Hinrich Foundation

Regional Trade Agreements hold significant potential to enhance productivity and welfare. Though complex to negotiate, they ultimately aim to unlock the benefits of economic cooperation. Check out this primer on RTAs by Prof. Michael Plummer from Johns Hopkins University: https://buff.ly/3Be41MR

Large regional trade arrangements can provide a bulwark for economies as the #globaltrade regime continues to unravel. But one of the best options, the #CPTPP, is struggling with expansion. Deborah Elms proposes a radical change in its accession process: https://buff.ly/4eP7oHY

The future of the digital economy hangs on an increasingly fractious contest for energy and space. For the first time since its inception, geopolitics and climate imperatives are imperiling the physical backbone of the internet, Kieran Thompson writes: https://buff.ly/3OrluVh By 2026, #datacenters will become one of the single largest sources of electricity demand as internet usage becomes increasingly data-intensive: e-commerce, video streaming, and AI. Southeast Asia is the fastest-growing digital market, with 125,000 new users added daily. https://buff.ly/3B5LDWv This comes at a time when #cleanenergy is still in its infancy globally. In 2023, Google’s #GHG #emissions increased 13% YoY, primarily driven by data centers energy consumption. Big Tech is now looking for novel solutions, such as nuclear power, to meet their energy demands. In SE Asia, the operational requirements of data centers are putting immense pressure on scarce land and water resources. In 2019, Singapore implemented a moratorium on the development of new data centers. The ban was only rescinded in 2022. Also read: https://buff.ly/4fLYNqQ Data centers must be connected to be useful, but geopolitics is not helping. Over the past five years, at least six subsea cable projects in SE Asia have been delayed, suspended, or required a redesign due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. If these challenges are not addressed, the rapid advancement of the digital economy, as well as the more basic adoption of the Internet in Asia and other developing regions, will be slowed. This would have dire consequences for the equality of global economic development.

Latest International Labour Organization estimates show that #forcedlabor has increased significantly in the last five years. To mark the 2024 #SlaveryAbolitionDay, let us revisit a paper by Matthew Friedman (The Mekong Club) to see what more the private sector can do to stamp #modernslavery out of global #supplychains.

The growing belief that the world is fragmenting into #geopoliticalblocs overlooks the complexity of international alignments. Our latest discussion guide explores how #globaltrade patterns extend beyond superpower dynamics. Download your copy now: https://buff.ly/3OqmxF0 This guide is based on a paper by Senior Research Fellow Stewart Paterson, which takes stock of the regionalization narrative by examining the US' and China's trade data. Download the paper here to learn more about his findings: https://buff.ly/3ZnfN0I

The trend against global trade is counterproductive to our collective goal of strengthening economic resilience and improving living standards. We asked Visual Capitalist to illustrate the benefits of exchange, drawing on our series of papers on this topic. Check out some snippets here.

Adherence to international standards provides companies with a framework for consistency, quality, and accountability, making it one of the most effective strategies to mitigate #businessrisks. See more in this article by #supplychain expert DAVID HORLOCK: https://buff.ly/3V5oXfG

Accurately measuring and reporting on Scope 3 #emissions – the indirect emissions produced by a company’s #supplychain – is critical to any #decarbonization goals as they comprise most of a firm’s total carbon footprint. Co-sponsored by Hinrich Foundation, this report by the PBEC - Pacific Basin Economic Council and KPMG analyzes the state of Scope 3 emissions disclosure in Asia Pacific. It also aims to support companies newly starting out on their reporting journey by exploring a range of best practices that are now being observed in the region. Read more: https://buff.ly/4i0VL3x ICYMI: Finding a way to price carbon has become central to the future of global trade and climate mitigation. We asked Visual Capitalist to illustrate the development of this vital market around the world, which in 2023 was estimated to be worth US$1 trillion: https://buff.ly/3OrGxqJ Also read: #NetZero targets set by Southeast Asian governments embody the region’s commitment to making a transition to #cleanenergy, but the costs will be commensurately enormous, as will be the potential for geopolitical tension, writes Kieran Thompson: https://buff.ly/4g62is1

#Globaltrade faces a complex landscape with Trump’s re-election. How would his policies disrupt the multilateral order? What's in store for US-China relations and the transatlantic partnership? Join Keith Rockwell and The Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA) tomorrow to find out: https://buff.ly/3OlKGMV

As ASEAN sets ambitious goals to seal a Digital Economy Framework Agreement in a year's time, we hosted a roundtable with the Coalition for Digital Prosperity for Asia (DPA) to seek insights into the key sticking points of the talks. Catch up on the photos here: https://buff.ly/3Z6Abmz Remember to download: #ASEAN's DEFA can add unique value to the region’s trade architecture by locking in gold-standard rules for #data flows and future-proofing cooperation on #payments interoperability and #AI standards. Read more from Kati Suominen: https://buff.ly/3YOqcRx