The 32nd ASEAN Summit’s economic priorities and implications for US-ASEAN economic relations

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Kaewkamol Karen Pitakdumrongkit, Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, explains that “The economic priorities agreed to at the 32nd ASEAN summit can be seen as parts of the regional states’ efforts to enhance their economic cooperation in the ‘America First’ era.

Thailand’s political dynamics and the consequences for regional economic integration

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/​Kaewkamol Karen Pitakdumrongkit, Visiting Fellow, East-West Center in Washington, explains that "While internal tensions would be unlikely to make the Kingdom turn its backs on ASEAN’s pursuit of regional integration, they could distract its attention.

The impact of the Trump Administration's Indo-Pacific strategy on regional economic governance

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/The Trump administration's Indo-Pacific regional economic governance strategy addresses trade, investment, and infrastructure development. Its reception by regional states varies by issue area, with infrastructure and investment being positively received, and trade being negatively received. To alleviate policy clashes and lessen the "noodle bowl" effect of overlapping rules and regulations, this paper suggests that American and Asian governments should: (1) immediately pursue collaboration in the areas of investment and infrastructure; (2) advance investment cooperation via capacity training and investment treaty consolidation; (3) enhance infrastructure collaboration via the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (or BUILD Act of 2018), joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and capacity training; (4) push forward trade cooperation via formal and Track 2 (informal networks) dialogue to facilitate a policymaking process; and (5) encourage more inter-bloc dialogue

34th ASEAN Summit and Thailand : Headway or Uncertainty?

The just-concluded 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok showed some progress in ASEAN cooperation and integration, but certain challenges remain. Thailand’s internal politics will determine the country’s next foreign minister; this will have a bearing on the upcoming 35th Summit in November

Global Health Security – COVID-19’s Economic Fallout : The Logic of Pump Priming

The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting regional economies. To cope with grim growth prospects, governments are leaning on fiscal stimulus to weather the crisis. Such policy measures will largely be determined by politics as different sectors compete for limited resources.Published versio

Building exchange rate governance within the ASEAN+3 process

The risk of currency manipulation done in the belief that it will lead to benefits in the form of increased exports remains a threat in Southeast Asia. Carried to extremes, it can lead to retaliation and devastating economic consequences in a globalized world. While the Asian region lacks effective exchange-rate governance, within the ASEAN+3 framework there exist institutions that can be used to enhance governance.Published versio

Narrowing the post-COVID development gap within ASEAN

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ASEAN Member States has been negative and uneven. There is a need to close the development gap within ASEAN in order to accelerate the implementation of the envisioned ASEAN Economic Community.Published versio

RCEP : The Deal That Must Not Fail

The outcomes of the 3rd RCEP Summit in Bangkok mark an important milestone for regional trade cooperation. To ASEAN, beyond its economic benefits, RCEP is more than a trade pact due to its political and strategic dimensions. All these factors combined render RCEP the deal that cannot fail.Published versio

Indo-Pacific : US Role in Infrastructure

The US has announced that it will make a US$113 million “down payment” to support its initiatives in the Indo-Pacific in the areas of digital economy, energy, and infrastructure. While this amount pales in comparison to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, it is a mistake to dismiss the US’ role in regional infrastructure development as puny

The prospects of Thailand-US economic cooperation

For more about the East-West Center, see https://www.eastwestcenter.org/Dr. Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, explains that "data runs contrary to the perception that Bangkok is leaning towards Beijing… Thailand embraces American economic clout while dreading its Chinese counterpart.