Navigating Trade Challenges and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific
December 10 at 9:45 am SGT
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the difficulty of maintaining complex global value chains. Just-in-time production and logistics models are under stress due to surging demand, while health regulations and export controls increase barriers to trade. Many companies have been forced to re-price risk because of the effects of climate change as well as rising political tensions that lead to higher tariffs. In the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for more than one-third of global merchandise trade, flows were already slowing before the pandemic, dropping 2.8 percent in 2019. But the newly signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement offers a silver lining for renewed multilateral cooperation in Asia-Pacific. How might RCEP restore trade growth in the post-pandemic period? Is there a need to configure regional supply chains to reduce disruptions and improve resilience? Will exporters seek consumers in advanced economies or new opportunities in markets throughout the Asia-Pacific countries?
Speakers
Philippe Gilbert
President, UPS Supply Chain Solutions
Frank Lavin
Chairman and CEO, Export Now; Former US Ambassador to Singapore and Former Under Secretary for International Trade, US Department of Commerce
Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria
Executive Director, APEC Secretariat
Ian McKay
CEO, Invest in Canada
Moderator
Steven Ciobo
Former Minister for Defence Industry and Former Minister Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia; Milken Institute Asia Fellow