Tax harmonization and the AEC: a long way to go
Last week the Thai government hosted a forum on regional tax policy in Asia. One would think that a single market such as the ASEAN Economic Community would require harmonization of tax laws and coordination in More...
ASEAN Adopts International Negotiating Procedures
Last week’s ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting of foreign ministers in Cambodia adopted “The Rule of Procedures for Conclusion of International Agreements by ASEAN” (ROP). More...
In the Singapore Property Market, Not All Foreigners Are Equal
This week the Singapore government implemented immediate measures affecting its property market. In an effort to prevent further appreciation in property (and thereby avoid a “bubble” and its consequent “bursting”), More...
Four Incremental Steps Towards the AEC
In today’s post, we examine recent incremental steps taken by ASEAN to realize the ASEAN Economic Community. Considered separately, each step may not seem like much. However, taken as a whole, they evidence active More...
Helping Myanmar – Burma Participate in the AEC
Many observers have become excited by recent moves by the Myanmar (aka Burma) government. The release of some political prisoners gives hope that the regime is genuine in its efforts to move beyond its junta past. More...
Trade in Services May Present Greater Challenges to the AEC
Last week, several articles brought attention to the role of services in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Two reports from Thailand indicated that Thai IT companies looked forward to the AEC, while Thai tourism More...
Combatting ASEAN Haze Requires Both Words and Actions
Last week the ASEAN environment ministers met in Bangkok to discuss, among other things, the haze (air pollution) that has become an annual blight on the region. More...
The AEC Needs “More ASEAN”, Not Less
Recently, at the Singapore Global Dialogue, two of ASEAN’s eminent persons spoke on the relative strengths and weaknesses of ASEAN as an institution. Both sets of analyses perhaps are correct, but not with regard More...
Can ASEAN Become a Premier League?
Observers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its regional integration process often grasp for analytical analogues. Is ASEAN a developing supranational entity, like the EU? Or is it only More...
Haze and Euro Show Limits of, and Needs for, Regionalism
During visits to Penang and KL, and at home in Singapore, the haze air pollution blocked out the sky on some days. Although the haze so far has not worsened to the point that it would affect the staging of next More...
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