Event report

Webinar: Geopolitical risks and vulnerabilities: How will the US-China relationship impact global commerce with ASEAN

As trade tensions between the U.S. and China persist, observers are seeing ASEAN countries as potential winners of this trade war, with many companies expected to shift at least some of their activities out of China.

Our expert panelists Jerome Roux, Executive Vice President, Head of Sales & Marketing, ST Microelectronics Asia PacificPascal Lambert, Group Country Head, Singapore and Head of South East Asia and India – Societe Generale, Singapore and moderator Professor Cedomir Nestorovic, Geopolitics Professor, ESSEC Business School and Academic Director of the ESSEC & Mannheim EMBA Asia-Pacific shared perspectives and discussed the real & possible effects of this protracted stand-off on ASEAN. Here are the key takeways:

 

  • China is the biggest trading partner for all ASEAN countries. Depending on who is the next President of the United States, the US can regard China as a partner or as a challenger. According to all indicators, China considers ASEAN to be a strategic area for its economic development but we are nos so sure about the US. How will ASEAN countries navigate this situation in the case if the United States wants to increase their presence in ASEAN or in the case if the US wants to disengage from ASEAN?
  • ASEAN is very much touted to be the EU-like organization in Asia-Pacific. This is far from being the case if we take the diversity and fragmentation that exists in ASEAN due to geographical, historical or different levels of economic development. Will ASEAN try to reinforce its integration processes because of the evolution of the US-China relationship, or on the contrary will it continue to let countries be free in their relationship with each other and the two giants?
  • The supply-chains have been disrupted because of Covid 19 pandemic and many companies are looking for a diversified manufacturing presence in Asia-Pacific. Can ASEAN attract companies looking for a diversification of their manufacturing bases and if yes, which countries are best placed in order to receive them?

 

Thank you to our speakers and particpants!

 

Sincere thank to our series partner ESSEC Business School.

 

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