The International Trade and Industry Ministry of Indonesia boldly raised a “no cheap stuff” sign on its entry points, targeting specifically nylon film from trade rival countries of China, Thailand, and Taiwan. Import duties have been slapped on it, and the amount is indeed big. Think of it this way: your favorite local shop is being squeezed out by a …

Malaysia – Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today encouraged the US to pursue a more aggressive trade and investment strategy with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), claiming that doing so would benefit Washington both economically and diplomatically. Ismail Sabri expressed some of the displeasure felt in Asia after former President Donald Trump exited a regional …

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday that Indonesia hopes the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Singapore will increase two-way investment by 18% to 22% over the next five years (Mar 9). She added that the treaty, which entered into force on Tuesday after both sides exchanged instruments of ratification, would help Singapore and Indonesia speed up their economic recovery …

MALAYSIA: The supply chains between Singapore and Malaysia have “no disruptions” after the latter announced further measures this week to curb the spread of COVID-19, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Wednesday (Jan 13). In the past few weeks, COVID-19 cases in Malaysia have increased by four-digit daily leaps. On Tuesday, the country recorded a staggering 3,309 …

Data from Shanghai Customs has shown that the trade between Shanghai and the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) has continuasly remained strong this year despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. China’s Xinhua news agency reported has reported that Shanghai imported goods worth more than 339.3 billion yuan (about RM210.6 billion) from Asean in the first 11 months of …

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Miniter Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed has expressed optimism the the Presidential-elect Joe Biden would acknowlegde Asean. Mustapa said that the victory of Biden was well received by the world as it needed to make changes considering former President Donald Trump did not put much attention in the region. He hopes that his leadership …

MANILA – The Asean member-states spearheaded by the Philippines has implement the Asean-Wide Self-Certification Scheme (AWSC) last September 20 to facilitate trade within the region. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sain in a statement that the AWSC aims to simplify the origin certification procedure for the claim and granting of lower duties or in most cases, tax free …

BANGKOK – The country’s farm exports to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries rises to 5.1% from the same period last year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand’s overall trade of agricultural products with the region reached $3.6 billion in the 1st quarter. Ministry’s Office of Agricultural Economics Deputy Secretary General Tatsanee Muangkaew said that Thailand …

The Asean region is expected to do more trade with China amid the coronavirus pandemic crisis, Deputy secretary-general of Asean Kung Phoak said in an interview. According to the senior official, the proximity with China has made the region a strong trading partners, even in the Covid-19 health crisis period. He also pointed out that even before the pandemic started, …

Global demand for essentials items such as medicine and food has kept the Southeast Asian trade afloats as the region fight the novel coronavirus pandemic and its effects on slowing down the economies around the world. Singapore’s exports, driven by pharmaceuticals, surged to 170%. Japan’s also grew record numbers. Food exports rose 66% overall, increasing almost 10-fold. Exports to the …