businesses fail, and jobs are lost on all sides,” he warned.

In a bold attempt to reassert American economic dominance, US President Donald Trump announced a new wave of punitive tariffs on imports from virtually all trading partners. Under this plan, China faces a 54% tariff, followed by Cambodia (49%), Vietnam (46%), Myanmar (45%), Sri Lanka (44%), Bangladesh (37%), Thailand (36%), Indonesia and Taiwan (32%), India (29%), South Korea (25%), and Japan and Malaysia (24%).

The Philippines’ rate is set at a lower 17% while only Singapore faces a baseline 10% tariff rate.

The higher tariffs, announced on April 2, 2025 via Trump’s Truth Social account, took effect on April 9.

Venkatachalam observed how many governments have instinctively responded with reciprocal tariffs, including China, the EU, Canada, and Mexico, but said retaliation may not be the best or only viable response.

While the impulse to retaliate is natural and sometimes politically necessary, it may not be the smartest move, especially for economies deeply integrated into global supply chains, he pointed out, adding that mutual escalation might only deepen economic harm.

“This is not to say that countries like Cambodia or Vietnam are powerless vis-a-vis the US. They have other tools beyond trade policy. For example, governments could tax the profits of US multinationals or introduce environmental levies on new US investments that fail to meet ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards. Such strategies not only deter poor investment practices but also generate domestic revenue and promote sustainable development,” the economist continued.
 
“Still, not every country can shield itself from the fallout. Given the heavy concentration of global supply chains in Asia—particularly in electronics and automobiles—disruptions are likely to have a significant impact across ASEAN and East Asia. That said, tariffs disproportionately affect small businesses and consumers more than they do governments or large firms. So, retaliatory trade policies are not always the optimal response.”

Venkatachalam proposed remaining calm and focusing on strengthening regional integration and economic resilience “since the vast majority of global trade—87%—does not depend on the US.”

“Rather than entering into a tariff war, ASEAN and Asian economies should prioritise reducing internal barriers to trade, enhancing regional cooperation, and investing in building resilient supply chains,” he said. “The COVID-19 pandemic proved that Asian firms adapt quickly to shocks—often faster than governments. Now is the time to deepen ASEAN and East Asian economic integration—not only in goods but also in services and digital trade.”

The researcher urged policymakers to “focus less on retaliation and more on reforms that improve the business environment, logistics, and cross-border infrastructure.”

Governments should support next-generation reforms—such as supply chain resilience, green logistics, and digital public infrastructure—while companies must rethink their strategies to become more agile and sustainable. Embracing low-carbon, circular models of production can not only reduce manufacturing costs but also open new market opportunities, he stated.

“In the face of US protectionism, ASEAN and Asia must keep their cool. The US is now a prisoner of its own policies. A global trade war in the 1930s intensified the Great Depression, and history need not repeat itself. Investor confidence is fragile, and the best way forward is steady, sensible reform—not retaliation,” Venkatachalam said.

He called on Asian economies to stay calm as a way to avoid the worst of the damage. “The burden of these tariffs will fall most heavily on the US economy. For everyone else, the smartest move is to carry on with meaningful domestic reform, strengthen regional ties, and let the numbers speak for themselves.

PHILEXPORT News and Features
April 16, 2025
Photo: Canva

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