ASEAN considers changing digital regulations

Progress is apparently slow. ASEAN members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) have already done a lot of work within the regional grouping to coordinate digital trade policies. This includes the 2018 ASEAN Agreement on E-Commerce, the e-commerce commitments under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which came into force for all ASEAN members by 2022, and an enhanced set of digital trade rules in the ASEAN Free Zone -Australia-New Zealand Trade Zone signed in 2023.¹

Given the overlapping commitments made by ASEAN and ASEAN member states, coordination is becoming an increasing challenge. Digital responsibilities, cooperation obligations and regulatory reviews are scattered across most ASEAN sector bodies or working committees, leading to difficulties in managing large programs. DEFA is intended to provide an overarching framework for greater transparency of the digital elements of ASEAN’s current and future activities and to support a clearer ownership structure of sectoral issue and performance bodies.