Other Briefings
RCEP Ministers Remain Optimistic Despite Negotiation Hurdles
On Wednesday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its FTA partners – Japan, New Zealand, China, India, South Korea and Australia – held their second round of ministerial talks for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Ministers expressed optimism for meeting the RCEP completion target of December 2015.
APEC Continuing Environmental Goods Tariff Reductions Push
Members of APEC moved closer towards realizing their commitment towards free trade in environmental goods, after recent meetings this month.
Thailand Considers Inheritance and Property Tax Reforms
The head of Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order has approved plans to reform Thailand’s tax system, namely by incorporating inheritance and property taxes.
ASEAN’s Emerging Manufacturing Destinations: Indonesia
ASEAN manufacturers can be divided into those that have invested in mid- and high-tech manufacturing and those which are concentrated in low- or no-tech assembly. In this article, we look at one of ASEAN’s key emerging manufacturing markets – Indonesia.
E-Commerce Retail Sales See Rapid Growth in ASEAN
E-commerce is set to soar in Southeast Asia, as internet penetration in the region has reached a momentous turning point, according to a recent UBS report.
Declaration Now Required on Transfer Pricing Documentation in Malaysia
The Malaysian Internal Revenue Board now requires corporate taxpayers to declare whether they have prepared transfer pricing documentation while filing a tax return.
ASEAN’s Leading Manufacturing Destinations
ASEAN manufacturers can be divided into those that have invested in mid- and high-tech manufacturing and those which are concentrated in low- or no-tech assembly. In this article, we look at ASEAN’s leading manufacturing destinations, including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Foreign Ministers Rekindle Interest in EU-ASEAN FTA
Foreign ministers attending the 20th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels last week have raised the possibility of resuming negotiations for an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement once the ASEAN Economic Community comes into effect at the end of 2015.
Indonesia’s Election Results Boost Economic Optimism
Joko Widodo, the former governor of Jakarta, was declared the next president of Indonesia last week, leaving foreign investors optimistic about the country’s economic prospects and triggering a favorable reaction from the rupiah.
China-ASEAN Trade Sees Strong Growth in First Half of 2014
Trade between China and the ASEAN nations reached US$220.69 billion in the first half of 2014, an increase of 4.8 percent compared with the same period last year, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced this week.
