“Conceptually, the AGTF [ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force] performs three interrelated functions for ASEAN. First, it operates as a regional risk-mapping platform, enabling ASEAN Member States (AMS) to assess exposure collectively and generate expert-informed recommendations. Second, it creates a coordination channel for issues that span both economic and security domains. Third, it contributes toward cohering ASEAN’s emerging geoeconomic approach and reinforcing ASEAN Centrality, reducing incentives for fragmented bilateral responses that may cumulatively weaken regional leverage.”
“To this end, the AGR [ASEAN Geoeconomics Report] specifies the AGTF’s potential contribution to strengthening cross-pillar coordination by engaging, providing inputs, and reporting to both the political-security and economic pillars and to the AMM-AEM. However, although the AGTF can be well-placed to provide strategic assessments, it remains unclear how it might directly support ASEAN’s sectoral bodies and technical workstreams in accelerating implementation.”
“Furthermore, although ministerial statements over the past year – including those made at the first Joint AMM-AEM Meeting and the 57th AEM Meeting – have acknowledged the AGTF’s contributions, its influence has yet to translate clearly into ASEAN’s sectoral implementation.”
“Major initiatives on the horizon, such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) Upgrade, and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade, do not yet explicitly reference AGTF inputs within their institutional processes and associated policy materials. This suggests that, at present, the AGTF’s contributions remain only loosely linked to ASEAN’s implementation mechanisms.”