The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is entering the digital trade era with strong foundations, marked by high trade openness and rapid digital adoption. These advantages have fuelled fast rising digital trade exports, which reached USD 387 billion – nearly 20% of total ASEAN exports and 6% of global digital trade. Yet, despite this strong performance, domestic regulatory bottlenecks continue to constrain the region’s full digital trade potential.
This Digital Trade Review assesses how ASEAN Member States (AMS) engage in and benefit from digital trade. It examines the domestic regulatory frameworks shaping digital trade, with a particular focus on cross border data flow regimes. The Review also evaluates the economic implications of advancing regional digital integration through initiatives such as the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), AMS’ participation in the WTO e-commerce agreement, and the continuation of the WTO e-commerce Moratorium. Finally, the Review explores how trade policy can help ASEAN harness emerging opportunities from artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring that the region strengthens its position in the global digital economy.
