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EVENTS
Advancing Export Control Frameworks in ASEAN
12–13 March 2026
We were pleased to contribute to the ASEAN Law Forum on Export Control Regimes and Legal Framework in Manila which convened policymakers, legal experts, and practitioners at a critical juncture for the region. As global trade becomes increasingly intertwined with security considerations, export controls have emerged not merely as regulatory instruments, but as foundational pillars of responsible statecraft.
Hosted in Makati City on 12–13 March 2026, the forum provided a platform for ASEAN Member States to examine the evolution of export control regimes and their intersection with the ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in criminal matters. Discussions moved beyond formal frameworks to address the practical realities of enforcement, cooperation, and institutional capacity.
A central theme was the growing importance of legal coherence in enabling effective cross-border collaboration. While some ASEAN states have developed comprehensive strategic trade control laws, others continue to rely on broader legal provisions. This asymmetry presents operational challenges, particularly in the investigation and prosecution of export control violations, where timely and coordinated responses are essential.
In this context, the contribution of the Centre for Trade Excellence underscored the need for an 'ASEAN for ASEAN approach'. Drawing on enforcement and policy perspectives, the discussion highlighted that effective export control systems are not defined solely by legislation, but by their implementation, how authorities detect risk, and share intelligence.
A central theme was the growing importance of legal coherence in enabling effective cross-border collaboration. While some ASEAN states have developed comprehensive strategic trade control laws, others continue to rely on broader legal provisions. This asymmetry presents operational challenges, particularly in the investigation and prosecution of export control violations, where timely and coordinated responses are essential.
In this context, the contribution of the Centre for Trade Excellence underscored the need for an 'ASEAN for ASEAN approach'. Drawing on enforcement and policy perspectives, the discussion highlighted that effective export control systems are not defined solely by legislation, but by their implementation, how authorities detect risk, and share intelligence.
The forum also reinforced the role of multilateral instruments, including United Nations frameworks and regional cooperation mechanisms, in strengthening ASEAN's collective response to proliferation risks and illicit trade.
As ASEAN deepens economic integration, the development of robust, interoperable export control regimes will be central to sustaining both security and trust. The Manila forum marks an important step in that direction; one grounded not only in legal principles, but in the realities of practice and cooperation.
As ASEAN deepens economic integration, the development of robust, interoperable export control regimes will be central to sustaining both security and trust. The Manila forum marks an important step in that direction; one grounded not only in legal principles, but in the realities of practice and cooperation.
