In: Economics
The trade disputes between the United States and China may favour ASEAN, but these gains would only be temporary as the members of the bloc, including Indonesia, may become the next casualties of the trade war.
The situation could support ASEAN, but it would only be a short-term one. As a matter of fact, unilateralism [in implementing tariffs] is not just directed at China. The casualties today are China, Mexico and Canada, but it may be Indonesia and other countries tomorrow,'
Together with its partner countries, the Southeast Asian bloc has shown a strong commitment to uphold multilateralism, particularly through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a potential free trade agreement involving all 10 ASEAN member states, as well as Australia, China , India , Japan and South Korea.
With the declining spirit of multilateralism, it is necessary to move ahead with the RCEP to affirm a commitment to cooperation and "to prove that multilateralism must be our future"