US-ASEAN Business Council Champions for Fair Digital Trade Policies for the ASEAN DEFA
Jakarta, Indonesia – On November 4, 2024, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) hosted a workshop for ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) negotiators on the sidelines of their 7th Negotiating Committee Meeting in Jakarta. Centered on the critical theme of Non-Discriminatory Treatment of Digital Products, the workshop reinforced ASEAN’s commitment to a unified digital market and to establishing fair, competitive trade policies that promote innovation and inclusivity throughout the region.
The event convened industry experts from the information and communications technology (ICT), financial services, and payments sectors to emphasize the role of non-discriminatory digital trade practices in strengthening ASEAN’s economic resilience. DEFA negotiators from all 10 ASEAN Member States discussed how non-discriminatory policies can attract investment, encourage innovation, and ensure consumers have access to diverse technological options. The workshop also underscored DEFA’s potential impact on facilitating interoperable digital policies across ASEAN, benchmarking international best practices, and laying the foundation for regulatory coherence across the region.
“With DEFA, ASEAN has a unique opportunity to lead by example, ensuring that digital products from diverse providers are treated consistently across borders,” said Ambassador Brian McFeeters, USABC Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director. “This framework strengthens the U.S.-ASEAN relationship by promoting fair competition and safeguarding consumer choice.”
"A fair digital marketplace is crucial for innovation and growth in Southeast Asia,” said Annabel Lee, Director, ASEAN Public Policy, AWS. “AWS is fully committed to advancing this goal by democratizing cloud technologies that level the playing field for businesses of all sizes, investing in local infrastructure, and collaborating with policymakers. These workshops will reinforce the importance of maintaining non-discrimination as a core tenet in DEFA and unlock new opportunities for innovation and economic prosperity across ASEAN."
The USABC delegation also held bilateral dialogues with DEFA negotiators from, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei, along with representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat. These discussions explored key DEFA issues and chapters, with a focus on how the U.S. private sector can support member states as the bloc continues the important negotiations.
As ASEAN moves forward toward finalizing the DEFA, USABC remains committed to supporting public-private partnerships that drive technological progress, foster sustainable growth, and contribute to a resilient, inclusive digital economy, continuing its support even beyond the DEFA’s completion.
Key participants and supporters of this workshop included Amazon Web Services, Google, SAP, Visa, Qualcomm, Chubb, and Stripe.