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ASEAN concludes DEFA talks to boost digital trade by 30% by 2030
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ASEAN has concluded negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the world’s first regional digital economy pact, in a move expected to boost the bloc’s digital trade by up to 30% by 2030.
Key facts
- According to the department, the pact is expected to help raise the value of ASEAN’s digital trade by as much as 30% by 2030, underlining the bloc’s ambition to become a more integrated digital economy.
- The Department of Trade Negotiations said the outcome was reached at the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting, or SEOM, in Manila, where member states moved to accelerate economic cooperation following ministerial-level decisions in
- Thatchayanpon Aphimontechabut, deputy director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, said the second meeting of the 57th SEOM and related meetings with dialogue partners were held from May 27-31, 2026, in the Philippines.
- The results of these discussions are expected to be submitted to the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ meetings with dialogue partners in September 2026.
- ASEAN and Japan also agreed to begin a feasibility study on upgrading the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or AJCEP, which has been in force since 2009
- The next round of talks is scheduled for June 8-12, 2026, with the goal of achieving substantial progress towards concluding the upgrade by 2027.
Summary
The Department of Trade Negotiations said the outcome was reached at the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting, or SEOM, in Manila, where member states moved to accelerate economic cooperation following ministerial-level decisions in May.
Thatchayanpon Aphimontechabut, deputy director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, said the second meeting of the 57th SEOM and related meetings with dialogue partners were held from May 27-31, 2026, in the Philippines.