Trade and Market Integration

Overview

ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) is a ministerial body under the AEC Council responsible for steering ASEAN’s economic integration. The AEM comprises of economic or trade ministers from all 10 ASEAN Member States. The first AEM meeting took place in November 1975 in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the First ASEAN Summit in 1976 in Bali, Indonesia, the leaders agreed that economic ministers would meet “to consider measures to be taken towards implementing the decisions of the ASEAN Heads of Government on matters of economic cooperation”. This was reflected in the Bali Concord signed at the Summit.

In 2003, the role of AEM was expanded to prepare for the establishment of ASEAN Communities,. Based on the recommendations of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI), the Leaders signed the Bali Concord II and reaffirmed AEM as the coordinator of all ASEAN economic integration and cooperation issues. The AEM receives support on policy issues from the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council and ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council, ministerial bodies overseeing ASEAN integration on trade in goods and investment, respectively. The AEM also receives technical and operational support from Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM), which consist of high-ranking officials from the ASEAN Member States, and the sectoral committees and working groups on different areas of cooperation. In addition, the AEM also receive recommendations from the HLTF-EI on matters relating to ASEAN economic integration and external relations.

Today, the AEM meets back-to-back with AFTA and AIA Council meetings, as well as meetings with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners on external economic engagement. The AEM meeting is preceded by a SEOM that provides recommendations and/or raise matters for the AEM to guide. The AEM meets regularly twice a year, one in a retreat format at the beginning of the year to discuss matters relating to ASEAN internal economic integration and a later meeting in an official format.

Areas of Cooperation

The key role of AEM, with support of SEOM, is to perform a supervisory and monitoring role in the effort of achieving a deeper economic integration in the region. The AEM oversees the work under priority areas of economic integration as stipulated in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025 and to ensure that work under respective work plan for each area of cooperation is carried out according to the adopted timeline.

Beyond ASEAN economic integration, the AEM is also responsible for ASEAN’s external economic relations. This is in line with the “A Global ASEAN” agenda under the AEC Blueprint 2025. To this end, the AEM regularly hold consultations with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, as well as communicate with other ASEAN external partners. The AEM also makes decisions and guide ASEAN’s response to emerging regional and global economic issues.

Sectoral Bodies/Committees

Area of Cooperation Under AEM	Sectoral Body	Level	Reporting Line	Year of First Meeting
Overview	High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI)	High-ranking officials	Reports to AEM	2003
Overview	Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM)	High-ranking officials	Reports to AEM	1977
Trade in Goods	ASEAN Trade Facilitation Joint Consultative Committee (ATF-JCC)	(i) Representatives of National Trade Facilitation Committee and/or focal point of Trade Facilitation; and (ii) Senior Officials in charge of trade, customs, transport, standards and conformance, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures	Reports to AFTA Council through SEOM	2010
			Reports to AFTA Council through SEOM
	Coordinating Committee on the Implementation of the ATIGA (CCA)	Heads of National AFTA Units	Reports to AFTA Council through SEOM	2010
	Coordinating Committee on Customs (CCC)	Director level at national customs administration	Reports to Customs DG and inform SEOM on the report	2006
	ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Conformance (ACCSQ)	Head of National Standards Body or equivalent	Reports to AFTA Council through SEOM	1992
	ASEAN Single Window Steering Committee (ASWSC);	Officers of senior level from Line ministries and lead agencies responsible for managing international trade	Reports to AFTA Council through SEOM	2007
Trade in Services	Coordinating Committee on Services	Director	Reports to AEM through SEOM	1996
Movement of Skilled Labour and Business Visitors	ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) Committee	High-level executive committee	Reports to AEM through SEOM for the economic track (Also reports to Ministerial Meetings on Education and Labour)	2017
Investment	Coordinating Committee on Investment (CCI)	Senior Officials	Reports to AIA Council through SEOM	1998
Competition Policy	ASEAN Experts Group on Competition (AEGC)	Senior Representatives	Reports to AEM through SEOM	2007
Consumer Protection	ASEAN Committee on Consumer Protection (ACCP)	Heads of offices or agencies in charge of consumer protection	Reports to AEM through SEOM	2007
Consumer Protection	Task Force on ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework	Representatives from Trade, Health, and agriculture sectors.	Reports to AEM through SEOM for the economic track (Also reports to Ministerial Meetings on Health and Agriculture	2017
Intellectual Property Rights	ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights Cooperation (AWGIPC)	Heads of Intellectual Property Offices and Senior Officials from each Intellectual Property Office or the relevant Ministries	Reports to AEM through SEOM	1996
E-commerce	ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Electronic Commerce (ACCEC)	Representative of each AMS	Reports to AEM through SEOM	2017
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises	ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME)	(i) Permanent Members (Heads of SME Agencies) (ii) Ad-hoc Members (representatives from AMS and private sector bodies)	Reports to AEM through SEOM	2016, previously known as ACCSME (2015), or ASEAN SMEWG (1995)
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises	ASEAN MSME Advisory Board (AMAB)	(i) the Head of the MSME Agencies focal point (or equivalent level); (ii) At least one recognised private sector representative from each AMS’ MSME sector, selected by each AMS	Reports to AEM and submit an annual report for consideration of the Ministers	2011
Public-Private Sector Engagement	ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC)	Representatives of the private sectors from AMS	Engage with the AEM and reports to ASEAN Leaders	2003
Statistics	ASEAN Community Statistical System (ACSS) Committee	Chief Statisticians or Heads of National Statistical Offices	Reports to AEM through SEOM	2011
Dispute Settlement	Task Force on ASEAN Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism (TF-EDSM)	Director level	Reports to AEM and through SEOM	2004
External Economic Engagement	Joint Committees/Trade Negotiating Committees established under the ASEAN+ FTAs	Director level	Reports to AEM and through SEOM	Varies, based on Respective FTAs

26th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ RETREAT, 9-10 March 2020, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- AEM Statement “Strengthening ASEAN’S Economic Resilience in Response to The Outbreak of The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)”
51st ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 6 September 2019, Bangkok, Thailand
- Joint Media Statement
- Adopted: ASEAN Declaration on Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0
- Adopted: ASEAN Guideline on Skilled Labour/Professional Services Development in Response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution
- Adopted: Policy Guideline on Digitalisation of ASEAN Micro Enterprises
- Adopted: the ASEAN Digital Integration Framework Action Plan (DIFAP) 2019-2025
50th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 29 August 2018, Singapore
- Joint Media Statement
- Signed: The First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) to allow for the operationalisation of the ASEAN-wide Self Certification (AWSC)
- Signed: The Protocol to Implement the 10th ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS)
- Adopted: ASEAN Digital Integration Framework
- Adopted: ASEAN Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) Core Principles
- Endorsed: ASEAN Agreement on Electronic Commerce (Signed by the AEM during the 33rd ASEAN Summit in November 2018, Singapore)
49th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 7 September 2017, Pasay City, Philippines
- Joint Media Statement
- Adopted: ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI)
- Adopted: AEC 2025 Trade Facilitation Strategic Action Plan (ATF-SAP)
- Adopted: ASEAN Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (AWPEC) 2017-2025
- Endorsed: ASEAN Inclusive Business Framework
- Endorsed: ASEAN Self-Assessment Toolkit on Competition Enforcement and Advocacy
- Endorsed: ASEAN Regional Capacity Building Roadmap for Competition (2017-2020)
- Endorsed: ASEAN High-Level Principles on Consumer Protection (AHLPCP)
- Endorsed: ASEAN Regional Principles for Good Business Registration Practices
48th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 3 August 2016, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Joint Media Statement
- Adopted: Sectoral work plans, including AEC 2025 Strategic Action Plan for Trade in Goods; the Strategic Action Plan for Services 2016- 2025; the 2016-2025 Investment Work Programme; ASEAN Standards and Conformance Strategic Plan 2016-2025; ASEAN Competition Action Plan 2016-2025; ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for Consumer Protection 2016-2025; ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Action Plan 2016-2025; ASEAN Community Statistical System (ACSS) Strategic Plan 2016- 2025; and ASEAN Work Plan for Enhancing the GVC Agenda.
- Adopted: ASEAN Trade Facilitation Framework
- Adopted: ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework (AFSRF)
- Adopted: ASEAN Institutional Framework on Access to Finance for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
- Adopted: Report and Work Programme on Starting a Business in ASEAN
- Adopted: ASEAN Guidelines for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Development and Collaboration
- Endorsed: AEC 2025 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
- Endorsed: ASEAN Qualification Reference Framework (AQRF) Governance and Structure Document
- Endorsed: Amended ATIGA’s Operational Certification Procedure (OCP) to allow the acceptance of e-Form D under the ASW
47th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 22 August 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Joint Media Statement
- Endorsed in principle: AEC Blueprint 2025
46th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 25 August 2014, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
- Joint Media Statement
20th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ RETREAT, 26-27 February 2014, Singapore
- Joint Media Statemen t
45th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 19 August 2013, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
- Joint Media Statement
44th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 27 – 28 August 2012, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Joint Media Statement
43rd ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 10-11 August 2011, Manado, Indonesia
- Joint Media Statement
42nd ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 24-25 August 2010, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- Joint Media Statement
41st ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 13-14 August 2009, Bangkok, Thailand
- Joint Media Statement
40th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 25-26 August 2008, Singapore
- Joint Media Statement
39th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 24 August 2007, Makati City, Philippines
- Joint Media Statement
- Signed: ASEAN Sectoral Integration Protocol for Logistic Services Sector
- Signed: Protocol to Amend Article 3 of the ASEAN Framework (Amendment) Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors
38th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 22 August 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Joint Media Statement
37th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 28 September 2005, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Joint Media Statement
36th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 3 September 2004, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Joint Media Statement
35th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 2 September 2003, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Joint Media Statement
34th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 12 September 2002, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
- Joint Media Statement
33RD ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 15 September 2001, Ha Noi, Vietnam
- Joint Media Statement
32nd ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS MEETING, 5 October 2000, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Joint Press Statement
31st ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTER’S MEETING, 30 September 1999, Singapore
- Joint Press Statement
30th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 7-8 October 1998 Makati City, Philippines
- Joint Press Statement

51st ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING 6 September 2019, Bangkok, Thailand
- Post Briefing: Diplomats Briefed on Outcomes of the 51st AEM
50th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 29 August 2018, Singapore
- Press Release: ASEAN Economic Ministers meet in Singapore
25th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ RETREAT, 22-23 April 2020, Phuket, Thailand
- Press Release: ASEAN economic ministers discuss AEC progress, global economy at retreat
49th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 7 September 2017, Pasay City, Philippines
- Press Release: Philippines hosts 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting
- Key Outcomes of the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings
47th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 22 August 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Press Release: Malaysia Ready to Chair the 47th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting
- Post-Briefing on the 47th AEM Meeting & Related Meetings
46th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 25 August 2014, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
- Key Outcomes of the 12th AEC Council Meeting, 46th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings
- Press Release: ASEAN Signs Protocol to Improve Investment Regimes
45th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 19 August 2013, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
- Key Outcomes of the 10th AEC Council Meeting, 45th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings
44th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 27 – 28 August 2012, Siem Reap, Cambodia
18th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ RETREAT, 25-26 February 2012, Naypyidaw, Myanmar
- Press Release: Enhancing Trade, Services, and Investment Facilitation for a Better Integrated ASEAN Market
43rd ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 10-11 August 2011, Manado, Indonesia
42nd ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING, 24-25 August 2010, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- ASEAN Bulletin August 2010
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