Economic implications of the U.S.-ASEAN discourse on human rights

This examination of aspects of the complex relationships between human rights and trade was inspired by our exposure to sincere expressions of confusion and alarm during recent visits to Southeast Asia. In particular, many business leaders in the region are openly concerned about reactions of the United States and other western states to alleged human rights infringements in Asia. Highly visible disagreements between the United States and China in combination with other public disputes between western and Southeast Asian groups and governments have created a setting in which rumors and fears of punitive trade sanctions are abundant and plausible. And contributions to the discourse from official American sources have done little to discourage notions of linkage between human rights issues and trade policies. Author: Douglas, Sara U. Publication: Pacific Affairs, Mar 22, 1996.

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The other missing piece of ASEAN Integration

Far less attention has been paid to deficiencies in the foundations for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Although the ASEAN Charter views ASEAN economic integration as the basis for continuing integration in other areas, the draft charter does not support this goal with a sufficient framework.  Author: Sim, Edmund.   Publication: Opinion Asia, 03 Aug 2007. [Download]
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Questions, Questions, Questions: Facing The Tough Ones

The 13 countries in ASEAN plus Three (‘APT’) can take pride in being one of the leading, if not the leading, groupings in the world where attracting investments in concerned.  Paper presented by Huzaime Hamid at the NEAT Working Group on East Asian Investment Cooperation held at Weihai, China on 28 July 2006. 

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The ASEAN Charter: A Mirror to their Domestic Selves

The Charter is the work of nation states; that ASEAN is being refurbished remains no more than the sum of its parts. If the idealism of the EPG recommendations is not fully reflected in the final document, it is because the drafting is the work of officials who have to be mindful of its acceptability to their respective governments.  Author: Chin, Kin Wah. Publication: Opinion Asia, 23 Nov 2007.  [Download]

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