Robert L. Curry

A Policy Analysis of the ASEAN-U.S. Initiative

The ASEAN-U.S. Initiative (AUI) provides the intellectual content and structural substance for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently agreed to by ASEAN and U.S. officials. The MOU creates a trade and investment co-operation committee aimed at improving economic liberalization between the United States and ASEAN. The article presented herein gives a background to theAUTs development, outlines its features, and makes some observations about the potential usefulness of the MOU.

A Case for Further Collaboration between the EU and ASEAN

Much of the complementary and harmonious economic policy positions enjoyed by South east Asian and other Pacific Basin partner countries are similar to those shared by members of the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). How ever, institutionally ASEAN has established a fuller set of collaborative arrangements within the broader Pacific Basin than it has with Europe. As a consequence, in order to create a more level global playing field with respect to mutual market access, a case for enhanced collaboration between the EU and ASEAN can be made. Certain ASEAN and other Pacific Basin country initiatives can offer guidelines to broader European and Southeast Asian policy-making.